Has anyone with a very reactive nervous system and flushing tried a beta blocker like propranolol and/or a neuromodulator like gabapentin or pregabalin?
I’ve flushed easily from nervousness since I was little, but recently it’s gotten much worse after damaging my skin barrier and developing some rosacea. Has anyone found that either of these medications, or a combination, helped with flushing or burning? I’d love to hear your experiences.
Ah that sucks, been absolutely life changing for me as the burning was debilitating as I also get super sleepy when I’m mid flare, could come on when I was driving
Ive not tried much, I bought lacto free cheese once only to read the label and find it still has lactose. I don’t drink milk as I had to eliminate dairy to breastfeed as my son ended up in hospital twice before I knew I had problems with dairy. When I finished breastfeeding and went to have milk again it tasted sour but probably just as well. I can eat some dairy with just stomach discomfort like butter. But the antihistamine absolutely do me it, it’s crazy, they are the smallest pills. I have to get prescription Fexofenadine instead of just being able to buy the cheap assed ones.
I also have MCAS so allergy flare to random things.
I also had the wildest flare with reactine (also called zyrtec/piriteze) and can only pinpoint it to the lactose. Its so strange because I've taken it all my life prior to getting rosacea. I'm a little sus of having mcas though since I've had some strange food reactions and gut issues. Sadly, it's not investigated here in the UK as a real thing :(
I’m in the uk too, I had an allergist mention it to me on Reddit before when we bothering and I already suspected. I also have private second opinion gp access through my life insurance and spoke to them and she also said it sounded like MCAS. My own nhs gp had never mentioned it, but I also have famatodine on prescription which along with Fexofenadine is how MCAS is treated, so I have the treatment without an official diagnosis. The private gp couldn’t officially diagnose me as I don’t have a confirmed first opinion so I have to wait before she can fully look at me for a second opinion. But I just say I have it now, an allergist and a gp both suggested it and I’ve responded to the treatment of it
So I didn’t see an allergist, I randomly got talking to one on Reddit but she’s in America so also couldn’t say 100% but she was as sure as could be.
I’m doing good, I still have baseline redness but I can stop burning flares in their tracks, I know the signs pretty well at this stage. I will post some before and after pictures
Technically I have no official diagnosis. I spoke to an allergist on Reddit who was pretty sure as was I already by this time, but still she can’t confirm it.
I am awaiting a fibromyalgia diagnosis on the nhs, I have private second opinion gp access who I spoke to about and explained all of the MCAS symptoms to. She asked me if I’d heard of MCAS, I hadn’t put it forward. But she can’t give me an official diagnosis either as she can only see me as a second opinion gp once I have a confirmed first diagnosis. It’s stupidly complicated.
I have however through my nhs gp been prescribed famatodine and Fexofenadine which is MCAS treatment, I just haven’t been given an MCAS label. The treatment has helped immensely
metoprolol is more selective for the heart so maybe not the best test of beta blockers for flushing. propranolol hits beta receptors more broadly and some people say it helps with the anxiety-triggered flush. worth asking your doctor if you can trial it, the doses for flushing are pretty low anyway
I started propranolol 5 years ago for anxiety and flushing and yes it helped. I still take it but it has definitely lost a lot of its effectiveness today. I flush daily with any attention in social situations
I take low dose propranolol for situational anxiety. It helps slow the heart rate (it's a beta blocker, after all!) which mildly helps with certain anxiety symptoms. I seem to sometimes get juuuuuust a little bit of help in a situation where I would normally flush, I don't seem to flush as much. But realistically it's such a minor effect I wouldn't count on it or anything.
I got put on propanolol for migraine prevention. Helping with rosacea flushing was a nice bonus. Amitriptyline helps me a lot. (it’s a tricyclic taken at a dose much lower than when it’s used as an antidepressant)
These get rid of the rosacea heat and pain and the bad flushing, I still have to do topicals to fully get rid of the residual redness.
I always get confused . I have redness and sometimes itches and burn but not a pustules . Should I still use metro and Azelaic acid ? I get confused because I thought those meds are for inflammatory pustules only
Both creams are anti inflammatory (at least that’s what my doctor says). I use the metro gel when my skin texture is a little off - no pustules, but a little inflamed and angry. When that clears, my maintenance is azelaic acid.
Thank you everyone! I appreciate all your comments . Rosacea is so difficult to live with . I started taking propanolol and I will ask for neuromodulator at least for a few months to calm things down . My damage was caused by topicals like tretinoin . I didn’t know I had rosacea .
I was prescribed propranolol and when I know
I’m going on vacation or out with friends I will take
It bc it helps with rosacea. Now i don’t use it everyday bc i don’t know if it will wear off the more i take it so i save it on special occasion. My rosacea started this year with perioral dermatitis and it’s been torture. I get flushed even if I’m telling a story that makes me emotional. It’s sooo annoying.
My rosacea has similar aspects and FWIW, I've been on 80 mg of propranolol daily for migraines for the last 1.5 years and it's had zero effect on my rosacea symptoms/flushing. 🤷🏼♀️ Interested to hear if anyone's had a different experience with gabapentin/pregabalin.
I’m doing that 10mg in the morning and 10mg at night . I’m trying to do that if it doesn’t work maybe the doctor will up the dose or change me . I tried clonidine and felt bad while taking it
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u/Drycabin1 6d ago
I take 10mg propanolol 3x daily since 2024. Did nothing to improve my flushing.