Have you ever felt an intense feeling of dread or fear before a social situation? Did this fear cause you to perform worse than you otherwise would? You may be suffering from performance anxiety.
Also known as situational anxiety, performance anxiety is a debilitating mental health condition that causes great distress and a wide range of physical symptoms, such as sweating or a rapid heartbeat.
While it’s normal to feel nervous before doing something big, feeling overwhelmed to the point where your emotions get in the way could mean the need for anti-anxiety medication – propranolol being the main one.
That said, the main purpose of propranolol is not to reduce anxiety. It is mainly used to treat heart problems. However, with the right dose of propranolol, people who experience performance anxiety at bedtime can benefit from this drug.
Let’s look at the underlying mechanisms behind propranolol, as well as the ways it can treat performance anxiety.
Causes of performance anxiety
Being anxious isn’t an uncommon phenomenon—and sexual anxiety is something that affects about 9 to 25 percent of men, according to a study.
That said, that doesn’t make it any less desirable. Sexual anxiety can turn an otherwise perfect cap to a romantic dinner into an embarrassing and unfulfilling situation.
That being said, you may be wondering, what are the causes of sexual performance anxiety anyway?
Here are some of the things that could be causing your sexual anxiety disorder:
- Low self-esteem for performance in bed
- Poor body image
- Poor perception of your erection
- Underlying relationship problems
- Concerns about the timing of ejaculation
- Anxiety about not having an orgasm or not enjoying sex
When these concerns are on top of your mind, your body can tighten up and not enjoy sex as much. Stress hormones such as norepinephrine and epinephrine may also be released during this time, further exacerbating your psychological symptoms.
How does propranolol help relieve anxiety?
It is important to understand what propranolol is to provide more context for this type of drug. This medicine is part of a group of medicines known as beta-blockers and its primary purpose is to treat anxiety and high blood pressure.
The way propranolol does this is by slowing your heart rate – which in turn makes it easier for your heart to pump blood to all your blood vessels and organs.
In addition, by lowering your heart rate, you will feel calmer and more comfortable when taking propranolol. This can make you feel less anxious even during times of great anxiety. It can also reduce a host of other anxiety symptoms – such as tremors, flushing and tremors.
According published study, propranolol has helped surgeons and musicians reach milder painful conditions. This is largely due to propranolol’s effect on the brain and dampening of the fear response.
Other medical uses of propranolol
Propranolol, which is commonly prescribed beta blockerit has a wide range of uses. Here are some of them:
- It deals with terrors
- Treats irregular heartbeats
- Treats subaortic stenosis
- Reduces the risk of angina (chest pain)
- Reduces migraine headaches
- It improves the chance of survival after a heart attack
Propranolol can be taken in tablet or liquid form and is usually taken by mouth. It is usually taken before bedtime and swallowed whole.
That said, be sure to check with a doctor before taking Propranolol to make sure it’s right for you.
The benefits of propranolol for anxiety disorders
Performance anxiety can take the fun out of any supposedly fun activity, including sexual encounters. Fortunately, taking propranolol can help treat anxiety.
Recommended dosage of propranolol
Your doctor is the best person to turn to when it comes to finding the recommended dose of propranolol for you.
That being said, for anxiety patients, it is common for people to take 40 mg pills one to three times a day.
Patients with underlying conditions such as angina or high blood pressure may need to take a different dose than prescribed above.
If you suddenly stop propranolol, such a situation is fine, just avoid taking more than two pills in a short period of time.
Warning aspects to know before taking propranolol
It is important to know that propranolol is not safe for everyone, even those with physical anxiety symptoms.
If you have any of the conditions below, you should consider alternative ways of dealing with your performance anxiety.
- Diabetes
- Syncope
- Low blood pressure
- Depression
- Liver or kidney problems
- Metabolic acidosis
- Allergies to propranolol
- Asthma or lung disease
In addition, propranolol can also cause a number of side effects. These include the following:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Cold toes or fingers
- Stomach ache
- Motion sickness
- Diarrhea
If you have any of these symptoms, talk to a doctor as they may adjust your dose or prescribe you another beta blocker.
In addition, if you experience:
These are considered emergencies and you will need to get medical help right away.
Alternative ways to overcome performance anxiety
While seeing a doctor should be the number one priority, you can also help keep your SPA under control at home.
Here are some ways you can do just that.
- Have open lines of communication with your partner: Be honest with your partner and try to work through the problems together. This can bring the relationship closer and improve your sexual results.
- Don’t jump right into penetrative sex: Consider going for a massage, masturbation or role play before you start having sex. This can relieve some pressure and help you increase libido naturally.
- Play some music: Find a way to distract yourself while you are in practice. You can, for example, play some music in the background to remove the feeling of restlessness in the act.
- Contact a therapist: If all else fails, get in touch with a couple’s therapist so you can work through the strain in your relationship with a professional.
Improve your performance in bed with the help of Cincinnati, Ohio’s best men’s health doctors
Propranolol is a great way to relieve anxiety episodes before bed, but it’s not the only way to liven up the bedroom.
At Proactive Men’s Medical Center of Cincinnati, we offer a range of men’s health treatments aimed at enhancing the sex lives of men of all ages.
This includes DM therapy, low testosterone therapy, RestoreWave therapy, and PE therapy—among others.
Schedule a consultation with us today, your initial consultation and first treatment is completely free.
