The popular anxiety pill: Experts warn of deadly danger
A new study reveals dozens of deaths from overdose of propranolol, a popular anxiety medication known as the 'panic pill'. Nearly 70% of those affected were women, and 52 cases involved children under 18. In the UK, 8.4 million prescriptions were issued in the past year.
A new study published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology reveals dozens of deaths from overdose of propranolol, a popular medication for treating physical symptoms of anxiety, known on social media as the 'panic pill'. The study examined 363 cases of intentional overdose between 2022 and 2023 and found 35 deaths. Nearly 70% of patients were women, and 52 cases involved children under 18. Among those whose original reason for taking the medication was known, more than 90% received it by prescription for anxiety treatment. In the UK, 8.4 million prescriptions were issued in the year ending June 2026, a 5% increase from the previous year, including 97,362 prescriptions for ages 20 to 24 and 59,717 for teenagers aged 15 to 19. Experts question the drug's effectiveness for anxiety and warn of side effects such as dizziness, weakness, fainting, asthma attacks, and masking warning signs of low blood sugar. The British medicines regulator is reviewing the evidence and considering further action.