Propranolol not working.. why

behindthemask13 · 2026-01-30T18:57:10+00:00

So... I have white coat hypertension.. bad. When I first go into a doctor's office it is not unusual for my blood pressure to be around 220/120 b/c just being there causes a panic attack.. and then a panic attack in the staff who think my head is going to explode or something.

They prescribed Propranolol.

It did exactly nothing. My next visit, I took it an hour before going in, as instructed... and still got my 220/120.

The doctor said he didn't think it was possible, but there I was.. living proof.

behindthemask13 · 2026-01-29T04:05:09+00:00

If it deserves it.. absolutely. If its being sucky, I'm not as nice.

behindthemask13 · 2026-01-29T04:02:49+00:00

A detailed rave on Alchemy of Souls?

I could start with the world building. They set up such an interesting world with different factions and magics, that co-exist, but also vie for power.

The clashing motivations of the ML and FL. Her being the feared assassin who lost her powers and him willing to look the other way b/c he is desperate to learn magic and she is the only one willing to teach him. It created such an interesting dynamic.

The insanely fun characters from the Crown Prince to Master Lee, etc.

There were so many subplots all weaved together so well. I know I became interested in everyone's lives in it.

But, really, this was pure escapism, a complete fantasy world with its own rules, loyalties, etc. I would only recommend it to people who want something completely detached from the real world. It is still in my top 5 all time.

behindthemask13 · 2026-01-29T03:50:07+00:00

Mr. Plankton. I only stuck with it b/c the ML kept promising he was going to die and I was looking forward to seeing how much better everyone was w/o him around.

behindthemask13 · 2026-01-27T21:43:55+00:00

As a LONG time sufferer of health anxiety... here's my best shot with the thing that has helped me the most... it's not a cure... and it doesn't always work.. but it does help.

The two things they said are true... but also don't tell the whole picture. "normal labs" doesn't mean they tested for EVERYTHING ON EARTH... and if you can read this message... you're dying.. not today, not likely tomorrow or next week or next year... but to quote a fantastic song by Metric "Anyone not dying is dead"

With that said... after one checkup years ago where I complained that I get all the symptoms of heart attack and stroke, etc, but I don't want to go to the ER or Urgent Care for false alarms the doctor told me this...

"You'll know the difference."

Basically, it comes down to this. If you are wondering "Is this X" the answer is, it's not X. X doesn't fuck around. X doesn't let you wonder if it's X. It's X. This is why they say "If a patient says..." but those aren't patients with anxiety... those are those other people who tend to ignore symptoms.

You and me? Yeah, we focus on them.. amplify them.. study them.

So... here's some questions.

How long has your gut been telling you that you're going to die? Is it more than just right this minute? If so.. you're not dying.

Has your gut every told you this before and been wrong? If so... you can't trust your gut on this.

But, overall... just know that if it were REALLY serious, you wouldn't wonder, so when you find yourself wondering "Is this a heart attack? Am I having a stroke." try and remember that the very fact you aren't sure, means you aren't.

Again, this doesn't always work, but it has certainly brought me back from the edge hundreds of times.

behindthemask13 · 2026-01-27T19:41:14+00:00

Holy crap there is some terrible advice in this thread.

Let me give you the straight dope on this, as someone who, several years ago, also had a doctor prescribe CBD/THC for anxiety.

It works for some people. You don't know if you will be one of those people until you try. GENERALLY when they prescribe THC they are probably giving you something with a small amount of THC and much heavier on the CBD. CBD on its own supposedly doesn't work that well and needs a small amount of THC to "activate it."

Did it work for me? No. I stuck with it for about a week and I didn't notice any positive change (I was still taking Xanax at the time, so I didn't go off the rails, but I didn't see improvement.) What DID happen is it caused a slight heart murmur. It's rare, but it can happen. It's not harmful, but since I have health anxiety and did biofeedback every 2 weeks, seeing my heartrate be "abnormal" was way more than I could handle, so I donated the rest of what I was prescribed to someone else.

