Buy Propranolol Online? First, Read This Honest Review
We spoke with Brodie Lancaster ahead of her appearance at the launch of the highly anticipated 2016 Emerging Writers’ Festival Program. A superstar in our eyes, we can’t wait to hear her talk to us all about failure and ambition at The Wheeler Centre on 10 May.
You are performing at our Program Launch: ‘Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars’. Do you have moments you think about that encapsulate this theme in your own life?
You’ll have to hear my talk at the Program Launch to know the answer to that!
JK, but kind of. I guess all those in-between moments of limbo I’ve had in my life—times when I decided to move across the world or cut ties with someone or start (or quit) a big project—present that opportunity to either succeed or fail spectacularly. The decisions we make during those cloudy moments are what I think about when I hear the phrase, Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars.
You do a lot – you founded the zine Filmme Fatales, you’re senior editor of The Good Copy, you write stuff yourself and have contributed to publications widely, plus more – how do you juggle all these things and transition between hats?
It’s not super glamorous or inspiring, but I don’t do much more but work. Even right now, I’m writing these answers as I go HAM on my inbox on an Amtrak from Portland to Seattle, where I’m giving a big talk tomorrow. But ultimately, everything I do kiiiiinda connects in some way, so each disparate job helps another.
The Good Copy is my day job—I’m a senior editor there and I work on editorial copywriting projects from nine to five—and it helps to keep my brain active and work out my technical writing muscles.
I put that exercise into practice when it comes to freelancing and I need to take feedback, be concise and clear in my arguments and phrase juuust the right tweet to share stuff I’ve written. (lol)
I work on Filmme Fatales both at work (it’s published by The Good Copy) and during any moment of downtime I have.
Oh, and I’m also trying to write a book right now hahahaha. I know.
What have you been working on lately?
I’m at the end of a two-month trip around America right now. While here, I’ve been covering the SXSW Film program for Filmme Fatales, I gave a talk in New York City and I’m about to give a talk on fangirls and One Direction at the EMP Pop Conference in Seattle. After that, I’m going to be taking a week in LA to work on my book a little more before I come home and get back into everything I talked about doing in the previous question.
What are you excited by in the Australian literary landscape at the moment?
Without sounding like a douchey name-dropper, I’m excited by how many people I know (or even just people my age, with similar levels of writing and life experience as I have) have books out that I can buy and read, and that so many other people can too! The first thing I’m doing when I get home is buying Jennifer Down’s Our Magic Hour; I just saw Omar Musa’s book Here Come The Dogs at Powell’s in Portland; Minna Gilligan’s Time After Time, which came out last year, is one of my favourite non-fiction books. As someone who is trying to write a book right now and who never ever thought I would or could or should write a book, it’s encouraging and invigorating to read incredible work by people who make that feel possible.
Have you any advice for fellow writers?
I have a lot! But real quick, I think it is very important to remember to write what you know and like, and not what you think you’re supposed to be writing for whatever trend/style/internetty reason.
What aspects of the Emerging Writers’ Festival do you look forward to?
I love seeing everyone from Twitter IRL!!!!!! Also I really love the diversity of the programming (shoutout to me and my fellow cute’n’smart members of this year’s Programming Advisory Committee) and the commitment EWF has always had to programming people who aren’t just ~big names~; I always hear about or meet people at the festival whose work I didn’t know about before the event takes place.
Brodie Lancaster is the editor of Filmme Fatales, a zine about women and cinema, and a senior editor at The Good Copy, a writing studio in Collingwood.
She has written for Rookie, Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, Vulture and other publications. Her first book, a pop culture memoir called No Way! Okay, Fine!, will be out next year with Hachette.
Early Bird Tickets to The National Writers’ Conference are available now. Taking place over two days, with over seventy speakers, The National Writers’ Conference features panels, conversations, and performances, allowing you meet this year’s Ambassadors and other writers from around Australia.
Golden Tickets to the Emerging Writers’ Festival are also available now. Golden Tickets are your passport to the Emerging Writers’ Festival. They will give you access to the National Writers’ Conference, plus the rest of the festival including all panels, talks, performances and selected workshops.
The 2016 Emerging Writers’ Festival program launches on Tuesday, 10 May at The Wheeler Centre.
