Beta-blockers (3)

hornplayer.net Information archive

here

Beta-blockers (3)

Jack M has a positive opinion about the benefits of Inderal:

Well, what I noticed was that I *was* playing much more the way I do when not worried about performing. I played more relaxed, and in my case much better.

I'm not convinced, Jack. Any medication that causes you to perform in your case, rather than on the stage where you belong, has too many side effects for my taste. And what if someone decides to drop your case six inches or so. What then?

Gotta go,
Cabbage

Hey, don't knock case performing 'till you try it. Of course some cases have better acoustics than others. Oh, and bring a stand light. Now if you'll excuse me I have to get back to working on my seven octave arpeggios.

Jack Martin

Beta blockers counteract the effects on the body of adrenaline. I believe that some people release lots more adrenaline into their own bloodstreams when nervous than do others. Musicians in that category -- and particularly players of horn, that most nervous-making of all instruments -- are literally incapacitated when nervous, and can't play to any reasonable standard. If you happen to be one of those musicians, you have three good choices: solve the root cause of the nervousness, take beta blockers, or stop playing. In my own case, I've done enough orchestral playing not to be nervous any more most of the time; if I'm playing an exposed solo or in chamber music, though, I still may need to go to beta blockers.

Phil Nathanson

Just a thought I'd like to share on the beta blocker issue: We as a society haven't made up our minds as to what is a medical affliction and what is an undesireably habit. Scientific studies will come and go, but ultimately we have no easy way to distinguish bad states of mind from bad brain chemistry at the kind of subtle levels that are involved. Is it a disease? Does it need treatment? Chemical? Counseling? Body-awareness-exercises? Accupuncture? We could just as easily (and ineffectively) be debating Prozac.

Chris

My question: How do you get them? Does a doctor prescribe them, do you smuggle them from Mexico, other people give them to you?

The only way anyone should be taking beta blockers for any reason is under the supervision of and as directed by his physician.

Cindy Lewis

I have seen several notes saying that some of the players take beta~blockers for nerves. My question: How do you get them? Does a doctor prescribe them, do you smuggle them from Mexico, other people give them to you?

"Caution: Federal law prohibits dispensing without prescription" - P 3046 Physicians' Desk Reference, 1998.

Burton E. Hardin

I have recently been prescribed Inderal LA (the LA is for long acting) by my doctor for health related reasons-- not for performance anxiety. I have noticed that in performance situations after starting to take the Inderal there is a difference. There's that thing where the nervousness can severly interefere with you being able to play the way you "usually do", i.e. in non-performance situations. Well, what I noticed was that I *was* playing much more the way I do when not worried about performing. I played more relaxed, and in my case much better.

My 5 1/2 drachmas.

Jack Martin

Does Viagra increase your range and endurance?

No, still can only throw a mellophone about 20 meters. Hang time has increased by about a half a second. 8^)

In his awe-inspiring wisdom Burt Hardin wrote:

CARDIOVASCULAR: Slow heartbeat, congestive heart failure, low blood pressure, numbing of hands, bleeding under the skin, arterial insufficiency.
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM: Light-headedness, mental depression progressing to catatonia, insomnia, weakness, fatigue, visual disturbances, hallucinations, vivid dreams, disorientation of time and place, short-term memory loss.
GASTROINTESTINAL: Nausea, vomiting stomach distress, abdominal cramping, diarrhea, constipation, blood clots, colitiis caused by insufficient blood.
ALLERGIC: Swelling of th pharynx, rash, fever, respiratory distress.
RESPIRATORY: Bronchospasm.
HEMATOLOGIC: Agranulacytosis, nonthrombocytopenic purpura, thrombocytopenic purpura.
AUTOIMMUNE: (rarely) systemic lupus erythematosus.
MISCELLANEOUS: Psoriasis-form rashes, dry eyes, male impotence.

Wow, you scared me! I thought these were the side effects of horn playing!

scottito

Does Viagra increase your range and endurance? BP

Ben, don't even JOKE about taking them together!

Burton E. Hardin

Does Viagra increase your range and endurance?

Nope, it just makes your chops stiff.

Brian Brown

I was brought to your site by searching for "beta blocker" information over the internet. The editorials on this subject were fascinating, and I thought that I'd like to offer my own two cents.

I am a student studying piano and oboe at Hope College. As long as I have been studying music, I have also been a victim of severe performance anxiety. I didn't seek medical attention for my problem until I performed a very difficult piano solo at a public recital. My hands were shaking so intensely, that I was not physically able to play the solo. As soon as I saw the neurologist, he identified a condition called "familial tremors," which is not a psychological abnormality, but rather a physical abnormality. I now take beta blockers, and play dramatically better because of them. I am not using a "crutch" and this has nothing to do with the amount of preparation I put into my music or my self-perceptions. This is simply a medication for a physical disability, that has enabled me to give numerous performances. I am not sure if I would use this drug if I did not have to, due to some loss in attention levels and memory. However, I believe that it is very important that! we recognize that it is no more a crime to use beta-blockers than it is to take aspirin for a headache.

Sarah Herman

All the views expressed in these articles are those of the author of the article. Hornplayer.net is in no way responsible for opinions expressed. Hornplayer.net is not responsible for any actions taken as a result of information contained within this website.

Back to the archive index