akavella Posted March 9, 2011 Report Share Posted March 9, 2011 My doctor originally prescribed me this a few months ago, and I never started because of low bp 70/40. Sine an increase in midodrine 15mg BID and 10mg for my third dose, he wants me to start it due to a hr of 145-160 at my doctor apt. I am scared to death to start this. It is inderal la 60mg.Anyone been on this medicine...has it helped, how much did it lower your bp? what were your side effects? what dose were you on? did you gain any weight on this medicine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momdi Posted March 9, 2011 Report Share Posted March 9, 2011 (edited) Well, with that heart rate, I can see why your doc wants to start you on something. Dr. Low at Mayo prescribed Inderal for Michael at 10 mg, three times a day. He didn't have your problems with low BP though. 60 mg seems high for a POTsie. Can you start with a lower dose?Dianne Edited March 20, 2011 by Rachel Quote removed. Please use "Add Reply" button found at the top right and bottom right of each topic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firewatcher Posted March 9, 2011 Report Share Posted March 9, 2011 This has been one of the best drugs for me; I've taken it for the last three years. I am only on 20 mg, once a day though. There was a recent Vanderbilt article on "Less is more" stating that the lower dose is more effective for POTS HR issues. If I am supine, my BP is usually 90/50, but it increases greatly with standing. I would probably start with 10 mg and work up from there. It may not take much to bring your HR down, and a smaller dose is easier to counteract if you needed to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akavella Posted March 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2011 thanks. 60mg is the lowest for the long acting. his reasoning for the long acting is i wont get a large dose at one time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akavella Posted March 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2011 mine is the long acting. so i am not sure the amount that i will get at one time...did you gain any weight with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chaos Posted March 9, 2011 Report Share Posted March 9, 2011 I love my propanalol. I was on 10 mg 3 times a day for a couple years. Last summer my PCP moved me up to 60 mg LA to try to use it as a prophylactic for my migraines in addition to the POTS stuff. When I saw the neuro at Mayo recently he was shocked that I could tolerate such a "massive dose". According to him, POTS patients "need a whiff of a beta blocker." He said he figured it was only because I was on both Midodrine and Florinef that I could tolerate it. I like the LA because it feels more "even" over the course of the day since it releases slowly. When I tried going back to the 10 mg 3X/day in Jan. it felt like the accelerator was either ON or OFF...i.e I'd be tachy and then not, then tachy then not.... However, it does tend to drop my BP, which already was running low so I really have to be good about the salt and fluid loading in addition to the meds. It did not make me gain weight when I started it. (Unlike the florinef.)Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firewatcher Posted March 9, 2011 Report Share Posted March 9, 2011 I did not gain weight with propranolol. Actually, I dropped two dress sizes since I was able to exercise without my heart beating out of my chest! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iheartcats Posted March 9, 2011 Report Share Posted March 9, 2011 This medicine has been so beneficial to me. I recently tried to switch to another Beta Blocker and learned my lesson!I am on 20mg/three times a day. I take it about every 6 hours (with Midodrine each time). I assume without Midodrine I might need less...I don't know. But I like it with the Midodrine while that is available!My Cardio said 20mg/three times a day is a relative small dose. I think the 'average' use is 120-240mg a day so the dose I'm on after 2+ years is only 1/2 to a 1/4 of that. I don't like time-released drugs personally. They tend to act weird with me but they do work for others. It's one of those things you might just have to try and adjust. Adjusting is such a big this for us POTSY folk! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akavella Posted March 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2011 do you notice a drop in your bp with the regular propranolol as opposed to the long acting...or no change?also has anyone taken this while they were pregnant. i am trying to get pregnant right now and that is another concern, and i forgot to ask my specialist when i was there on monday (darn memory) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iheartcats Posted March 10, 2011 Report Share Posted March 10, 2011 I didn't notice much of a blood pressure drop with my 20/mg throughout the day. I was already taking Midodrine when I started it and my BP seems about the same.As for Pregnancy, talk to a specialist (or a high-risk OB/GYN). I'd check out a high-risk OB/GYN if you have one in your area just in case (my OB/GYN recommended one in case I ever want a kid...). