deucykub Posted November 26, 2007 Report Share Posted November 26, 2007 My doctor has not put me on a beta blocker yet because I had a severe asthma attack while taking a non-selective beta blocker, Propranolol, prior to the onset of POTS. However, he is starting to consider prescribing a selective beta blocker to lower my heart rates, which tend to average about 140 when I'm standing.My heart rates don't really bother me all that much - in fact, I didn't even notice that they were high - but I'm thinking that having lower heart rates might help me feel less tired all the time?What symptoms have beta blockers helped for you? Have they made anything worse?Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenniferInOhio Posted November 26, 2007 Report Share Posted November 26, 2007 I was on nadolol for about a year. It lowered my resting heart rate which was fine to begin with. I didn't notice much of a difference in standing heart rate; however, I was taking a very low dose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted November 26, 2007 Report Share Posted November 26, 2007 Beta blockers lowered my heart rate, but the side effects made me just as tired as I was without the bb. I hope they work for you.Rachel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernie Posted November 26, 2007 Report Share Posted November 26, 2007 HI,Helps with the tacycardia and the adrenal rushes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajw4790 Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 Decreased migraines and helps with heat intolerance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LynnMaryVL Posted November 28, 2007 Report Share Posted November 28, 2007 I take a beta blocker to keep my heart rate down - for me, it is working well. The first one I was put on was Lopressor (Metoprolol). I took that for a few months but developed a chronic cough so now I have been switched to Atenolol to see how I do on that. When I first started taking it I was very tired - it took several weeks for my body to adjust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
India Posted November 28, 2007 Report Share Posted November 28, 2007 I have been on beta blockers for years. I was on nadalol at first and then switched to atenolol because the nadalol made me extremely tired. The atenolol makes me a bit dopey too but more so at higher doses. I am currently on a very low dose--25mg/day--and this has certainly helped control the rapid heart rate. It's my understanding that beta blockers can, however, both help and hinder palpitations. While they help slow heartrate, some people experience more "skipped" beats on bb's. On the other hand, bb's are often prescribed to stop these sorts of palpitations and work well for some people. I think, as with most medicines, the reaction is very individual.Good luck!India Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mandasmom Posted November 28, 2007 Report Share Posted November 28, 2007 I have tried a number of beta blockers over the years. Daily doses never really improved anything and often just increased the fatigue. I now take Metaprolol when I am experiencing severe palpitations. Sometimes it works...sometimes it doesn't Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs. Burschman Posted November 28, 2007 Report Share Posted November 28, 2007 Mandasmom,I haven't seen you on here before. Welcome! We're always happy to "see" new people here (though sorry you have the need!)Amy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mandasmom Posted November 28, 2007 Report Share Posted November 28, 2007 Hi Amy I was trying to decide where it would be appropriate to post an intro. I have been reading this board off and on for many years and my mom and my sister have both posted at times over the years. I look forward to getting to know everyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunfish Posted November 28, 2007 Report Share Posted November 28, 2007 mandasmom -welcome! feel free to post an intro in a new post on the main dysautonomia board. assuming that your intro includes something relating to dysautonomia it's certainly appropriate for the main dysautonomia discussion part of the forum (whether you have the dx, a friend/ family does, there are symptoms that make you think it might be an issue regardless of dx, etc). but don't feel like you can't include things other than just the medical stuff in an intro too. in short if a post has nothing to do with dysautonomia then it belongs in chit-chat, but don't worry too much about it either way as we (moderators/ administrators) can always move it if it's better suited to another locale. hope this helps.looking forward to "meeting" you, melissa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MomtoGiuliana Posted November 28, 2007 Report Share Posted November 28, 2007 I take a low dose only as needed (when my HR and palpitations are bothersome). I tend to feel tired and depressed on them--yuck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dawn Posted November 29, 2007 Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 Couldn't survive without Inderal. I take 10 mg 4 times daily.The side effects are not pleasant but the constant tachycardia is my other option.Dawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yogini Posted November 29, 2007 Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 I was about to say the same thing as Dawn. I can't live without my BB. It makes all of my symptoms better. I think the tradeoff is lower BP and fatigue, but it's better than being stuck at home all day. The side effects of BBs do get better over the months/years. I say if your doc is supporting it, give it a try. By the way, I take a baby dose of atenolol (1/2 pill) and have taken as little as 1/4 pill and this amount makes all the difference for me...so maybe you could start small. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa Posted November 30, 2007 Report Share Posted November 30, 2007 HiI am on a beta blocker (bisoprolol) twice a day and it helps lowering my heart rate.It is working well. Now my hr is about 60 and although it increases a little on standing, never as when I had no betablocker.Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
preacherswife Posted November 30, 2007 Report Share Posted November 30, 2007 I take 25 mg. of Metoprolol twice daily. It has helped me tremendously!!! I do feel less tired, and my quality of life has improved dramatically. My doctor starts out slowly with the med, increasing over ten days until you're at the full dose. I was more tired than normal for about the first two weeks, but he prepared me for that and told me that if I could just make it through, I'd feel much better. He was right!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flop Posted December 1, 2007 Report Share Posted December 1, 2007 Hi,I have asthma too and was worried about starting on a beta-blocker in case it made me wheezy. My cardiologist talked to a respiratory specialist then started me on Bisoprolol which is one of the cardio selective beta-blockers. I take a tiny tiny dose, just 1.25mg twice a day (started out on just once a day). To show how small my dose is Tessa takes ten times as much as I do - it is all about what works for you.I know that if I accidentally skip more than one dose of bisoprolol that I feel dreadful, no specific symptoms just generally "potsy" if you know what I mean by that!Flop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deucykub Posted December 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 Thank you all for your replies about how beta blockers help you. You've given me a lot of great information to contemplate. It sounds like beta blockers, like all other POTS medications, seem to have no predictable effect with the exception of lowering the heartrate. They may be worth trying for me though, since some of you are experiencing some significant improvement with them. I'm getting really tired of being in my apartment... argh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morgan617 Posted December 7, 2007 Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 I am on atenolol 25 am and 50 pm. It helps with my tachy and my bp a little bit. My surges where my bp doubles in about 3 minutes are better.The fatigue is no fun however, and I started having tachy-brady syndrome a couple years after my ablation. I wasn't on anything at the time it started, but my cardio insists it's from the atenolol. I'm not sure how something you are not taking can cause something, but there you go. The atenolol did exacerbate it however. Hence the pace maker I have now. I take the atenolol to lower my heart rate when it's way too high and the pacer won't let it dump below 60. But, as I said, the trade off is less horrible surges and a lower heart rate.Good luck with whatever you decide sweetie! (my primary actually thinks the tachy-brady is caused by scar tissue from the ablation, but an electophisiologist may not want to go there)What ever it is, it is better with the pacer. morgan 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.