Beta Blockers Q's

[zoe ashcraft]

Hi all,

Well, Propranolol was the Orthostatic TAchycardia specialist's first trial with me and I'm really confused about the results.

First I had a lot of wheezing- it did get better over time- and as long as I only took 1/4 of a pill instead of a whole one it seemed like having my heartrate, slowed and strengthened was helping.

However, what I didn't tell the doctor was that I was told I might have the beginning stages of emphasema. (sp) On the other hand it could just be an Ehler Danlos thing with the lungs. Anyways, I've heard that beta blockers aren't given to ppl with Emph.

I'm wondering how the beta blockers have or haven't helped any of you.

Last night I tried again to take a full half dose- (play on words?) and had more trouble with that whole weighted down body feeling and difficulty moving and functioning, difficulty walking and breathing, (shortness of breath, fast heartrate) To top it off I was wondering if the bb. could raise ICP- because the horrendous searing pains in my eyes, (esp. right eye) I used to get with my seizures was really bad- but has been worse overall lately anyway.

I know it's conveluded but if any of you are up to sharing your experiences with beta blockers, I'd be grateful,

thanks.

z

[jump]

I was on a beta-blocker for a while, and I found it did help control my symptoms somewhat. It was prescribed to me by the cardiologist who diagnosed me.

However, when I saw an EP who specialized in POTS, he said a beta blocker is really not an appropriate drug for POTS, especially not as a first-try. His reasoning was that all a BB did was slow down one's heart rate, so one's tachycardias appeared to be less, but it did nothing for the orthostatic CHANGE in heart rate, and was sort of a band-aid treatment that treated a major symptom and did nothing for the cause. That said, lots of people with POTS are on BBs, so obviously not everyone agrees with my doc.

[iheartcats]

Propranolol was not in my first-line of treatment, but I am on it now. Tachychardia was an awful symptom for me - mine would go crazy. 160s walking around and up.

I also often feel 'over-stimulated' even though I am not. So it has really helped me.

I did have a breathing test first. I passed, so they felt that Propranolol would be OK. Have you had a breathing study? They did it as outpatient and it was not too bad. I just wanted to make sure there was no asthma as I have allergies.

Now allergies and BBs are a different thing - and personally my benefits outweigh the possible side effects with allergies. I paid for a food allergy skin test first (was that a fun bunch of money to spend) and it was negative to give myself more peace of mind, if that makes sense, since I get random hives.

Aren't POTS people fun to treat?

[Chaos]

I've been on low dose propranolol for 2 years- long before I knew anything about POTS. My PCP prescribed it to try to help my racing heart and tremor that started after a surgery I had. Most days it helps a lot, somedays I wonder if it's TOO low dose. I think 20 mg is what's normally prescribed for POTS. I'm on 10mg. When I stopped it a couple of weeks ago for my TTT, I realized just how much it does help!

[flop]

If you are feeling short of breath and wheezy when taking a beta-blocker please contact your doctor for advice. Some people discover that they have asthma when taking a BB, wheezing is a classic sign of asthma. You probably need to try a diffferent medication instead of the propranolol but in the mean time if you have breathing problems please get treatment and go to the ER if it gets bad.

Flop