The rise of beta blockers as an anti-stress tool

 The rise of beta blockers as an anti-stress tool

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Y’all. As one red carpet interviewer joked at last year’s Academy Awards, “numb is in.” The comment came during a conversation with actress Rachel Sennott, one of many celebrities who have recently sung the praises of beta blockers, an adrenaline-blocking blood pressure medication that’s being prescribed off-label to help make stressful events more manageable. The Kardashians arguably popularized the trend. Discourse around beta blockers, or more specifically, propranolol, went mainstream after a 2022 episode of The Kardashians in which Khloé said she sometimes took beta blockers that were prescribed to her mom for anxiety (disclaimer: they should only be taken as prescribed). Since then: Robert Downey Jr. said he took a beta blocker before presenting at the Golden Globes in 2024, and Dan Levy did the same to host the Emmys. The drug was discussed on an episode of Amy Poehler’s podcast, Good Hang, where influencer Paige DeSorbo pitched Poehler on its benefits. Odds are, you or someone you know is taking them, too—propranolol prescriptions are up nearly 40% over the past decade, according to NHS England data obtained by The Observer. The biggest spikes came from girls and women ages 12 to 23. This isn’t like the Limitless pill. Beta blockers only calm the physical symptoms of stress and anxiety, not the racing thoughts, so they aren’t considered a proper substitute for anti-anxiety or antidepressant medications, like SSRIs. And don’t plan on cliff jumping, either. Since the drug slows your heart rate, it can make you feel light-headed or tired, especially if you’re exercising.