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dakota Posted March 10, 2011 Report Share Posted March 10, 2011 My daughter takes Propranolol 120 ER and has for about a year and a half. She started on a lower dose, but it did not work enough for her. Her current doctor tried to switch to another med, but it did not help enough and we switched back. This has been the best med so far for her. She has gained weight on it, but she needed to. She was 117 lbs at 5 feet 11. She is now about 137 and still is thin, but looks good. It is the only med that continues to work for her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akavella Posted March 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2011 okay...im still scared, but i am gonna try it today and i guess see what happens. i am not on florinef just midodrine. what does of midodrine are you on? i am on 15mg, 15mg, 10mg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akavella Posted March 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2011 My daughter takes Propranolol 120 ER and has for about a year and a half. She started on a lower dose, but it did not work enough for her. Her current doctor tried to switch to another med, but it did not help enough and we switched back. This has been the best med so far for her. She has gained weight on it, but she needed to. She was 117 lbs at 5 feet 11. She is now about 137 and still is thin, but looks good. It is the only med that continues to work for her.thank you. i am glad this medicine is working for your daughter. i am hoping to have some luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akavella Posted March 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2011 This has been one of the best drugs for me; I've taken it for the last three years. I am only on 20 mg, once a day though. There was a recent Vanderbilt article on "Less is more" stating that the lower dose is more effective for POTS HR issues. If I am supine, my BP is usually 90/50, but it increases greatly with standing. I would probably start with 10 mg and work up from there. It may not take much to bring your HR down, and a smaller dose is easier to counteract if you needed to.thank you...just called and got some parameters cause i am still uneasy and my specialists NP said maybe propranolol 10 or 20mg would be better bid or tid, so i am waiting for a phone call back. so far she said to not take it if its sbp is under 90...as a nurse i know that for sure but i am more comfortable with not taking it when sbp is under 100. fingers are crossed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akavella Posted March 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2011 @cat_ladythank you. i actually have an apt with my OBGYN and he is also high risk OBGYN. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iheartcats Posted March 10, 2011 Report Share Posted March 10, 2011 okay...im still scared, but i am gonna try it today and i guess see what happens. i am not on florinef just midodrine. what does of midodrine are you on? i am on 15mg, 15mg, 10mg.----I take Midodrine 10mg, 5mg, 5mg usually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovebug Posted March 11, 2011 Report Share Posted March 11, 2011 I take Inderal and it helps me (I even take an extra dose if I'm really symptomatic). I did gain weight but I'm not sure if it was the med or the fact that the med made me feel well enough to start eating again, LOL! My advice (if you are sensitive to meds like me) would be to start slow & low (meaning not an extended release dose). My cardiologist prescribed 10mg TID and all I could start out with was 2.5mg once a day. Gradually I worked up to 5mg twice daily and that's where I've been for 7 months. Why take more if I don't need it? I'm happy, my docs happy...so it's all good. BTW, my BP is normal when I'm lying, gets slightly higher upon rising and is sometimes really high when I'm standing. One day during one of my "storms" my heart rate was all over the place (from 40-120). I was scared to take my "rescue" dose of 5mg b/c I didn't want my heart rate to drop too low. BUT my cardiologist said it would regulate me and I could safely have a heart rate of 20 or so. He said I wouldn't feel good but it would get me back on track. I took it and my episode eventually faded away. I was exhausted afterwards but my beta blocker is my rescue. I have Xanax and used it only once (small dose, of course). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
