I had HBP and portal hypertension due to liver cirrhosis due to fatty liver disease + alcoholism, to keep varicies from rupturing. Ended up going to the ER 3 times with with life-threatening bleeds, the last even when they had upped the dose to 240mg 2x a day (480 total) It worked great for my HBP and rapid heart rate. Went from Stage I, close to Stage II hypertension down to 90s/70s w/ 62 BPM heart rate. After I had a TIPS put in for the Portal Hypertension, they took me back down to 120mg 1x daily. BUT... even at the lower dosage, I experienced *crippling* side effects: ZERO energy, muscle weakness (couldn't walk for more than one block with feeling like my quadriceps were about to give out), shortness of breath (two flights of stairs and I was out of breath; three and I would be positively gasping), depression, ZERO sex drive, impotence that even ED tablets couldn't treat, depression, inability to concentrate, short-term memory difficulties, depression, weight gain, inability to exercise, sleepiness (could sleep for 14 hrs a day), and did I mention the crippling, black-pit-of despair DEPRESSION that was pretty much constant? I just told my docs that I wasn't taking them any more, period. After three months off, I feel great! No more depression, I now have the energy to exercise daily, and I can do hiking and even get romantic with my wife again! I've lost 25 lbs just by getting off the stuff and starting to eat right. Unfortunately, my BP and HR are returning to pre-propranolol levels, but I WON'T go back on the stuff! Perhaps if losing the rest of this weight doesn't help, or if I have a heart attack, maybe. If there are no alternatives. If you think you need to take Propranolol for any reason, I would say start at the lowest dose possible for your treatment-- you can always try more later. Also,keep a journal of your moods, and any side effects you notice: believe me, you don't want to end up where I was-- it was a very, very bleak place.Read More Read Less