Are there any Meds that are similar to Beta Blockers...??

[ericaj]

Hi Everyone -

I have been reading as many posts as I can in the last few dys, but b/c my computer down here in the basement at my parents house is rather slow I havent been posting many replies. I wanted to say though that I am cheering for all of you that are either facing surgery in the next few works or recovering - you guys are all so brave!!!

I wanted to ask a question also though - do any of you know of a medication that is verysimilar to the beta blockers like nadolol/toprol but with less of the effects like sleepiness, feeling as if you can't really sleep well, and that sense of constantly dragging? I am wondering if maybe why I feel so aweful is because of the side effects from the nadolol i take .. my ACHD cardio upped my doese to 40mgs and between that and the Florinef being upped to .2mgs I have been dragging all week, with no energy and just can't seem to sleep very well.

Thanks a bunch!

Erica

 

[geebee]

I take Inderal and do not have much problems with tiredness. I do sometimes have trouble sleeping and have very vivid dreaming but my energy level is great.
I am sure it depends on why you are taking the med but I would guess all the beta blockers act similarly.
I have not tried any others so it could be that I merely respond differently to all beta blockers than you do but it could still possibly be the particular one.
Hope this helps,
Gina

 

[ALCapshaw2]

I felt 'dragged out' when I was on 100 mg of Toprol.

A second cardio weaned me all the way back to 25 mg by cutting my dose in half every two weeks to check benefits vs side effects. I was able to get sufficient control at only 25 mg for 2 or 3 years.

Talk with your cardio and / or pharmacist about the side effects and whether you might 'adjust' to the medication.

I've recently had to change to Sotalol because of A-Fib on exertion and it has taken me a couple of months to adjust to it, even at a low dose.

Best wishes,

'AL'

 

[JimChicago]

When I've asked the question about an alternative to Beta Blockers I got the reply - "what are you taking the beta blockers for?" As in - are they to lower blodd pressure? If someone is taking them to lower blood pressure there are alternative ways to lower blood pressure.

In my case I was put on a beta blocker Coreg because my heart rate is always realtively fast - I've had a heart rate around 100-110 for the last 15 years and I've only been diagnosed with heart disease last year. Taking some coreg lowers my heart rate to around 97 or something - not really much difference but I do think it makes me feel more fatigued.

I find it confusing that they say beta blockers are supposed to make the heart beat more efficiently but then again they slow the heart rate and one gets fatigued because the heart isn't beating fast enough for doing activities efficiently. Also there's the issue that when one reduces the amount of beta blocker they take there is a rebound effect apparently that makes the heart rate faster so withdrawal must be gradual as Al said.

Maybe we should offer a prize to anyone who comes up with a good substitute for beta blockers?