Beta Blockers for Anxiety
If you’re a nervous driver and suffer from anxiety when driving, you’re probably desperately searching for a way to deal with driving test nerves. If you’re approaching your driving test, your nerves might be getting the better of you which could cause you to make silly mistakes on the big day.
Some nervous learners are prescribed beta blockers for driving test by their doctor to calm their nervous symptoms and allow them to focus. Beta blockers are prescription-only tablets which means you must speak to your GP before taking them, and they will only give them to you should they think it would be helpful to you. We would always strongly advise our learners who wish to take them to do so under the guidance and supervision of a doctor.
Should they be prescribed, we would suggest taking the beta blockers before you have a driving lesson or test, so that you can see how you feel on the medication before you do any driving. Beta blockers shouldn’t effect your ability to drive; however, if you do feel any symptoms such as dizziness or tiredness, you shouldn’t drive and you should go back and speak to your GP.
How do beta blockers work?
Beta blockers, also known as propranolol in pharmaceutical terms, work by stopping the transmission of some nerve impulses. These certain impulses are what cause an unnecessarily elevated heartbeat because they stimulate beta-adrenergic receptors. When they are blocked by the beta blockers, your heart does not race. Beta-adrenergic receptors in your body are also stimulated by adrenaline, therefore if you’re anxious, more adrenaline will be released into your bloodstream, causing an increased heart rate and other anxiety symptoms. The beta blocker stops these receptors from being stimulated so the adrenaline in your system does not effect you.
Beta blockers do not reduce anxiety itself, it simply stops it from effecting you. Predominantly, beta blockers can help reduce shaking and an elevated heart rate.
How will I know if I need beta blockers?
Taking an Assessment Lesson with us may give an indication as to whether you might need to speak to your doctor about getting help with your nerves. A second opinion from an instructor about your driving can help you decide what’s right for you. Our driving instructors would be able to identify if you have a problem and help you with some recommendations before you explore other avenues with your doctor.
James, who took his driving lessons in Luton with Drive Luton, was a nervous driver and he almost quit driving. He failed his driving test in Leighton Buzzard a few times, which knocked his confidence. He felt he had tried all other avenues and then went to speak to his doctor, who prescribed him a beta blocker for his nerves. He gave it a try and here’s what he had to say:
“I was so nervous and there was no way that I was going to be able to take my driving test. My doctor suggested I take a beta blocker before my driving lessons to help calm me down and allow me to focus more. When I had my first lesson on the blockers, everything changed, I was calm! I’ve now passed my driving test and I’m a confident driver – I don’t need the blockers for driving now either!”
Things to try before beta blockers
We would always recommend trying to calm yourself down naturally, so if you’re nervous about your driving test then there are more natural ways to help, for example taking rescue remedy for driving test nerves.
The more you know about your driving test, the better prepared you will be and subsequently, you’ll be less nervous. Read our blog post about things to consider when approaching your driving test.
Learning with one of our expert driving instructors can also help. All of our driving instructors at driveJohnson’s are highly experienced at helping nervous drivers. They will put you at ease behind the wheel, building up your driving skills. They will help you to feel confident and overcome anxiety on the day of your test.
