beta blockers and stuff

[Andrea]

I am almost 4 months post op and just spent some time in the hospital due to Atril fib with rapid vascular response (or something). I went to the ER because my pulse was 190 and wouldnt come down with rest. They stopped my heart and restarted it to 'reset' it but that didnt work so they gave me IV meds to regulate my rythm and pulse. My doc just sent me home today and I am now supposed to take Metroprolol (a beta blocker) and flecainide. I'm a bit concerned about some of the negative things I have heard about beta blockers. Has anyone taken these before, and what was your experience?

 

[Johnny Stephens]

Hello Andrea, sorry to hear you've had some afib to deal with.

Yes, many of us on here take Beta Blockers...I also take it for a rapid heartbeat. I've had a rapid pulse for 20+ years, but it got really bad before my surgery, and I was put on Metoprolol to slow it down. I take Toprol-XL, 100mg in the morning, and 50mg in the evening. Without it, my resting pulse would be something around 95-100 bpm. It works pretty well, controlling my rate to around 85 or so.

There are a few *MINOR* side effects for me, such as sleepiness in the late morning, and after my evening dose kicks in. Also, I do have a water retention problem in my ankles that seems to be related to the metoprolol. Sometimes I feel like it effects my thinking ability, kind of like I'm in a fog..my cardio said I'd acclimate to the drug and this would go away. Seems to be lessening over time.

Initially, the fatigue was pretty marked, but has improved over time. On balance, I feel so much better when I take it that the cost/benefit ratio is on the plus side for me.

Hope it helps keep your Afib under control...

 

[bvdr]

Hi Andrea,

I have been on flecanide 100mg every twelve hours since January. I was having episodes, like you, of atrial fib with a rapid ventricular response. What that means is that when the impulses from the right atrium are much too fast than there is a built in mechanism that "blocks" some of them so the ventricles don't have to pump so fast. When they pump too fast then they neither fill nor empty properly leaving you with a rather inefficient heart beat. The flecanide is a sodium channel blocker that sort of pinch hits for your natural mechanism. If it doesn't help with the defense than it won't do much about controlling the rate so that is where the beta blocker comes in to help. This is a little over-simplified but maybe it helps. I was taken off the beta blocker because it made me much shorter of breath. It helps alot of people but it takes some time to get used to it.

I'm sorry you are having problems. How are you doing otherwise?

Have a good day Andrea.

Betty(bvdr)

 

[MelissaM]

Hi Andrea,

Beta-blockers can be kind of cool, when you get used to them. I was on metroprolol for a bit and actually liked being on it more than the ACE inhibitors (which just made me darn tired). If I understand it correctly, the metroprolol helps block your adrenal response to calm the heart and keep it from doing things like racing, palpitating, etc.

My favorite story when on metroporolol came from last winter, when I got caught in the middle of a slick snowstorm. Gripping the wheel tight, I was trying to inch my way home on a six-lane interstate that was just barely plowed. At some point in the journey, I nicked the side of the road with all of the plow garbage in it and spun donuts across all six lanes of the interstate and was headed straight for the center median. All of this happened in extreme slow motion. Somehow, an angel stepped in and kept me from hitting ANYTHING! But the wierd part was after the car stopped, I calmly thought, "that should have been scary," turned off the radio, and went on my merry way.

The metroprolol had completely blocked my adrenalin response! It was really wild to be sooo calm in the middle of such an event.

Melissa

 

[ccrawford]

Toprol

Toprol

Hi Andrea - The only problem I encountered with Toprol was an intolerance to working outside in the heat. We reduced my dosage a little, and that seemed to help considerably. "The Pill Book" shows a long list of possible side effects with Toprol, but they are usually rarely occuring. The most common effect is impotence.

 

[ILoVeNY25]

Hi Andrea, Sorry to hear about your troubles. My doctors have been "experimenting" with different drugs on me. I've been on ACE and Beta since I was 13. I was on Vasotec for years before my surgery and since my surgery I've been on 3 different beta blockers. The reason is to bring down my heart rate. I have a very fast heart rate at rest 100-105 and when I'm active you can imagine how uncomfortable it is. I was put on Toprol XL right after surgery and was on it for 10 months until it just wasn't enough for me. So, They put me on Lopressor 100mg daily and I felt the side effects. I was tired all the time, I was sleeping 16 hours on the weekends and napping 3x during the week. So, About two weeks ago I was put on Atenolol 25mg. I haven't had the same fatigue but I don't feel the same relief as I did with the Lopressor. I think they might up the dose because my heart rate is still too fast. Try the beta blocker and see how you feel for a few weeks and if that doesn't work for you and you experience the side effects, Don't worry there are plenty of other meds you can try. As you know everyone reacts differently to different meds and sometimes you just gotta try it out. Good Luck with the new meds and I hope you find some relief. Take Care!