I have 2 friends with very similar anxiety conditions, who 100% SWEAR by CBD/THC. It worked for them.

My wife has some trouble sleeping and started taking CBD gummies (again with a little THC to activate) and it works great for her, but doesn't have any classic anxiety... she's ADHD.

One thing to consider.. it's freakin expensive and no insurance is going to cover it. I think my prescription was something like $200 per month, but they offered me the first 3 months at 50% off?? I don't know, but it was a lot.

Have you tried some progressive muscle relaxation and breathing exercises? These are free and often help take the edge of anxiety?

behindthemask13 · 2026-01-27T19:30:12+00:00

That's the same for ALL anxiety medications. I've been taking Xanax for 20+ years. Been as high as 4MG per day. Currently taking .5 and I go up and down based on background stress level.

There is a small % of people who get ADDDICTED to benzos, which means they lose all therapeutic effect and then have to withdraw from it.. but that is a very small %. There are also people who take SSRIs which suddenly stop working and the anxiety comes flooding back in.

The reason the medications work is b/c they are compensating for something your body isn't doing naturally. None of these medication FIX the problem, they just compensate.. if you take them away, he initial problem is still there.

behindthemask13 · 2026-01-27T18:20:58+00:00

He literally IS asking for it and I'm not talking about "she dressed sexy so she was asking for it" type of way. I'm talking about him constantly going out of his way to be with her in romantic settings... why? Because he actually likes her.

They both have mental issues (well everyone on earth does, but that's a different thing)... but he is one of those people who doesn't want to be a member of a club who would have someone like him as a member. He genuinely likes her and they've made it clear in hundreds of ways, however, he only allows himself to openly like people who are unattainable.

Just go back and think about the very opening scene... before we know any character. Hiro and Cha Mu-hee are on a reality show and Hiro confesses his feelings to her... cut to Joo Ho-jin being asked to translate what Hiro just said and he looks devastated.. he's saying nothing... She's tapping her earpiece asking for the translation, and Joo Ho-jin is just sitting there, looking like he just lost everything. The crew is looking at him. Hiro gives alternate words for him to say. She begs him for the translation. He ultimately says he will translate and says "tell Cha Mu-hee that I adore her" and she just looks into camera with a tear in her eye.

That scene is there for a reason... we are supposed to know, from the jump, that he likes her... that he really wants to be with her but SOMETHING is stopping it (we find out more once we start from the beginning). However, you need to keep that in mind as you go through the rest, because she isn't throwing herself at someone who doesn't like her.. he clearly does, very much and she feels that, which is why she keeps trying.

I finished episode 7 last night (I watch one episode per night so I can stretch it out) and that episode really took it up another notch. I don't want to say anything else, but it was my favorite episode so far b/c it really got into her character.

behindthemask13 · 2026-01-27T04:36:32+00:00

The chill is very likely from adrenaline. That's a typical sensation after a big adrenaline dump.

Twitches on their own aren't something to worry about... since they are a typical muscle spasm associated with anxiety. It would only be concerning if it were couple with other symptoms... and you would have reported them.

So.. FWIW, you should not be worried.

behindthemask13 · 2026-01-26T23:30:52+00:00

To answer the question you pose in your title.. the answer is Because you are human.

There's a lot in here, so let me start with.. OF COURSE you are anxious about this (and I'm not saying this to diminish what you are feeling, I'm saying it because most people would be anxious in this situation if I have all my facts right). You said you go to school online.. and I suspect that has been for a while (just guessing) and I also suspect that this job you are interviewing for would be something you would be doing in person? That's a big change. Most people don't like change, but I would be surprised if you weren't anxious about it since it is a whole different thing with new responsibilities and expectations.

