Okay, I've gone through a lot of posts here about Inderal & Adderall and I'd really like to hear personal experiences.

My doc today gave me a prescription for Inderal to take just before stressful "performance" situations. I don't normally get test anxiety or performance anxiety, but the very few situations where I do feel nervous are about to be taking over my life! (I've got oral qualifying exams, dissertation prelims, job interviews, job talks, and dissertation defense all in the next 1-2 years starting next week!)

In these situations I seem to be unable to think clearly. I thought this was ADD-related and was planning to seek an alternative format (as an accomodation) for the upcoming exam, but the doc thinks it's a form of performance anxiety and that Inderal will take care of it.

Even though Amphetamines supposedly inhibit beta-blockers, I'm happy to try it. But, I'd like to hear from others who've taken this med, especially if they've also taken Adderall.

Here are my questions:

1 -- How long does it last?

2 -- I was told to take it an hour before, but will that counteract all the "build-up" of anxiety that happens in the hours prior?

3 -- Has it worked despite the inhibition caused by Adderall?

4 -- The info doesn't state that Adderall is inhibited; is it a trade-off or does Inderal lose the "battle"?

Thanks in advance.

Barb,

Inderal is propranolol, a beta blocker used for performance anxiety. I don't know how long it lasts, but would guess 2-3 hours.

It will make you not feel the adrenaline rush - you are less likely to sweat, have a racing heart, or becaome mentally blocked. I'm not sure about the "build-up" of anxiety - you will still go through it hours before (unless you take a benzo)

It works despite Adderall

There is a minor trade off, but Adderall wins.

I have taken a small amount of a different beta blocker a couple of times (Toprol XL). It is extended release and I take it QD at bedtime. I have taken 25-50% of my nightly dosage about 2-3 hours before its effects were needed. It worked! A shorter acting one would probably have been better.

I had to do it this way because my cardiologist would not give me an instant release Rx for PRN use, even if I decreased my daily dosage of the extended release beta blocker. My psychiatrist had prescribed it PRN (dosage was too low and did not work) before he diagnosed me with ADD/gave me stimulants. Given our current healthcare environment, these two specialists don't have time to call each other, so communication and cooperation is lost.

You should experiment once before you take it for a planned purpose; this will make you more confident when you need it.

Best of luck.

Isn't the problem active working memory? You may get peppered with several bits of new information and try to relate it to what you know. I find that hard to do, especially if I can't relate the new information to something that I already know.

Isn't the problem active working memory? You may get peppered with several bits of new information and try to relate it to what you know. I find that hard to do, especially if I can't relate the new information to something that I already know.
In this case, it is working memory (which is primarily why I thought it was ADD-related), but it's not new information. It's retrieving details from LTM. The trick to these exams is in how you present the information.

Primarily, my problem has been that I give correct, but not detailed enough answers. I sometimes need to be prompted for some of the specific details. This is fine when I have notes, as I will in the job talks and prelims, but in the qualifying exam I can't afford to draw a blank -- no notes allowed.

I don't normally get test anxiety or performance anxiety, but the very few situations where I do feel nervous are about to be taking over my life!

First of all Transcendental Meditation would take care of any anxiety you may have. (kidding)

I'm taking Inderal to reduce pulse rate and blood pressure associated with dexedrine. Having my heart race and knowing my blood pressure may be creeping up gives me anxiety. Inderal works to get my system back to normal and I don't have to worry about it. I've only taken small doses of Inderal so I can't say how long it stays in the system.

First of all Transcendental Meditation would take care of any anxiety you may have. (kidding)
:p

Update:

The inderal worked like a charm!

I still felt the anxiety -- doc said I would -- but, had NONE of the physical problems associated with anxiety. I've got a few more "performances" in the next couple of years that I think might cause me some anxiety, so this is a great find.

I also found another use for it. When I took it for a "spin" before my exam, I also took some pseudophedrine. I have chronic sinus problems that have only responded to pseudophed (until I started Adderall, but it doesn't always do the whole job), yet even after taking it for 25 years or so, I still get bad jitters. Well, Inderal kept the jitters at bay!

Barb,

I'm glad for you!
Beta blockers are increasingly being used to substitute benzos. In my opinion, I can do better on a test on a beta blocker than on a benzo. (less cognitive impairment)