Beta blockers vs calcium blockers

[Jonathan_C]

I saw my EP yesterday and he wants to try wean me off my meds. First step is to stop the flecainide but stay on the beta blocker.

I am on a very light dose of beta blocker (i think its 1.25 mg - i break a 2.5mg tablet in half).

I have exercised induced asthma and the beta blocker does not mix well with the asthma, especially as i have to use a beta agonist (salbutomol) inhaler (like Chris Froome).

So my EP says I have two options - stay on the 1.25mg beta blocker or switch to a calcium blocker, but the smallest possible dose of the calcium blocker is equivalent to 2.5mg beta blocker. He recommends staying on the beta blocker despite the asthma.

Anyone have experience of EXERCISING on a calcium blocker and able to compare the effects to a beta blocker?

I don't get side effects except when exercising.

[Jollies]

Hi, I take a calcium blocker, veraptimil. I have asthma and copd. I go to the gym 3 times a week and manage to do 20 mins light cardio and then some resistance work fine.

[jennydog]

I was prescribed a calcium channel blocker called Tildium ( I think ) I didn't get on with it at all. I developed dreadfully swollen ankles. Bob had similar problems - if I remember correctly he couldn't get his shoes on.

I have no problems with bisoprolol or flecainide. Flecainide is a huge help to me, particularly as a pill-in-the-pocket.

Flecainide is a sodium channel blocker. My understanding of chemistry is too poor to understand what that means.

[MarkS]

I was on slow release diltiazem (calcium channel blocker) when I was playing hockey and it was very good. It didn't reduce my exercise capacity and had no other side effects. However sotalol (a kind of beta blocker) had a negative effect and bisprolol did nothing.

[ILowe]

Before trying a calcium channel blocker, have you tried the other, cardioselective beta-blocker, called Nebivolol? I understood that it has less effect on the lungs, so is sometimes better for those with asthma. If that works, problem solved. If not, you can always try to calcium channel blocker.

[Thomps95]

I take a half tablet of the lowest dose of verapamil (calcium ch blocker) available, twice per day. This has minimal effect on my stamina at the gym, and less than beta blockers (I've tried a few, they are all similar in their effects). I also take flecanaide and this also seems to make me a little tired.

I'm curious your doctor wants to "wean you" off your meds. Why? My EP suggested the same. Are there concerns about these medications? I'm already on the lowest recommended dose of flecenaide and verapamil - he suggested I cut both in half. For now, I've cut my verapamil in half but I am nervous about cutting the flecenaide in half since it works so well.

Have I been over prescribed even though I'm on the lowest dose available?

[Jonathan_C in reply to Thomps95]

No one can know the right answer to your last question, it’s all trial and error.

He wants to wean me rather than take me off all at once as the there is less of a risk of triggering anything if I gradually reduce the meds. But who knows? It was something we discussed and agreed to. If I had said I want to stay on flecainide for longer he would have agreed to that!