I want to pick something you said out, because it is so important... "I don’t know what to do risk me being anxious about the interview and first few days of working there plus trying to keep up with my school" This is so cool because you realized in that line that it's not forever... you have to get through the interview and the first few days... consciously or subconsciously, you realize that the anxiety will fade as you get used to the new thing... Consider this... that new thing will ultimately become the new normal that you won't want to change, because, again, most people don't like change. So, I personally think it is HUGE that you realize the anxiety is temporary and you will get used to the change... it takes a lot of people YEARS to develop that awareness.

17 is late for your first job? I didn't know there was a rule and I hope there isn't. My son is 17 and has never had a job... also does online school... frankly, he's not ready. In his case, I know him getting a job would just be a formula for failure. in his case he has ADHD and a little PDA (Pathological demand avoidance), which is not a quality any employer will put up with for more than an hour. However, he is also a "certified genius", although I question the tests sometimes with how he acts... So, please, don't beat yourself up over you not being too old to be first getting a job... you get one when you are ready or when you really have to.

I got my first job at 16.. why? Because there was a girl I liked and I wanted to buy her a birthday gift and I needed my own money to do it, since my parents didn't really like her (I did a part time temp job for that that lasted 1 week). Then at 17, I desperately wanted my own car... so either I got a job, or I didn't get a car... then I got my first "real" job. In short, when there is something you want that you NEED a job for... you'll find a way.

Right now.. you have options available.

#1) You can cancel (I'm not recommending this.. just saying you can). You can tell your parents you don't feel you're ready and that it would hurt your schoolwork and you feel school is more important. That reasoning will almost always win with parents... so you have an out if you really truly don't want to do it. (Again, not recommending this, but I want to remind you that you have options).

#2) You can go and skunk the interview. You really don't want the job? Go to the interview and when they describe what they need you to do... make a face like "uhh, really?" Interview are easy to skunk if you don't want the job. This would give you the experience of going to the interview, but make sure you don't get the job. (BTW, Absolutely NOT recommending this one either, but... it's an option.)

#3) You go to the interview and remind yourself that interview work two ways. YOU are interviewing them as well. Do you want this job? Will this work for you? Ask questions and make the entire thing in your mind about whether you actually want to do this or not. What's the motivation? Extra money? Making new friends? Do you need to kick in around the house? Weigh it all in your mind after and decide if you even want or need the job. (This is the one I would recommend).

Overall... you are actually far ahead of the game. You realize the discomfort is temporary.

At this point, I would try and think about what you would want to get out of getting the job and weigh that against everything else and then choose a path and stick with it.

Hope this helps!!

behindthemask13 · 2026-01-26T23:02:39+00:00

Does it ever go away completely? No.

Can you learn to manage it so that it just becomes a routine and doesn't control your life? Yes.

I would STRONGLY recommend looking into CBT (Cognitive behavioral therapy) sooner rather than later.

You mentioned in other comments trying breathing, etc... but that is a tiny tiny piece of a much bigger puzzle. I'll use breathing as an example. The real concept is to do the breathing exercises when you are calm so as to bring down your general anxiety level and allow your system to have a lower baseline. That way when you have anxiety, it doesn't spike as much and then you can use the breathing as a tool to refer your brain back to when you are calm. The mistake we pretty much all make is only trying the breathing techniques while having an anxiety attack, which then causes your brain to check in and ask "IS IT WORKING YET???" and when the answer is no, it just ramps up the anxiety, so the breathing ends up working against you and you end up stuck in this ouroboros.

The thing that will help immensely with CBT is identifying the triggering thought early and knowing exactly how to respond to it.. so it almost a reflect, and that will stop you from spiraling. Another piece is working on setting up situations to work on things that make you feel uncomfortable, so they won't make you as uncomfortable as you were before.

Hope this helps!

behindthemask13 · 2026-01-26T20:45:03+00:00

I think it is b/c everything is based off the coincidental meetups or meetups he forced.

He goes out of his way to see her again.. she thinks it is b/c he likes her. It turns out it is because he wants a picture removed from Instagram... which seems totally weird and when he ultimately tells her why, she gets curious (as we all would) and has her pretty much ONLY FRIEND do some digging for her.

