<human>: I am 64 yrs old, 5foot 4inches and weigh 9 stone 4lb and i am female. I have been suffering with anxiety for about 5 weeks and this has caused high blood pressure and a high heart rate. Yesterday I started propranolol 10 mg 2 daily. I have been feeling a bit sick and a bit light headed is this normal. I am not very good at taking tablets and I must admit that these ones frighten me a bit as it seems as though they are difficult to come off. My heart rate has come down from 108 to 80 but the blood pressure seems high still.
<bot>: Hi, Propranolol has heart rate lowering action and BP lowering effect is weak, so you need to have some more BP lowering medicine like Telmisartan or Amlodipine. You should have a healthy lifestyle like avoiding fatty, oily and high calorie diet. Have low salt diet and monitor blood pressure regularly thrice a day for one week then once or twice a week. Regular exercises like brisk walking, jogging according your capacity at least 30 min a day and 5 days a week. Eat lots of green leafy vegetables, fruits, fish once or twice a week, avoid meat. Avoid smoking and alcohol if any. There shouldn't be abdominal fat deposition or obesity. Get your lipid profile and sugars tested once. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.