Rising Beta Blocker Use for Anxiety Sparks Concern Among Experts
A growing trend ofโ using beta blockers for anxiety, fueled by celebrity endorsements, is raising concerns among medical professionals regarding potential risks and limited evidence of effectiveness. While โขtraditionally โprescribed for โheart conditions, the medication is โincreasinglyโฃ sought after for managing situational anxiety,โข despite not being recommended for โthis purpose by leading health organizations.
One doctor cautioned, “But,โฃ it is notโข without risk,” as reported by The Wallโ Street Journal. Prescriptions for anti-anxiety medications have seen a significant increase in recentโ years, particularly among women and young people reporting higher rates of anxiety disorders. This โrise coincides with a broader trend of โmedicationsโค gainingโ popularity through cultural influence, inevitably leading too increased prescriptions.
Researchers at theโ university of Bristol’s medical school found a potentially troubling perception among patients: many did not view beta blockers as “mentalโค health drugs,”โค leading them to believe theโ medicationโข carried less stigma. This perception โmay contribute to its appeal as a swift fix for anxiety.
Despite anecdotal evidence – including actress Khloe Kardashian admitting to using her mother Kris Jenner’s beta blockersโค to manage nerves – experts emphasize a lackโ of conclusive evidence supporting their effectiveness in โคtreating anxiety. The medication is also โnot includedโ inโ treatment guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), โyet prescriptions continue โto be written.
Dr. Khan explained that many GPs prescribe beta blockers for situational โ anxiety – specifically โfor events a patientโข anticipatesโฃ will โฃbe triggering. “So if andโข when, โrather than long term,” he clarified.
While โขbeta blockers can be life-saving for individuals withโข heart conditions, their primary effects can present risks.โค Common side effects include tiredness, dizziness, โฃand difficulty sleeping. Moreโฃ serious risks encompass heart failure, breathing difficulties, and allergic reactions.Dr. Khan also warned against exceeding prescribed dosages, noting โthat abruptly stopping the medication after prolonged use can be hazardous. Moreover, he highlighted a link between beta blocker use and higher rates โof depression, advising โคagainst prescribing them to patients already struggling with the condition.
Recent research adds to these concerns.โฃ A landmark study suggests thatโ heart attack patients may โคbe needlessly takingโข beta blockers, and the drug could even increase the risk of death. Approximately 60,000 people inโข the UK are prescribed beta blockers annually, with many remainingโ on the medication โfor life. However, the new research indicates the medication is โขineffective in reducing the risk of further heart attacks.
Notably, the studyโ found women treated with beta blockers had a higher risk ofโฃ death, โคheart attacks, or hospitalization forโ heart failure compared to those not taking the medication.Thisโข finding casts โfurther doubt โขon the widespread and long-term use of beta blockers,particularly considering the emerging trend of self-medication for anxiety.