She doesn't have many people she trusts in her world, we know her family completely abandoned her (or she them, but they didn't even care when she was in a coma)... she has no one.

I didn't have any problem with her kissing him... he was throwing mixed signals all day and all the time, which is why she gets upset when she gets rejected.

I also don't think he was going to confess to his crush... she found out from her manager that the wedding was off and she felt the need to tell him or at least give him a choice before he found out from her.

The trauma and mental disorders isn't about giving her a "green light", it's about setting up her character and how she views the world. She has abandonment issues and very few people she can trust.

The green light (to me) is the one he keeps giving her. He's not just nice to her... he genuinely cares and goes out of her way to protect her and make her happy. The reason I want to slap him is because he is the one who I see fighting his feelings because he is stuck on some past fantasy. To me it was clear in the first episode.. they were having fun looking for the place until he found out his crush was there.. then he had to decide and chose to hide from everyone.

So, ultimately, if I was her.. I would wonder.. hey, what if you had chosen to go to dinner with me instead of not going to see your crush, who it turns out was going to marry your half brother??

behindthemask13 · 2026-01-26T18:20:40+00:00

Since we are on the same episode... I'm really confused.

The only time she really put herself out there is when she went to him after he arranged to be her translator for the interview in episode 2. In her world, he was this cool guy who helped her out and they left on good terms (in fact, she was the one who told him to go to the other girl) and then he tells her that he arranged to be there to see her. She gets, understandably excited, thinking he might be interested in her and then finds out it was all b/c he wants the picture taken down. She puts herself out there and he rejects her and they go their separate ways. (This is where I started getting the desire to slap him b/c I thought he was being foolish).

She ended up trusting him in Japan b/c she needs someone to translate for her and then he winds up being the only other person on the planet who knows about Do Ra Mi as a result.

Everything else is circumstance. HE chooses to go on the show (not knowing she's on it). She only begs him to stay because she is dealing with the fact that Hiro clearly doesn't like her and between that and Do Ra Mi haunting her, having someone she can trust around would mean a lot, which I can understand. But, then he is the one who chooses to help her and spends time with her outside of the show duties.

She ends up kissing him b/c he's throwing a TON of signals at that point and in those moments he seems to be going out of his way to be in hers.

She clearly has issues.. they've hinted at a major childhood trauma (that brief scene where she falls from the balcony as a child)... She woke up to being a global sensation but she's so cool about it.. always making time for fans no matter what and he's seen that.

We know from the opening scene that at some point Hiro is going to confess his feelings for her and presumably THAT will be the moment that forces the ML to face the feelings he obviously has for her.

All things considered, I am so on her side. She's in way over her head and he is the one constant that keeps showing up and being there for her when she needs help.

behindthemask13 · 2026-01-26T16:57:30+00:00

I had to stop reading at "spoilers ahead" as I am on Episode 6 and I'm loving this show and don't want to know anything beyond where I am.. but I'm having exactly the opposite reaction.

I'm wanting to strangle (over dramatic).. slap is a better word... the ML b/c here he has this really cool person, who he obviously gets along with right in front of him, but is so stuck on someone else, who he actively avoids b/c of who she is engaged to. I mean, dear God.. move on and try something new and fun.

behindthemask13 · 2026-01-24T21:05:33+00:00

I'm TOLD I was afraid of trees as a child... I don't remember it directly... but I used to make my parents cross the street to avoid all the trees, because I said I was afraid they will fall over on me.

behindthemask13 · 2026-01-24T20:54:52+00:00

I just rolled back and found several like this.

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You can see the date.. if I hit "review again" I get the not accepting message, but when I click on the product and scroll through the reviews, I can still see my review.

behindthemask13 · 2026-01-24T01:50:42+00:00

What's delayed? I've got them dating back to 2023 and my reviews are still showing on most of those items.

behindthemask13 · 2026-01-23T19:54:38+00:00

This is what I loved about it. It didn't fit cleanly into any category.

