Klarinet Archive - Posting 000774.txt from 1997/07

From: Jacqueline Eastwood <eastwooj@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Inderal (sp?)
Date: Thu, 24 Jul 1997 17:16:13 -0400

On Thu, 24 Jul 1997, Diane Karius, Ph.D. wrote:

> A couple things to consider: 1. It does not *prevent* stage
> fright - it merely prevents many of the physical
> symptoms associated with these anxieties. Since anxiety (in most
> people) is increased by these physical symptoms, it makes sense that
> it would help in that regard; 2. It has many side effects -
> adrenalin does many things in the body (normally and during
> fight/flight (stress) responses). Inderal blocks those effects
> mediated by the beta receptors indiscriminantly - so there are many
> physiological changes that will occur when the drug is taken. Along
> those lines - it will lower your blood pressure. If you are standing
> up for long periods, you may experience dizziness or even pass out
> (especially if it is hot). (Based on the comment regarding the
> experience of already having passed out during a recital - Inderal
> may actually make that worse).

> Diane R. Karius, Ph.D.
> Department of Physiology
> University of Health Sciences
> 2105 Independence Ave.
> Kansas City, MO 64124
> email: dikarius@-----.EDU
>
What a great answer -- it's nice to have a couple of medicos on the list!

My personal experience with Inderal (think of me what you will; I don't
care!) is that I take the smallest available dose about an hour ahead of
time. But it really depends what the performance is, too. If it's a
fairly minor thing or I don't have a difficult or important part, I
sometimes will go without and just try to deal with the occasional
physical spazzing that happens to me. When I have an important solo or
very technical part, the physical spazzing gets in the way of what I'm
trying to do, so I take the Inderal. Needless to say, once or twice I've
forgotten it, and my playing has suffered for it.

Part of the problem, as Diane said, is that if you're worried about
uncontrollable muscular tremors in your hands, fingers, arms, lips,
diaphragm, etc. it adds to your anxiety. For me, this is pretty much the
majority of my anxiety!! I'm fairly old, I sit in a dark pit for most of
my gigs where no one can see me very well, and I don't often have "scary"
parts to play. What do I have to be nervous about except the fact that I
can't hold up my instrument or control the flow of my saliva because my
body has gone into bizarre convulsions!

Side effects for me are fairly mild -- my blood pressure does not drop
noticeably (I've had it checked before and after), but I do sweat a lot
(especially if the stage lights are hot) and my mouth gets dry. If you
ever see a wind player biting his tongue (obviously not hard!), chances
are this person takes Inderal -- tongue biting increases salivary output.

Please don't take my information as a recommendation or endorsement; I
simply think you should know as much as you can about it so you can make
an informed decision.

Aside to Mark -- I guess they used to have MAJOR drug problems at
Interlochen -- I went to undergrad with 3 clarinetists who had been at
school there and they were definitely not getting their meds at the
office, if you know what I mean. I hope they have "cleaned up their act",
so to speak.

Jacqueline Eastwood
University of Arizona/Arizona Opera Orchestra
eastwooj@-----.edu