A decades-old cheap medication prescribed to millions of Americans is being hailed as a ‘miracle pill’ for anxiety and nerves. 

Nearly 10 million Americans a year are prescribed propranolol, a beta-blocker approved in the 1960s for high blood pressure.

But over the years, the 30-cent pill has become a drug of all trades, treating irregular heartbeats, migraines and kidney issues. 

Now swathes of young women have started popping it before presentations, speeches and even walking down the aisle, claiming it helps calm them down. 

One TikToker said she keeps the drug in her purse for big events and outings where she doesn’t know anyone, claiming it ‘just takes the edge off.’ 

A healthcare worker in Texas shared with the Daily Mail that propranolol has been effective in easing her panic disorder and anxiety symptoms. In a TikTok video from July, she praised propranolol as a ‘miracle medication’ and a ‘healthy alternative’ to stronger anxiety medications.

Even celebrities are joining the trend. Robert Downey Jr made headlines during the 2024 Golden Globes by revealing he used a beta-blocker before his acceptance speech. At this year’s Oscars, actress Rachel Sennott said, ‘Take that beta-blocker, girl. Swallow it down and lock in.’

Doctors and pharmacists have noted a rise in women requesting propranolol prescriptions, seeking rapid anxiety relief without prolonged side effects.

Jennifer Lee, a 37-year-old healthcare worker from Texas, told the Daily Mail propranolol has helped slow the physical symptoms of her panic disorder

The medication is said to alleviate the ‘physical symptoms of anxiety,’ such as a fast heartbeat and increased blood pressure, calming the body’s natural fight-or-flight reaction.

Dr. Haiyan Wang, a medical director and psychiatrist at Neuro Wellness Spa, mentioned to the Daily Mail: ‘I frequently observe this now. Young women are attracted to it because it works differently by interrupting the physical feedback loop instead of altering brain chemistry.’

‘When your heart isn’t pounding, your brain doesn’t read the situation as dangerous.’

However, experts warn that propranolol shouldn’t replace selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and sedatives, which adjust brain chemistry and hormone levels. While it might be useful for events like giving a big speech, it is unlikely to be a comprehensive treatment for anxiety.

Dr Parth Bhavasar, a family medicine physician and founder of TeleDirectMD, told the Daily Mail that while it makes the body feel calm, it doesn’t address the underlying root cause.  

‘It doesn’t treat the anxiety per se, but it just blunts the physical manifestations of it.’

Beta blockers, which blocks the effects of epinephrine, also known as adrenaline.

While there are several types of beta blockers prescribed in the US, propranolol is one of the few that is fat soluble. That means it is stored in the body’s fatty tissues – where it also dissolves – rather than liquid sources like the blood. 

The blood-brain barrier is covered by protective cells with fat-rich membranes, so fat  soluble medications like propranolol can more easily pass through. 

Dr Gaby Cora, a psychiatrist and CEO at CoraLG, Inc, in Miami, told the Daily Mail she has prescribed propranolol for musicians to alleviate anxious tremors before they step on stage and academics before tests.

‘We’ve been prescribing beta blockers for anxiety for decades,’ she said. ‘They work!’

Propranolol, pictured here, is prescribed to about 10 million Americans a year, mainly for high blood pressure and other heart issues (stock image)

Robert Downey Jr made headlines during his 2024 Golden Globes acceptance speech (pictured here) for revealing he took a beta-blocker beforehand

Taylor Love Peterson of Nashville said in a recent TikTok video that she started taking the drug ‘on an as-needed basis… And oh my gosh, this has helped me so much.’

Love Peterson said she has had no side effects from taking the drug once or twice a week. 

Texas-based healthcare worker Jennifer Lee, 37, received a recommendation for the medication from her psychiatrist. It was meant to treat her panic disorder, poor impulse control and social anxiety.

Lee also takes diazepam, a benzodiazepine that increases the effect of the neurotransmitter GABA, which inhibits and reduces nerve activity in the brain. 

However, since benzodiazepines can be highly addictive, she wanted to limit her diazepam usage by balancing it with something milder. 

Lee said she could feel propranolol’s effects shortly after starting it.

The above graph from a 2025 study in Frontiers in Medicine shows the top reasons medical and dental students gave for taking propranolol

‘I definitely could feel my overall atmosphere start to get stable,’ she said. ‘My vitals stabilized, my heartbeat slowed down in a good way. [I was] feeling relaxed without feeling high.’

Lee said she doesn’t worry about physical dependence, abuse or addiction.

Propranolol use has become particularly widespread among younger women, who see its effects more noticeably than men do.

Bhavasar said this might be because women tend to have smaller hearts than men, so they generally need to work harder to pump the same amount of blood, increasing heart rate. Estrogen also increases the heart’s sensitivity to adrenaline and quickens pulse. 

Taylor Love Peterson, pictured here, said in a recent TikTok video that she takes propranolol before big events

Lee, pictured here, told the Daily Mail that for her, propranolol ‘is a very healthy alternative to a benzo’

The recommended dose ranges from 10 to 40 milligrams, which should be taken 30 minutes to an hour before a planned stressor. 

‘The benefits are clear: relief without sedation or addiction potential. You can think straight and use it only when needed,’ Wang said.

‘When I prescribe it for someone’s presentation nerves, I know what to expect. The timing works well. It lasts about 3 to 4 hours, perfect for getting through specific situations.’ 

However, she stressed that it could lead to disastrous consequences for certain groups. 

‘I see young women not thinking about birth control interactions, athletes not realizing it’ll hurt their performance,’ Wang said.

‘Anyone thinking about this needs proper medical evaluation first, then heart function [tests], lung function [tests], the works, not just grabbing pills from a friend.’

The medication can reduce blood pressure and heart rate in healthy people.

‘I’ve had patients faint, get dizzy, worse. If you stop suddenly after regular use, blood pressure can spike dangerously.’

She warned that people with heart conditions like heart failure or slow heart rates could be in particular danger, and people with uncontrolled asthma ‘should never touch this’ due to the risks of bronchospasms and worsening breathing issues. 

Pregnant women should also consult with a doctor before trying to take propranolol, as it can cross into the placenta.