Why thousands taking the viral £1.20 ‘panic pill’ are facing a deadly danger: It’s billed as taking ‘the edge off’ midlife anxieties but now experts sound the alarm

Experts are demanding a crackdown on the prescribing of a popular anxiety medication amid growing concerns that it could expose patients to life-threatening risks.

Propranolol, a type of drug called a beta blocker, was originally developed to treat high blood pressure.

However, it is now widely prescribed to control the physical symptoms of anxiety, including a racing heart, shaking and sweating.

It has become particularly popular among women, while social media is awash with claims that ‘the panic pill’ is a quick fix for everything from nerves before a big work presentation to wedding speeches and everyday worries.

It has also received celebrity endorsement, with Hollywood star Robert Downey Jr and former Great British Bake Off judge Dame Prue Leith both speaking publicly about taking beta blockers to calm their nerves before major appearances.

But experts warn that the drug, which slows the heart rate, can cause serious complications in some patients and is particularly dangerous if an overdose is taken.

Now leading medical and pharmacy organisations are demanding tougher national prescribing guidance. 

They warn that doctors may be underestimating the dangers of a medication increasingly seen as a harmless way to calm nerves.

In an open letter, they called on NHS watchdog the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to review its guidance on treating anxiety – and explicitly state that propranolol is not recommended for managing anxiety disorders.

The General Pharmaceutical Council, Royal College of Pharmacy, College of Mental Health Pharmacy and Patient Safety Commissioner for England also raised serious concerns about the dangers of overdose.

A study published last year in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology examined 363 intentional propranolol overdoses reported to the National Poisons Information Service between 2022 and 2023, including 35 deaths.

Almost seven in ten patients were women, while 52 cases involved children under 18.

And among patients whose original reason for taking propranolol was known, more than nine in ten had been prescribed it for anxiety.

According to clinical audits by the Health Services Safety Investigations Body, an estimated 10 to 15 per cent of all GP patients diagnosed with anxiety or depression are prescribed propranolol to help manage their symptoms. 

In UK general practice, the amount of propranolol dispensed is rising steadily, with 8.4million prescriptions in the year to June 2026. 

This is up almost 5 per cent on the preceding 12 months.

And while the total number of patients taking the drug is unknown, figures obtained from the NHS Business Services Authority reveal its widespread use among younger people in England.

In one year alone, 97,362 people aged 20 to 24 were prescribed propranolol, along with 59,717 teenagers aged 15 to 19.

Currently, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) does not recommend propranolol for treating anxiety disorders, although its guidance does not explicitly warn doctors against prescribing it.

Separately, the Royal College of Pharmacy and Royal College of Physicians Medicines Safety Joint Working Group have asked the medicines regulator to review propranolol’s official prescribing information.

They have questioned whether the drug should continue to be licensed for treating anxiety, arguing that there is insufficient evidence it is effective and warning that it can be fatal in overdose.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has confirmed it is reviewing the evidence of harm from overdoses and considering whether further action is needed.

The risk of overdose is by far not the only safety concern linked to beta blockers.

Propranolol blocks the effect of adrenaline on the heart, reducing heart rate and blood pressure.

However, this can cause dizziness, weakness and fainting in susceptible patients, particularly those with low blood pressure or heart rhythm problems.

It can also trigger potentially dangerous asthma attacks by narrowing the airways, while making common reliever inhalers less effective.

In people with diabetes, propranolol can mask the warning signs of dangerously low blood sugar, including shaking and a racing heart.

Other side effects include fatigue, cold hands and feet, disturbed sleep and nightmares.

The drug can also interact with certain heart medications and antidepressants, potentially increasing the risk of complications.

And suddenly stopping propranolol after regular use can cause a rebound increase in heart rate and blood pressure, which can be dangerous for people with underlying heart disease.

Experts suggest safe prescribing should involve medical checks including blood pressure testing, excluding a history of asthma or wheezing, diabetes and depression or self-harm.

The concerns come amid wider questions over whether propranolol is an effective treatment for anxiety at all. 

Experts suggest that while it might help alleviate some of the physical symptoms, such as shaking and palpitations, it does little to ease the underlying psychological distress. 

Patients take the drug but continue to feel frightened, worried and overwhelmed. 

A systematic review of eight trials involving roughly 200 participants found insufficient evidence to support use of propranolol for anxiety disorders.

And a 2024 paper in the British Journal of General Practice, titled ‘Propranolol in anxiety: poor evidence for efficacy and toxicity in overdose’, raised similar concerns.

Its authors also examined why GPs continued prescribing the drug. 

Research suggested several reasons: clinicians considered it relatively low risk, viewed it as safer than sedative drugs such as benzodiazepines and believed patients appreciated its rapid effect.

Small studies have found that propranolol can reduce physical symptoms before anxiety-inducing events, including public speaking and musical performances.

However the research is too limited to establish how effective it is overall for this use.