Hi all :)
I was wondering what you all thought of Beta Blockers
being used with our PM conditions.
I have been having some problems with my heart racing
The Dr put me on a low dose of Beta Blockers...and I have to say it has really helped...after getting my PM tweeked a bit
and seeing him on Monday...having all the test backs and all okay..I was still getting the racing heart...sooo with my anxiety and me complaining...he said okay we will try the Beta Blockers
my pulse stays around 60-67 my BP is around 130/80 or so
I haven't had any problems with anything since the Beta Blockers. But I just wanted to ask and see if any others might have a comment or are taking a small does. I have had my PM for 4 months and I have to say I feel better then I have in weeks:) I was not on any meds at all.
Thank you
Blessings
breezy

 

 

I take Lopressor & Tikosin 2 times a day since having the PM 40 plus days ago.
I really don't like the thought of taking any med on a regular basis, but if it's what I need to do, I will. LOL
Liz

 

Hello Breezy,

I've been down the road with beta blockers many times and have formed my on opinion about them

Like pacemakers, they are a God send for some and torment for others. Without a doubt they will lower the blood pressure and heart rate. With a pacemaker the lowered heart rate is not problem since it will keep it at a predetermined rate.

My first encounter with a beta blocker was some 25+ years ago (about 15 years before my pacemaker) and the doctor let it lower my heart rate to the upper 30s. That dang near made and invalid of me, to say nothing about how much longer I would have lived. To reassure me it was the best medicine he told me I probably had only about two years to live. I took a dim view of his outlook on my life and got me another doctor the next day.

To repeat they can be a wonderful treatment for some and the devils liniment for some. By the following I am not trying to cast doubt on beta blockers for you. I just suggest that you read the side effects of beta blockers on the instruction sheet you got with the medicine and be aware of what they can do. The good and the bad. For me it always took from one to three months, depending on which beta blocker and the dose I was taking for the full effects of the side effects to be known. But that was me and not every body has such results.

I wish you the best,

Smitty

 

Well I am 100% ventricle paced and about 25% atrial paced. I was unable to get off my beta blocker even with the pacemaker. I am on a fairly high dose.. I take 50 mg of Toprol XL twice a day. Like Smitty said, some people do well with them, others cant tolerate them at all. It does take a couple months for your body to adjust to beta blockers and to know how you are really going to tolerate it. But if your blood pressure can tolerate it, and you can tolerate the fatigue from them, people with anxiety usually do well with beta blockers.

 

Ditto what the others said, they can be a godsend or hell. I fought it for a long time before giving in last fall. The first one I was on was AWFUL!!! My heart felt great but it was like being drunk. Fuzzy head, dizzy and off balance, daily naps... yuck! The doc kept saying give it 6 weeks because side effects can get better. When I stumbled and broke my foot (5 weeks), I called the dr and told him I threw the bottle away, what would he like to try next, lol. We switched to the lowest dose of atenolol (25mg) and it's been great. This is the best my heart's felt in ages. No racing at random, I can work out without my rate getting too high, no bad side effects.

Some bb's are also used for anxiety and bp, so you may be killing two birds with one stone. If it's working, be happy and don't question it! :o)

 

so far I have felt really good...I was told to take it at nite
one pill a day and at nite with food...I feel pretty good when I get up in the morning...I will read about the side effects
so far I have not noticed anything as far as side effects
so this is good I think :) they must come later??
Thanks to all for you posts - I so love this place
you can ask anything and nobody thinks your a dummy :) love it:) God Bless you all :)
breezy

 

With the first one I was on, the side effects started the first day and got worse over the two weeks it took to build up to the full dose. I was told they'd get better at 4-6 weeks. It was a little better, but still awful. I never noticed anything with the second one I tried, knock on wood.