issie Posted March 12, 2011 Report Share Posted March 12, 2011 I thought I'd found my miracle drug with this one - but after a few weeks - I started having rebound hypertension. I couldn't take it the multiple times during the day because when I lie down my bp goes really low - so couldn't do the afternoon dose. Then the bp started rising and got really high. I was sad that it didn't work long term for me. It has leveled out now - but it took awhile for the high bp's to level out after stopping the med. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Libby Posted March 18, 2011 Report Share Posted March 18, 2011 Propranolol and I didn't get along too well. It was the first thing my GP prescribed for the tachycardia, about 4 years ago. Propranolol just made me too tired, and getting my brain to work was like pulling teeth. I went off it before I reached a dose that really did anything to my heart rate - I figured I'd rather have the tachycardia, but pass my classes.I mentioned to my new cardio a few weeks ago that I was on propranolol and hated it. She said she wasn't surprised and that propranolol crosses the blood-brain barrier, accounting for the annoying mental fuzziness.That said, it looks like it works for a lot of people. Different strokes for different folks, I guess. I'm on metoprolol now. 150mg - nothing below that seemed to slow my hr, unfortunately. But it works, I'm reasonably coherent , and it doesn't drop my bp (which was already low to begin w, so I totally know where you're coming from on this).Have you tried the propranolol yet? How has it been going? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akavella Posted March 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2011 I thought I'd found my miracle drug with this one - but after a few weeks - I started having rebound hypertension. I couldn't take it the multiple times during the day because when I lie down my bp goes really low - so couldn't do the afternoon dose. Then the bp started rising and got really high. I was sad that it didn't work long term for me. It has leveled out now - but it took awhile for the high bp's to level out after stopping the med.i also couldnt do the afternoon dose. so sorry that you had rebound HTN. im glad your bp is leveled out now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akavella Posted March 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2011 i know that feeling of fuzziness you are talking about. being a difficult patient that i am, i had the medicine changed from inderal la 60mg to propranolol. i only took half the dose to start (10mg instead of 20mg), with that said my heart rate dropped to 40, i was severely short of breath and felt as if someone was sitting on my chest (only when my hr was in the 40's). not a great feeling. my first dose was at about 3pm, due to pharmacy issues, i was so afraid so my husband he me setting my alarm to check m bp and hr. lol. so the next day i had to work and took the dose at 630 am. i am a registered nurse, and have always been on my toes, and on top of my game...and let me tell you, i felt almost as if i was intoxicated, and not able to think clearly and was more symptomatic, still with a low hr and bp. i informed my md, and he said good thing i didnt take the full 20mg twice a day, and changed it to 10mg once a day.the next day i again i had a horrible day on 10mg so i called my doctor back and he said to try 5mg once a day...i have yet to try it because i have been working and i feel it is not a good thing to experiment with while i have others lives in my hands..all in all... i dont think i am a big fan so far of propranolol. and honestly i think if anything maybe i can just take 5mg prn when my hr is consistently over 100. not in the 70's. (at my apt my hr was 160, thus the starting of this med) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akavella Posted March 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2011 wow 20 for a heart rate. i would drop to the floor. i started this med and my hr dropped to 40 and i thought i was dying. i am glad this medicine is working for you...the only thing it did help me with, is lessening my tremors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovebug Posted March 20, 2011 Report Share Posted March 20, 2011 (edited) Yes...I read your posts and it sounds to me that you were given way too much of a dose. My cardiologist told me he had a pt that had to CRUSH the 10mg and dip her finger in it to get a dose b/c 1/4 of the pill was too much. Therefore, I started out with a quarter of a pill and worked up to half. Then I worked up to half twice a day. You should start with a quarter. However, if you increase the dose and still have those bothersome symptoms, then obviously this isn't the drug for you. I just think starting off too high is a detriment. I certainly hope it works out for you.BTW: I'm a nurse as well and can understand your concern for having a clear mind. I would suggest doing it when you have a few days off in a row. That's what I do when I'm trying ANYTHING new (including vitamins or activity). Edited March 20, 2011 by Rachel Quote removed. Please use "Add Reply" button found at the top right and bottom right of each topic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.