Interesting small study of 45 people. It seems like it could be investigated quickly in the military today. Propanol is still used to treat high blood pressure. Most doctors have switched their patents to metoprolol(longer half life, and doesn't cross blood/brain barrier as easily), but propanol is still an effective way to reduce high blood pressure. It also helps a bit with anxiety-- maybe?

I know a bit about it because I have taken these drugs. I also had a nervous breakdown with symptomology very similar to those that have PTSD.

I took propanol for 15 years. I didn't have any complaints with the drug. I actually think beta blockers are healthy for patients high blood pressure, and prone to anxiety. I said healthy--in my case I think they might be healthy. I can't explain it, just have a feeling?

That said the fear title threw me; I call it anxiety. Ever since that breakdown, I have never been the same. My fears were random. I was scared of heights on one week, and was fine/better the following week. Some months I was scared of being around people; other times I seeked out crowds of people. There was no reason to my fears. My brain just went bezerk, and I didn't get better for years. I'm still not the guy I used to be. Yes, I'm still employable, but barely. I hide my problems pretty well, or I think I do? My anxiety didn't affect my ability to learn new things--thank god!

When I was younger I had consistent fears, actually only public speaking. I got through college with only one oral report, but it took a lot of planning.

After that breakdown, I was fearful almost everything. I felt like I reverted back to being a child, or worse. I wasn't a fearful child. When I blew a gasket, the world became difficult, and I was scared of it. There was no rhyme, or reason to my fears. The stuff I was scared of before, like public speaking, and a slight fear of snakes--completely vanished.

I guess what I'm trying to say is they still don't know much about anxiety(o.k. Fear).

When I took propanol I developed new fears. Repeat--when
I took a beta blocker I developed new fears. My fears would come, and go away. They weren't consistent.
Yes, this is all antidotal, and I'm probally not the best subject; I don't think I'm like you guys anymore, but who knows?

That said, I was hoping they would have found treatments for anxiety related disorders by now. In my case, heterocyclic, and tricyclics dugs did nothing for my anxiety. Addictive drugs, and alcohol are the only drugs that helped.

I hope a beta blocker will help those with PTSD, and guys who have been hit with whatever hit me. I didn't have a bad childhood, or wasn't more nervous as a child as the other kids. I just Blew a gasket in my twenties. If you are reading this and are slightly dizzy, slightly anxious, just don't feel like you did; you have my complete sympathy. All I can say is it gets better with age. Most of you will be better a a few weeks. I have never met someone like myself, but my doctor like to say, "All my patients are different." He's right! That's why we need to study mental disorders more carefully.

Right now they treat us like cattle when they set up these studies. "Oh, you have this, and this out of twenty symptoms. I'll put you in this category." No wonder we have low efficacy treatments. And yes, I know it's expensive to do quality studies.

Sorry, about rambling on. I just kinda tense up with new cures for anxiety. I took so many drugs that didn't work. And the therapy--well give it a shot, I guess. You will never quite know if you don't give it a test drive.