Propranolol Study

Medication 💊 Beta-blockers
1

Propranolol is often used to treat MAV. Interesting study below.

Study takes step toward erasing bad memoriesFeb-15-09 8:20am

From: www.reuters.com

LONDON, Feb 15 (Reuters) - A widely available blood pressure pill could one day help people erase bad memories, perhaps treating some anxiety disorders and phobias, according to a Dutch study published on Sunday.

The generic beta-blocker propranolol significantly weakened people’s fearful memories of spiders among a group of healthy volunteers who took it, said Merel Kindt, a psychologist at the University of Amsterdam, who led the study.

“We could show that the fear response went away, which suggests the memory was weakened,” Kindt said in a telephone interview.

The findings published in the journal Nature Neuroscience are important because the drug may offer another way to help people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and other problems related to bad memories.

Traditionally, therapists seek to teach people with such disorders strategies to build new associations and block bad memories. The problem, Kindt said, is the memories remain and people often relapse.

Animal studies have shown that fear memories can change when recalled, a process known as reconsolidation. At this stage they are also vulnerable to beta-blockers like propranolol, which target neurons in the brain, the researchers said.

Kindt and her team’s experiment included 60 men and women who learned to associate pictures of spiders with a mild shock. This experience created a fearful memory, the researchers said.

Other participants saw the same picture but did not receive an electrical shock. For these people this established a “safe” association without a fear response or bad memory.

One day later people given the drug had a greatly decreased fear response compared with people on the placebo when shown the picture and given a mild shock, the researchers said.

“There was no difference to the fear spider and the safe spider,” Kindt said. “This shows it is possible to weaken the underlying memory by interfering with it.”

The next steps are to look at how long the drug’s effects on memory last, and testing the treatment in people who actually are suffering from some kind of disorder or phobia, Kindt said. (Reporting by Michael Kahn; Editing by Maggie Fox and Elizabeth Piper)

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Hey MSDXD,

So it looks like prop might kill two birds: elimiante MAV and the horrific memory of the miserable times with it. Although I find that when I have an extended period of feeling well, I forget the worst of MAV quite quickly … and when I get hit again, it can almost feel like the first time all over again.

S

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— Begin quote from “scott”

…I find that when I have an extended period of feeling well, I forget the worst of MAV quite quickly … and when I get hit again, it can almost feel like the first time all over again.

— End quote

:lol:
Oh, I know that feeling all to well.

Brian

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My concern about this study is that it might lead some irresponsible doctors to start prescribing it as a panacea for post traumatic stress disorder. I don’t think a pill can fix something like that completely.

Relative to MAV, a concern would be that it might enhance brain fog.

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I have used this to prevent migraines while pregnant. I usually only stay on it during the pregnancy and a few months after. It makes me very sluggish the entire time I am on it. I did not have MAV at the time only migraine so I have no idea if it helps with the array of other symptoms connected with MAV.

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It has been suggested that I use this to treat my MAV/basilar migraine. Suggested by National in London. I am very wary: listed side effects and web research suggests that it would slow the user down considerably, exercise intolerant and weight gain. As I am already hypothyroid and battle with fatigue and weight with that, MAV and menopause I really don’t need another element to nail me to the sofa. :twisted:

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I have previously posted about betablockers just happening to have positive effect on osteoporosis but the term used ‘off lable’ really took on a whole new meaning when I read this Propranolol I take loads of it. Unfortunately I never was afraid of spiders in the first place. Bit of a waste maybe.:grin:. I wonder. Would venomous snakes do?