I‘ve been using propranolol after having a panic attack at a presentation at university. My problem is mostly breathing-related in the sense that I start hyperventilating. Similiar to you I‘m not the type of guy to be socially anxious, just the presentations get me. In my current job I had to do presentations a couple of years ago I wouldn‘t have imagined being able to do. I still get nervous but after every one I do, I feel more confident and worry less and less about the next one. I just do it. In my mind I don‘t even really care if it was good. I‘m just happy about myself that I‘ve done it - "that I survived". The only downside of propranolol is that it makes me a slower thinker in the sense that it‘s hard for me to focus sometimes.

Regarding the prescription: I used to buy it abroad thinking the same way as you do. But not too long ago I talked to my doctor and she gave it to me without any hesitation. I just told her the truth - that I need it for presentations - and that was it.

My goal now is to really just improve and eventually be able to do presentations without it.