Cardiac drugs for public speaking are a thing now

KICK

Over a year ago, we brought you the story of an extremely San Francisco company developing a telemedicine platform aimed at anxious public speakers. Today, Kick, as the company is called, is launching its online prescription service for the heart drug propranolol that's long been used by anxious musicians, poker players, and tech executives before a big performance.

 

It'll set you back $59 to get 24 tablets packaged not unlike a box of mints; the price also includes the online doctor's visit and any followup. Anxious public speakers who've used propranolol call it a magic pill to calm their nerves, and it's an old drug with a strong safety profile. Still, though, propranolol carries a small but real risk of side effects, which can range from lightheadedness all the way up to reports of congestive heart failure and anaphylaxis.

 

As you might guess, mental health professionals we interviewed back in 2017 were not thrilled about the idea.