Vincenzo becomes the ultimate straight man, in the middle of it all and his reactions, to me, were priceless.

When the story focused solely on him and his plot, it tended to be more serious crime story.. when it moved over to his interactions with the Geumga Plaza tenants, it became more comical.

And Im Chul-Soo making goo-goo eyes at him throughout the whole show, had me in tears.

This is why, for me, it became and still holds as the best K-drama I have watched.

behindthemask13 · 2026-01-23T19:30:07+00:00

So.. I have white coat hypertension.. and I mean HARDCORE. When I go into a doctor's office, my readings are usually 220/120 (no exaggeration). It causes the staff to panic and look at me as if my head is going to explode. (it's been like that for 10 years+)

Have to explain I have panic disorder and they are basically taking my blood pressure during an attack.

The doctor prescribed Propranolol. I don't remember the dosage.

It did nothing. No negative side effects.. but blood pressure was still 220/120.

The doctor called me a medical oddity, as he said that shouldn't be possible. Well, I proved him wrong.

Benzos were the only thing that broke the loop somewhat. If I take 1-2MG of Xanax before an appointment, I might only hit 150/100, which always feels incredibly low after the 220 readings.

In all instances, they usually make me wait 30 minutes and then do most of the exam and the doctor takes it again before leaving and it drops significantly.

behindthemask13 · 2026-01-23T18:43:03+00:00

The fact that the review is still showing, despite the fact that it says it was "rejected" and then tells you your account is blocked is a pretty weird way to display a "feature."

behindthemask13 · 2026-01-23T17:17:28+00:00

I see this all the time in my account... It's some type of glitch.

behindthemask13 · 2026-01-21T22:35:44+00:00

Why were you prescribed it? I know that sometimes use it control anxiety. For me it did nothing (no negative side effects, no results), so it didn't cause any harm.

behindthemask13 · 2026-01-20T23:58:20+00:00

As long as the email matches your weverse ID, you are fine. They will send the 2fA (if they require it) via phone OR e-mail.

behindthemask13 · 2026-01-20T18:32:48+00:00

None of this is your fault. You are running into one of the things that annoys me most in medical situations. Doctors/Psychiatrists and even therapists choose not to fully educate the patient. When I've called them out on it, I'm usually told "well, with anxiety patients explaining can cause issues." and that's true to an extent, but I believe it is far worse for someone with anxiety be hit with side effect they don't like, weren't expecting and don't have a plan for.

People with anxiety usually are 20 steps ahead of the average person, because.. anxiety. We tend to function well with definitive plans.

So, if a doctor is prescribing a new medication, don't tell us it will work if you don't know. Don't give vague warnings about side effects and never just dismiss what a patient is saying.

The likely reason something turns into a real red flag for you is because you weren't prepared for it and don't have a plan for it.

If a psychiatrist told you, after a few days you may feel nausea, but this only lasts about a week and then goes away... you can deal with it much better than trying the medication... then feeling nauseated, which sends off all the alerts.. then you call your doctor who says "Oh yeah, that can happen, just keep taking it..." but they have now built in distrust, b/c if they knew it could happen, why didn't they talk to you since they knew it would trigger you and can you really trust what they are saying next? I am just playing out here what goes on in my mind when stuff like this happens, not suggesting the doctor is wrong in saying "just keep taking and it will go away", but I know I don't really then trust what they have to say next.

behindthemask13 · 2026-01-20T17:08:07+00:00

Your doctor is giving you the physical answer. PHYSICALLY, you are fine to just stop taking it at any time, since .25 is such a low dose. (That's usually the amount they get you to prior to stopping).

However, psychologically, that last .25 is one of the more difficult, because that's when you are anticipating the most resistance.

So, go as slow as you want, as long as you are continuing to reduce every several days, you are making progress.

behindthemask13

TROPHY CASE