Propranolol, a beta-blocker originally designed for heart conditions, has become popular among celebrities as a treatment for anxiety, with prescriptions surging in recent years. Celebrities including Kristen Bell, Rachel Sennott, Natasha Rothwell, Khloe Kardashian and Robert Downey Jr. have all mentioned taking the pill, leading to a surge in prescriptions especially among young women and girls.
How It Works
The beta-blocker was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 1967 for treating heart problems including high blood pressure, arrhythmia (irregular heart rate) and angina. It soon became clear the drug also reduced physical responses to anxiety, such as high heart rate, sweating, nausea and trembling hands. Unlike drugs like Xanax or Valium, which “act directly on the brain and can leave people feeling sedated, foggy, or zoned out,” propranolol doesn’t address anxiety’s “underlying roots” but “blocks its physical symptoms” by slowing down the heart rate and lowering blood pressure. Because it can take effect within an hour, unlike certain anti-depressants that can take weeks to work, propranolol has become the “go-to pill for dealing with all sorts of stressful situations, from public speaking to first dates.”
Rising Prescriptions
In the US, overall prescriptions are up 28% from 2020, while NHS England figures show an increase of 37.6% over the past decade. The biggest rise in the UK has been among girls aged between 12 and 17—up from 618,813 prescriptions in 2015 to more than 1.1 million in 2025. The second highest increase in use at 81.7% is among women aged 18 to 23. The increasing popularity among young women and girls “points to a generation that has grown up with the pressures of social media and an epidemic of gender-based violence, as well as the isolating effects of Covid.”
Risks and Considerations
Compared to Xanax or Valium, propranolol is non-addictive and low-risk. However, because it works to reduce blood pressure and heart rate, common side-effects include dizziness, fatigue, cold hands and feet, and vivid dreams. More serious risks—though rare—include heart failure, breathing difficulties and allergic reactions. The General Pharmaceutical Council has highlighted the risk of overdose following the death of a 17-year-old girl in 2023.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://theweek.com/health/how-beta-blockers-became-the-magic-pill-for-anxiety