Feeling Rubbish

I stopped my beta blockers yesterday on my cardiologist's adivce. Both he and my family doctor think the dose I was on (1.25mg bisoprolol) was doing nothing.

Clearly they are wrong. I feel rubbish! My heart will race at anything. Last night, I woke up at 1am ready to run a marathon, and couldn't get back to sleep. I'm still full of adrenaline and can't sit still! This from someone who with the heart block fell asleep at 9pm whether they wanted to or not and didn't wake up until 7am!

Am hoping to ride it out, but just wanted to tell someone. Typing is better than fidgeting!

Genie

8 Comments

correction to my experience

by aldeer - 2010-06-09 09:06:06

It was not helping my a-fib anymore.

Hi

by Bionic Beat - 2010-06-09 09:06:06

When you get adrenalin rushes from your ticker, you should stay very still until they pass.

I used to have them, it was like being shot up with adrenalin and was just horrible.

A very wise older doc told me to stay very still and that they would pass. It worked for me, but took a few weeks.

If you get up or do anything, your brain responds by adding more adrenalin to an already overloaded system.

The nervous system is starting your 'fight or flight' and by moving you're just confirming it and that's when the extra adrenalin gets shot into your system.

A vicious circle and not fun at all.

Hope this makes sense to you. If not, pm me.


Best Wishes,

Bionic Beat

PS I came off beta blockers right away, after many decades on them and felt better within a week.

Hope you feel better soon.

by Mel P - 2010-06-09 09:06:30

I came off beta blockers after being on them for 7yrs because my dr said they weren't doing anything. You do feel really rubbish for a few weeks but its just your body wondering whats going on and tying to cope with out them. My partner told me i was getting withdrawals, I had shakes, sweating heart I was even vomiting the works.
Just out of curiosity you are reducing them slowly aren't you you shouldn't just stop taking them.
Hope you feel better soon
Mel x

my experience

by aldeer - 2010-06-09 09:06:46

I had been on Rythmol and was told to stop all at once. It was helping my a-fib anymore. I questioned "All at once?" because I had always heard it is best to taper off a med. Within 24 hours my heart rate was at 150! Could not get hold of doctor or nurse after about six calls all day. I know I should have gone to ER. The next morning, I called (still 150 rate)and was told to come right in. Was given four Rythmols (my normal dosage was one a day) and spent the day in a lounging chair in the back room waiting to see if it would drop. If not, I was to go to the hospital at three for a cardioversion. Long story short, wheeled over to hospital, and about seven when rate had dropped to 110 I was given the choice of the cardioversion
(had four in one year) or go home and wait it out. Was told the cardioversion would be dangerous...I chose to go home, and it all went back to normal during the nite. Knowing what I know now, I would have insisted on going off the drug slower...tapering. Do something right now. You are in my thoughts and prayers.. aldeer

beta blocker

by tnbabe59 - 2010-06-09 09:06:52

From what I have been told and read a beta blocker should not be stopped suddenly. You should slowly stop taking them. Not sure if this is your problem or not but it is worth looking into.. Good Luck

Mary

Oh Ya!!

by donb - 2010-06-09 10:06:37


Same scene for me after PM removal. I was told to quit my beta blocker, (Tenormin) by my Cardiologist, but also a Senior RN told me to taper off gradually. I followed my Dr orders and sure enough my HR went crazy jumping out of bed. I got back on my Tenormin and got my HR back to normal and gradually got off of it. I got 2 months of reprieve without a PM. Kinda felt good not having my PM but soon after I started Atrial-Fib and had my 4th PM and new leads implant. I was also put on Betapace which stopped the Atrial-Fib taking 80mg twice a day. Recently I backed off and take 80mg mornings and 40mg at bedtime. I have been very fortunate over the years, only hit one bump in the road with Erosion problem with 3rd PM. donb

I'm Tapering

by Genie - 2010-06-09 10:06:52

Thanks everyone for your thoughts, prayers, and experiences. Just to reassure you, I have been tapering. Went down from 2.5 to 1.25mg a month ago. 1.25mg is the lowest dose there is, so I can't taper anymore!

But I think it is withdrawal despite this, as I'm really drug sensitive. I felt a bit like this when I cut the dose it half. It's good to know I might feel better soon (ish), and that I'm not alone in having felt like this.

Will let you know how I'm doing! Am just hoping I have a better night.

Genie

Two of a Kind?

by bunnykin - 2010-06-09 12:06:12

Genie, hi, I've been feeling crappy too. Just seen my EP yesterday and I understand your adrenalin surge thing. Despite my being on Rythmol and tiny bit of tenormin my heart rate was controlled for about 3weeks. But of late even meals were a battle field for me. Whilst eating 3/4way I'd feel my heart working real hard to a mission of digestion, comrade to the stomach. The pounding feeling was not funny. Yesterday Dr had increased my tenormin by a bit but, like you, I'm so drug sensitive my blood pressure came plunging after dinner....not funny I assure you. Thought I was going to faint. So Genie, I think you may as well keep it in the dose that your heart is happy and don't upturn the apple cart for now. I think a little beta blocker that helps your tachycardia is better than having a racing heart and start running to Emergency room and let alone disrupting your life? Just a thought...take care and God bless. Will continue to uphold you in prayer. We've got such sensitive hearts right? bunnykin

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