Beta blockers

[Rainy111]

Still getting irregular heart rhythm and short of breath. Doctor on about beta Blockers .Will they help please

[jeanjeannie50]

Beta blockers will slow down your heart rate. There are also other pills that can help control your hearts rhythm. People often take both types, but your doctor will decide what is best for you. I manage fine on a small dose of the beta blocker Bisoprolol.

Jean

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Hi

We are all different.

AS BBs only CONTROL my BP but CCB CONTROL my H/R. And that has been proven when I got no where with a moderate dose of Metoprolol or high dose of Bisoprolol.

Introduced to a CCB Diltiazem @ 180mg it was too much and within days reduced to 120mg. Reduction was 105bpm so CARE must be taken. And to separate CCBs from BBs.

Now I take CCB AM and 2.5mg BB Bisoprolol PM.

Controlled in both H/R and BP. And now found to have a soft Systolic Heart Murmur.

120-123 / 69 Day. H/R 62-69 from 47 H/R avge Night.

The slow release wears off to 12 hours which is good as I don't want less than 47 Night asleep.

The fight for quality of Life with AF is over and as I can't entertainment an ablation as I have an enlarged left chamber.

Do hope you are also well controlled in your AF plight.

cheri JOY. 74. (NZ)

You did not join the poetry time? Someone said you should compete. Any poetry about AF.

[mav7]

Doctor on about beta Blockers

Please clairfy.

Have you been prescribed and taking a beta blocker ? And how are you monitoring your heart rhythm and rate ?

Always good to inform your doctor of your concerns.

[Rainy111 in reply to mav7]

Got appointment next week. Mentioned on phone about starting beta blockers

[mav7 in reply to Rainy111]

Very good !

If you have not, may want to ask to wear a holter monitor or other device to monitor your heart for an extended period.

Also helps in determining future medications/procedures.

[CDreamer]

Personally I would ask for their reasoning. Do you have high BP and/or high HR when in AF?

They seem to help some whilst others struggle. Discuss with your doctor and then decide.

[Peony4575]

is the doctor you mention a cardiologist or a GP ? Personally I wouldn’t let a GP prescribe for my heart . If it is a GP I would get an appointment with a cardiologist privately if you can afford a couple of hundred pounds and you will get 40 minutes on your problem from someone who knows what they are talking about . If it’s a cardiologist then fair enough

[Vonnegut in reply to Peony4575]

Best if it’s the EP kind (electrophysiologist) as they know about the electrical malfunctions of the heart as AF is an electrical malfunction in the heart. You can have that in a heart that is otherwise ok!

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to Peony4575]

Hi

Best through your Dr ask to be referred to a H/Specialist who is recommended. Public or Private. Usually with breathlessness with exertion Dr will make it URGENT.

If you can hardly breathe that's an emergency and I WOULD REDUCE BB. I was told to immediately and to get bag ready for hospital. It was when new Dr said double the 47.75 Metoprolol.

I wasn't exerting myself in any way.

If it's to do with exerting yourself , wait for a specialist appointment but Dr needs to know.

Drs tend to drop dosage of med or ups it. That was not appropriate for me.

cheri JOY. 74. (NZ)

[Gincalpe]

Beta blockers do slow the heart rate but they don’t fix the AF. My AF has gone since an ablation 4 years ago but I still have to take them.

[javo123j]

I take them to keep heart rate down when I get afib, but it also slows heart down when in sinus rhythm. Personally I have no problems with my Bisoprolol and it seem to work. Resting rate in SR is under 50 and in afib is always under 80

[Singwell]

Good you have the appointment and ali can confirm the BB slowly the heart rate down but don't control the rhythm otherwise. For an anti arrhythmic you'll need to see a cardiologist I'd think. Have a look at the Arrythmia Alliance leaflets for patients with AF and gen up on the types of medication available before your appointment. Sharonica-Admin could you help here with leaflets etc?

[KMRobbo]

NOTE veryone different with meds.BISOPROLOL 1.25mg slowed my HR massively and made me breathless, when I was not before. It also put me to sleep. Other peolple swear by it. Atenolol , another beta blocker, did similar but less extreme. My Gp assumed I could not tolerate beta blockers and put me on verapamil a calcium channel blocker instead.

Only one way to know is to try it. I would recomnend commencement when sat in a chair at home!

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to KMRobbo]

Hi

Strange....