Propranolol in Australia: A Doctor’s Review for Over-30s Who Want Their Body to Stop Betraying Them
Written from an Australian medical perspective. This article is educational only and does not replace individual medical advice.
Attention: Why You Feel Out of Control
If you are over 30, you probably know this moment: your boss asks you to present, your hands start shaking, your heart pounds, your face flushes, and your mind goes blank. Or maybe you avoid job interviews, weddings, flights, or even dinner parties because your body alarms before your brain can calm down. You may have tried breathing exercises, meditation, or even alcohol to cope. The problem is not that you are weak — the problem is adrenaline.
Propranolol, a beta-blocker used in Australia for more than 50 years, directly blocks that adrenaline surge. It does not sedate you or change your personality. It simply turns down the body’s alarm system so you can perform, speak, and live without the physical storm. If you also suffer from migraines, essential tremor, or high blood pressure, propranolol may be the single most useful medicine you are not yet using.
Interest: What Is Propranolol and Why Australian Doctors Trust It
Propranolol belongs to a class of medicines called beta-blockers. It works by blocking beta-adrenergic receptors in the heart and blood vessels. This means stress hormones such as adrenaline cannot produce a racing heart, high blood pressure, or shaking hands. Because propranolol has been prescribed since the 1960s, its safety profile is extremely well understood. In Australia, it is available as 10 mg, 40 mg, 80 mg and 160 mg tablets or capsules, with common brands including Inderal® and generic propranolol.
Propranolol at a glance for Australian patients
| Feature |
Details |
| Drug class |
Non-selective beta-blocker |
| Common uses |
Performance anxiety, panic symptoms, migraine prevention, essential tremor, high blood pressure, angina, certain arrhythmias |
| How it feels |
Calmer heart rate, less tremor, less sweating — usually no sedation |
| Onset of action |
30–60 minutes for immediate-release tablets |
| Half-life |
3–6 hours for immediate-release; longer for modified-release forms |
| Legal status in Australia |
Schedule 4 — prescription only |
| Typical cost |
Approximately $15–$25 per month for generic propranolol on private script; PBS coverage depends on indication |
Desire: What Propranolol Can Do for You
Propranolol for panic disorder – evidence
Panic disorder is not “all in your head”. Many Australians over 30 first notice physical symptoms — palpitations, chest tightness, dizziness, sweating — and then the fear of those symptoms creates a panic spiral. Propranolol is not an SSRI and does not directly treat the emotional part of panic, but clinical evidence and randomised studies show it can reduce the somatic symptoms that trigger panic, especially when taken 30–60 minutes before a known stressor. For situational panic, performance anxiety, and the physical symptoms of panic, low-dose propranolol is a fast-acting, non-addictive option. Typical doses of 10–40 mg as needed are used for performance anxiety, while 40–80 mg per day may be used for more frequent somatic symptoms. It does not cause dependence and can be used only on the days you need it.
Propranolol half-life – how long does it stay in your system
Many patients worry about feeling medicated all day. In reality, immediate-release propranolol has a half-life of about 3–6 hours, meaning its effect generally lasts 6–12 hours. After about 24–30 hours, most of the drug has left your system. This makes it ideal for situational use: take it before a trigger, and it wears off later.
How long propranolol lasts
| Formulation |
Onset |
Half-life |
Duration of effect |
| Immediate-release tablet |
30–60 minutes |
3–6 hours |
6–12 hours |
| Modified-release capsule |
1–2 hours |
Longer, roughly 8–11 hours |
Up to 24 hours |
Propranolol and contrast dye – interaction
If you need a CT scan or angiography with contrast dye, you must tell your doctor or radiologist that you take propranolol. Contrast dye can rarely cause allergic reactions. Propranolol may blunt the heart-rate warning sign that normally alerts staff to a reaction, and it can make the reaction harder to treat because epinephrine may be less effective in people taking beta-blockers. This is not an absolute contraindication, but your radiology team may want to monitor you more closely or adjust your medicines around the scan. Always disclose propranolol before any contrast study.
Propranolol and swimming – safety
Because propranolol lowers heart rate and blood pressure, it can reduce your exercise tolerance and make you feel dizzy or faint, especially in cold water or after standing quickly. Swimming is generally safe for stable patients, but you should start slowly, never swim alone, avoid very cold water, and stop immediately if you feel lightheaded, unusually tired, or short of breath. If you are new to propranolol, avoid strenuous swimming until you know how your body responds.
