What to Know About Propranolol, the "Magic Anxiety Pill" Celebrities Are Taking
Robert Downey Jr. opened his 2024 Golden Globe acceptance speech by announcing he had just taken a beta-blocker. Kristen Bell has talked about using one at red carpet events. Rachel Sennott, Natasha Rothwell, and Khloé Kardashian — who admitted she borrows her mother's prescription — have all mentioned it publicly.
The drug is propranolol. It was designed for heart conditions. And it has quietly become Hollywood's go-to anxiety pill.
What It Actually Does
Propranolol was FDA approved in 1967 to treat high blood pressure, irregular heart rate, and angina. Doctors quickly noticed it also dampened the physical symptoms of anxiety — racing heart, sweating, trembling hands, nausea. The ones that show up on a red carpet or a stage before a big speech.
Unlike Xanax or Valium, which work directly on the brain and can leave people feeling foggy and sedated, propranolol doesn't touch the psychological experience of anxiety at all. It just blocks the body's physical response to it.
"It's a beta-blocker, not a bravery booster," said Dipa Kamdar, a senior lecturer in pharmacy practice at Kingston University. "It won't fix your fear of public speaking or make you smoother on a first date — though it might stop your hands from shaking while you try."
It also works fast. While antidepressants prescribed for anxiety can take weeks to kick in, propranolol can take effect within an hour. For someone walking a red carpet or stepping up to a podium, that speed is the whole point.
How Much It's Grown
The celebrity endorsements have had a measurable effect. U.S. prescriptions are up 28% since 2020. In the UK, the increase over the past decade is 37.6% according to NHS England data.
The most striking numbers are among young women and girls. In the UK, prescriptions among girls aged 12 to 17 went from 618,813 in 2015 to over 1.1 million in 2025. Among women aged 18 to 23, prescriptions jumped by 81.7%.
Researchers point to a generation that grew up under the pressures of social media, an epidemic of gender-based violence, and the isolating effects of COVID as context for why anxiety treatments are in such demand among young people right now. Propranolol's appeal is partly its speed and availability — and partly that culturally it's treated as something light and casual. As The Boston Globe put it, it's portrayed "as if it's nothing more than a breath mint."
Is It Actually Safe?
Compared to Xanax or Valium, yes — propranolol is non-addictive and generally considered low risk. But that doesn't mean risk-free.
Because it lowers blood pressure and heart rate, common side effects include dizziness, fatigue, cold hands and feet, and vivid dreams. More serious but rare risks include heart failure, breathing difficulties, and allergic reactions.
In the UK a 17-year-old girl died in 2023 after taking propranolol alongside other pain relief medication — a case that prompted the General Pharmaceutical Council to highlight overdose risk. The UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence still recommends cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and antidepressants as the first line of treatment for anxiety — not beta-blockers.
The core issue isn't really the drug itself. It's that propranolol treats symptoms without touching the underlying cause. The anxiety is still there. The fear of public speaking is still there. The racing thoughts on a first date are still there. The hands just aren't shaking anymore.
For a one-off high-stakes moment, that might be exactly what someone needs. As a long-term strategy for managing anxiety, it's a different conversation — one worth having with a doctor rather than borrowing someone else's prescription before a big night out.
Curious for more stories that keep you informed and entertained? From the latest headlines to everyday insights, YourLifeBuzz has more to explore. Dive into what’s next.