 

[vlamus]

Andrea,
I am now 5mo post-op and had the same sinus tachycardia problem many people have after open-heart...kind of goes with the territory. It wasn't actually A-fib. My resting heart rate hovered around 110-130, and for that reason I was put on Inderal (have also had experience with Toprol, Coreg in the past). Anyway, due to an asthma attack 2 mo ago they took me off all beta-blockers (since it can make asthma worse) and my heart rate went back up to 110 at rest, and there was nothing they could give me. After I went off the beta-blocker it did feel like a "fog" had been lifted and I felt like I had more energy despite the persistent sinus tachycardia. With higher doses of Toprol my hands were very cold, almost painful. With a lower dose, that resolved. Besides all that, the side effects were mild. I think with beta-blockers, you need to find the right dosing and right med that works with minimal side effects, since it is so individual. The best news though, about 4 weeks ago my sinus tachycardia went away all on it's own. Hopefully your A-fib will settle down as your heart recovers from surgery. Vlamus

 

[Gail in Ca]

Andrea,
I too was taking Metoprolol after my surgery to lower my BP because I still have a mod leaking mitral valve.
The only side effect I had was it made me cough.
I lived with it for many months and then mentioned to my doc about the coughing. He switched me to Cozaar and the coughing stopped, but now, only occationally, I am a bit dizzy due to this drug.
Oh well , I have to give and take, and for the most part, I feel fine.
Gail

 

[LoraW30]

Hi,

I take Toprol-XL because my left ventricle is stiff and not letting blood in from the right side. Every few days I feel extremely tired and have swelling in my ankles. I'm on Lasix for the swelling, and I just take it easy on the days I'm tired. Sun is an issue as well. I'm getting used to the side effects now and have learned to adjust my daily routines to them.


I hope everything goes well for you.

LoraW

 

[scottvant]

Coreg

Coreg

I have been on Coreg for six months, ever since my AVR, to help counteract some LVH and cardiomyopathy that developed while my valve was leaking.

Before I got sick, my resting heart rate was 65-70. During my illness (endocarditis) it got to up around 120 or so. Just after my surgery it still stayed pretty stubbornly above 100.

I'm on 12.5mg/day of the Coreg (2x6.25mg). The only ongoing side effect I've noticed is some drowsiness sometimes right after I get home from work... I did notice a couple of other things when I started it (at 2x3.125mg/day) and again 3 weeks later when the doc doubled the dose, like sluggishness in the morning and occasional brain fog, but those dissipated in a day or two.

At the 12 1/2 mg/day my resting heart rate stays at 72 and my BP is pretty stable at about 175/70 so my cardiologist isn't up-titrating my dose any higher for now, altho I note on the package insert that the "target dose" for Coreg is 50mg/day, more than four times what I'm taking. I can imagine that at that dose the fairly "infamous" Coreg side effects probably do kick in a lot stronger.

Scott

 

[scottvant]

I wrote: >>BP is pretty stable at about 175/70<<

ACK! Obviously I meant to say 125/70.

 

[Andrea]

BP

BP

No kidding! I saw that first BP and thought 'Geez this poor guy is in bad shape' LOL.

WHEW

Dont scare me Scott. I'm only 2 days post CCU

 

[Gero]

Hi Andrea,

I am currently in the waiting room for an aortic valve replacement. For the past 14 months, I have suffered from arrhythmias, all day every day. They started at a rate of one in twenty beats then progressed to one in five beats and finally got down to one in two beats. I was at work at the time and drove to the hospital to get them checked out. I was put on metroprolol and it has been a god send. The arrhythmias are still happening in the background but not at the same rate and I can finally FUNCTION. The cardiologist doesn't know what is causing these arrhythmias and I have cut out all the usual suspects from my diet so I don't know whether it is simply valve related and will be better once that is replaced. I also have a dilated root which the metroprolol is trying to protect from further dilation and this seems to be working at the moment based on the echo results. I hope you have the same success with the drug that I am currently experiencing. Good Luck!

 

[bvdr]

Hi Gero!

Somehow I missed that you were even out there! Sorry about the trouble with your arrythmias. Welcome to our waiting room.
There are some real nice folks in it waiting around with the knowledge that one day conditions will be right to maybe get some of these things fixed. Some are here for a few days, some months, some even longer.

Don't be bashful about posting more often. We'd love to get to know you better.

Betty(bvdr)