This Widely Used Medication Could Reduce Anxiety, According To Science

Some of the most commonly used medications fall under the class of β-adrenergic receptor antagonists, typically referred to as beta-blockers. Nearly one in 10 adults in the United States are prescribed one of these drugs, as they have decades of established positive effects on several cardiovascular conditions, including congestive heart failure and arrhythmias. Interestingly, recent years have seen an increase in prescriptions for beta-blockers to treat an entirely different health condition: anxiety disorders.

One notable symptom of the body in a fight-or-flight state is increased heart rate. This sensation is typically recognized during panic. Think of literary phrases used in a frightening scene, such as, "Her heart skipped a beat" or "His heart pounded." An important facilitator of this phenomenon are epinephrine and norepinephrine, also known as adrenaline and noradrenaline — two kidns of catecholamines (which, for what it's worth, are different from cortisol). This is actually how the body regulates heart rate; these chemical messengers act on receptors in the heart to speed it up, including β-adrenergic receptors.

As the name suggests, β-adrenergic receptor antagonists work to reduce the activity of β-receptors. They do this by binding to β-adrenergic receptors themselves. So, think of beta-blockers as taking seats in a game of musical chairs. While adrenaline can still bind some of these receptors, so they are not all blocked, beta-blockers reduce their activity by taking up spots. The downstream effect is that beta-blockers can bring down heart rate and ultimately blood pressure by inhibiting adrenaline's activity. But does this actually help with anxiety?

Anxiety disorders are incredibly prevalent, with approximately 31% of Americans experiencing an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. These disorders are characterized by excessive fear that impairs daily function. A common symptom of anxiety is an increased heart rate. In some cases, noticing symptoms such as trouble breathing or a heightened heart rate can result in a feedback loop that worsens anxiety. Therefore, beta-blockers could potentially aid in anxiety by slowing the heart rate down.

Although prescriptions for beta-blockers are on the rise as a treatment for anxiety, there is a lot of debate as to their efficacy. A systematic review published in 2025 showed that there was not substantial evidence to support beta-blockers effectively treating anxiety disorders. The authors of that review point out that many of the studies available had small sample sizes and were conducted nearly 30 years ago. Another review looking at propranolol, a commonly prescribed beta-blocker, also suggested that there is not enough evidence to support the use of beta-blockers as a treatment for anxiety. So, when do beta-blockers actually work?

Despite surprisingly limited clinical trial data for beta-blockers as a primary treatment of anxiety, there are specific contexts in which it appears these drugs are effective. Namely, a common use of beta-blockers is for performance anxiety. Occasionally, anxiety symptoms arise in response to an event such as playing a musical instrument in front of a large audience or when dealing with test anxiety. In these cases, beta-blockers are very commonly used, with one study showing that 57% of musicians used this medication prior to an audition.

Essentially, while these drugs have not proven effective in long-term treatment of anxiety, they can help with specific anxiety-inducing events. This is perhaps a reason that prescriptions are on the rise. Additionally, some physicians see this as an alternative line of treatment to avoid the risks associated with other drugs, such as benzodiazepines. While beta-blockers are often self-reported as helpful in situations of performance anxiety, it is important for individuals to take this medication as prescribed and monitor for adverse symptoms.