stage fright

[Rob05]

I have been a touring..comedian...since 1977...about 20 years ago while performing in Denver..I had my 1st bout of stage fright..heart racing...shortness`of breath..hardly enough air to complete a sentence...it was so dibilitating..I became fear full everytime I had to hit the stage..I know I shouldn't focus on it..but I do..it'll start early in the day..last time in Vegas..I was almost in tears in the middle of the day...I've been turning down opportunities due to the fear...I've medicated myself with tequilla..and it helps..but if I'm really bad shape..I'm just drunk and still nervous...sometimes I'll go weeks..no problem...but other times it returns..lately since I had angioplasty..it's returned with a vengance..I'm currently taking Pravastatin sodium and plavix and baby asprin..could this be related?..once in the past my doctor prescribed..propranolol 10mg..no help and made me feel dull...is there a medication that might help..that I could take with current medicine..and would I have to take everyday..or just when performing?...I feel like it's mostly in my mind..I try to tell myself..you've done this 1000's and 1000's of times..in much more important situations..TV appearances and big venues etc.....so why worry about it..it's not fear of not doing well...it's the fear of the panic attack itself..usually if I get a few good laughs right away..it''ll disipate..however right in the middle of a good show..It'll occur to me and come back..any suggestions welcomed

[Julie359]

Propranalol is an extremely good beta-blocker to take for stage fright, although 10mg is a very low dose.  I take 40mg x 2 times a day to my general anxiety and find it helps a great deal.  Maybe, under doctors supervision, you could try a higher dose but with your angioplasty please consult your doctor befor doing so, as they do lower blood pressure and slow the heart.

Good-luck and break a leg ;0)>

[amish1979]

Definitely try another beta blocker.  I started with toprol (metoprolol), which did NOTHING for me.   In fact I would swear up and down that it actually made my symptoms worse.  

Next my doctor tried coreg (carvedilol) with me.  Coreg not only acts as a beta-blocker (slows the heart rhythm and reduces the force of the heart's pumping, lowers blood pressure) but as an alpha-blocker (also lowers blood pressure).  Coreg was exactly what my body needed.  I guess my problems were more with the α1-adrenergic receptors and not the β1- and β2-adrenergic receptors.

It all depends on your body chemistry.

[Paxiled]

Beta blockers are said to help with stage fright.  You've already tried one, but there are others.  But mammo is right, therapy is the ultimate cure, probably CBT.  Now, alcohol doesn't intensify everyone's anxiety.  A famous weatherman around here cured his phobias by driving over a bridge over and over while drunk on beer.  For him, it was a relaxant.  For me, it causes disorientation, which makes me feel anxious.  I wouldn't turn to it for medication, though, because then you're a funny alcoholic, and that's just too much of a cliche.

[mammo]

Alcohol actually intensifes your anxiety, and as you now know, helps nothing.  Propanolol is for people like you who need a short acting calmer.  But since this didn't work, you need to see a psychiatrist and  also get into therapy.  Therapy is good, it's helps you to identify where your anxiety is coming from, but in your case, mostly why?  It also teaches you coping skills.  He can recommend a better drug for you in the meantime so that you can make a living.  There are medications you can take on an "as needed basis" but only a professional can tell you what would be best for you.  Panic attacks can be debilitating, but there is a lot of help for you. Your angioplasty probably raised your anxiety level  (would mine), and now you're obcessing about it as well. Never mix alcohol with any of these meds as they just intensify the effect which makes it dangerous.  See a psychiatrist and take your life back, you don't have to suffer like this.
Take care....