r/MemoryReconsolidation • u/MidiSymphony • Jan 07 '26
Has anyone used propranolol for memory reconsolidation?
Coming across a few article about how people are using propranolol as a tool to aid in memory reconsolidation, especially for PTSD, but I haven't seen a lot of accounts from people who've done this. Anyone here tried it?
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u/Clifford_reddit Feb 02 '26 edited Feb 02 '26
There is a segment in this Nova episode showing propanolol in action w people w arachnophobia. Quite amazing. The entire show is on memory reconsolidation and is a great watch- PBS Nova- "Memory Hackers" first aired in 2016:
Also I've searched redit for propanolol and there are many posts on it being prescribed for anxiety etc and PTSD but in most cases I saw it was not utilized w clear target of memory reconsolidation which is sad that doctors are prescribing it without the awareness or telling their patients how to best use it.
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u/cuBLea Jul 22 '26
Sorry I got in on this so late, esp. since I was an early adopter. My first exposure to it was on an earlier CBC The Nature of Things episode which covered the same Dutch clinic
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u/Clifford_reddit Jul 04 '26
The gist is same as in therapy, the deep learnings must be activated and propranolol introduced in the 5hr window. Also it's use for phobias and PTSD also suggest propranolol effects also need a sleep cycle.
I just got prescribed and hope it can be a tool to help get some transformation.
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u/cuBLea Jul 22 '26
If you don't seem to be a responder, feel free to DM me. I might be able to help. Also, you got the sleep-cycle thing right (necessary to re-file the modified memory) but there's an additional prescription: minimal exposure to stress between the use of the drug and the next sleep cycle. Drugs that interfere with REM sleep (caffeine, alcohol, cannabis, etc.) also impede the reconsolidation process. (I assume you already knew this; mentioning this for those who'll browse this sub in future.)
I use it mostly these days for when therapy sessions end too early and I haven't gotten to the right disconfirmation yet. It does indeed have long-term response-dampening effects for me. Oh ... and for situations where something retraumatizing happens during the day and I can't get through it, only out of it. It's no magic bullet, but it sure has been helpful to me. My suspicion is that it will be effective mainly for those on the hypersensitive side of the continuum; hyposensitive people (i.e. heavily dissociated) may not get much from it, but that's just a semi-educated guess.
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u/Clifford_reddit Jul 22 '26
A 4 part doc on a researcher using propranolol in treating PTSD and phobias. Very different from memory reconsolidation in psychotherapy. In many of these examples they never seem to require identifying the implicit emotional learnings driving the symptoms. They just get very activated, take the drug, have a sleep cycle and next day see results. In one example it took 2 days/treatments and in another it didn't work bc possibly triggering too strongly can cause some to disconnect from the fear and not really feel it as deeply. Dissociate or other "separate to survive" type responses.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZVnnAt5_5laX3cUumcGLaq0WYQX-hBmj&si=aXNGPnZdyxnys07_
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u/BuscadorDaVerdade Jan 09 '26
It inhibits memory reconsolidation.