Propranolol and alcohol – is it safe to drink
Alcohol and propranolol both lower blood pressure. Together they can cause dizziness, fainting, poor coordination, and a feeling of being drugged. Alcohol can also worsen some of propranolol’s side effects. It is best to limit or avoid alcohol while taking propranolol, especially in the first few weeks. If you do drink, one standard drink may feel much stronger than before. Never use alcohol to “boost” the calming effect — this is dangerous and can cause dangerous drops in blood pressure.
Propranolol and delirium in hospitalised patients
Propranolol crosses the blood-brain barrier. In older or unwell hospitalised patients, especially at higher doses, it can cause confusion, nightmares, hallucinations, or worsen delirium. This is more likely in people over 70 or those already at risk of cognitive problems. If you or a loved one becomes confused or agitated in hospital while taking propranolol, tell the medical team immediately. They may reduce the dose or switch to a water-soluble beta-blocker that does not enter the brain as easily. Propranolol is not a first-line treatment for delirium and should not be used for that purpose.
Propranolol overdose – symptoms and treatment in Australia
Overdose of propranolol is a medical emergency. Symptoms can include severe slow heart rate, very low blood pressure, difficulty breathing, bronchospasm, low blood sugar, seizures, and cardiac arrest. In Australia, if you suspect an overdose, call 000 immediately. Treatment in an Australian emergency department may include activated charcoal if the overdose was recent, IV fluids, atropine, glucagon, high-dose insulin euglycaemic therapy, calcium, vasopressors, and intensive care support. Keep all medicines out of reach of children and never take more than your prescribed dose.
Safety summary for busy Australians over 30
| Situation |
Key point |
Doctor’s advice |
| Contrast dye |
May mask allergic reaction warning signs |
Tell the radiologist you take propranolol |
| Swimming |
Can cause dizziness or fainting, especially in cold water |
Swim with a partner, start slowly, avoid cold water |
| Alcohol |
Additive blood pressure lowering and dizziness |
Limit or avoid alcohol, especially at first |
| Delirium |
Can worsen confusion in elderly hospitalised patients |
Tell hospital staff if confusion occurs |
| Overdose |
Severe bradycardia, hypotension, seizures |
Call 000 and seek emergency care |
Other pain points propranolol can address
- Migraine prevention: Propranolol is a first-line preventive in Australia, reducing migraine frequency by about 50% in many patients.
- Essential tremor: Shaky hands during presentations, fine motor tasks, or social situations can be dramatically improved.
- High blood pressure: Propranolol lowers blood pressure and reduces strain on the heart.
- Performance anxiety: Musicians, executives, public speakers, and professionals use low-dose propranolol to stop the physical symptoms of nerves before they start.
Action: How to Get a Propranolol Prescription in Australia
You do not have to keep avoiding the moments that matter. If you are over 30 and tired of your body racing ahead of your mind, propranolol may help you regain control — quickly, safely, and without sedation. The first step is a simple conversation with your Australian GP.
To get started:
- Book a telehealth or in-person GP appointment. Many Australian practices offer same-day telehealth.
- Describe your physical symptoms and when they occur. Be specific: “My heart races and my hands shake before presentations,” or “I get migraines every month.”
- Ask about propranolol as a trial. Say: “Could low-dose propranolol help my situational anxiety/panic symptoms/tremor/migraines?”
- Get an e-script and collect your medicine from an Australian pharmacy. Never buy propranolol online without a valid Australian script — that is unsafe and illegal.
Propranolol is not suitable for everyone. Your GP will check your heart rate, blood pressure, and medical history. People with asthma, certain heart rhythm problems, or severe heart failure may need a different medicine. But for many Australians over 30, propranolol is the turning point they wish they had found years earlier.
Final doctor’s note: Propranolol is not a sedative, not addictive, and not a “happy pill”. It works by blocking adrenaline. For many patients, that physical calm is enough to change their life. Speak to your doctor today and ask whether propranolol is suitable for you.
Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and does not replace individual medical advice. Always consult an Australian registered medical practitioner before starting or changing any medication.
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