Do you mean slowed BP rather than H/R as for me BBs for BP and H/R controlled massively by CCB Calcium Channel Blocker.

cheri JOY. 74. (NZ)

[KMRobbo in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

No HR, it went from resting 70 bpm to 45 ish. Every pill I took put me to sleep In 40 minutes. After 7 days I went to the GP who took me off them, on the basis 45 resting awake was likely to be low mid 30s when asleep which she thought was too low and potentially dangerous.

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to KMRobbo]

Hi

I agree with Dr.

70 H/R resting is so normal. And without meds!

45 H/R day too low. 51 on CCB Diltiazem made me light headed and scared that it could go lower.

47H/R avge night OK. I am really resting, not driving etc.

cheri JOY. 74. (NZ)

[Sylviep7]

Although beta blockers can slow the heart rate one of the side effects listed can be breathlessness. I've tried 3 now all of which caused breathlessness.

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to Sylviep7]

Hi

Are you asthmatic?

Breathlessness is prone on folks who have asthma or have a tendency. I am allergic to trees of the eucalyptus family. I do have a cyst in my left sinus. I take 1 spray Flixonase when bunged up!

cheri JOY. 74. (NZ)

[Sylviep7 in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

Not I'm not asthmatic - thanks for asking tho. Breathlessness is a known side effect of betablockers.

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to Sylviep7]

Hi

As I said Metoprolol to another poster.

cheri JOY. 74. (NZ)

[Qualipop]

I spent 4 days in hospital last week with a very irregular heart rate. They first need to find out just which bit of the heart they come from. Many ectopic beats are harmless; just a nuisance. You should first have a holter monitor for at least 24 hours which will sh ow where they come from. Beta blockers slow the heart and just don't suit some people but there are several to choose from. I was given a different drug, diltiazem to control mine but unfortunately was allergic to them so my GP has decided to prescribe nothing at all for now and see whether they happen more frequently.

[DoggieMum]

They have helped me, but once a year, always in May, my arrhythmia gets worse and the dose is increased. I'm now being referred for an ablation.

[Pindarus]

Bisoprolol seems to be the go-to medication for irregular heart beat but it doesn't suit everybody. You may need a combination of medications to sort it out and you may have other heart issues. If you're willing to fork out £200 for a private consultation with a cardiologist this may shortcut a solution. Whatever, make sure you are offered an ECG.

[Quilter43]

So confusing. I had pauses ..now a pacemaker. wonder if the beta blocker caused it..

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to Quilter43]

Hi

Metroprolol monitored 24-hr .. M... sure gave me pauses at night. With a 47avge hbpm Night too. My heart goes about 47 whether on meds or not. It never changes.

No doubt a bb caused it!

Specialist changed me to Bisoprolol. No more pauses with that or CCB Diltiazem.

cheri JOY 74. (NZ)

[bayonnejoe1]

I have been on beta blockers for nearly fifty years. Originally they treated my HBP, when I was diagnosed with AF they dovetailed nicely with my anticoagulant. Definitely have helped me in avoiding tachycardia. Originally I was on propranolol, but was switched in the mid 1980s to atenolol. A couple of side effects you may wish to watch out for, in males it can lower libido. It can also cause dizziness and lethargy. I've experienced both and doctor adjusted dosage downward. The dizziness can especially be problematic in the elderly as it can precipitate a fall. Currently I split 25mg atenolol, taking 12.5mg daily. Heart rate is stable, no tachycardia and BP excellent. Mostly a positive experience.

[momist]

To try to clarify the comments, although I am NOT A DOCTOR. My understanding is that the beta blocker is taken so that, when you are in AF with it's irregular and frequently very high heart beat rate (>120 beats per minute) your heart rate will be limited to a level that is not unsafe. On my first AF attack which I had ignored for several hours while undertaking a stressful workload, my heart rate was measured by the paramedic team at 280 bpm. I was fearful for my life, believing I was about to die, and had eaten a large curry and drunk some beer as well! Once I learned a little about AF, my heart rate reduced, but on a regular beta blocker (bisoprolol) the highest my heart rate goes to in AF is around 140 - 180 bpm. Normal rate is often quoted as 60 - 120 bpm, although mine can go as low as 43 and as high as 140 when NOT in AF. The high rates are achieved when running or climbing a steep hill carrying weight, the low ones when nearly asleep.

[Rainy111]

Thank you for all comments. Really appreciated

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi

It sure is raining here NZ. I have a leaky roof around a 4x4 and the newest protection is not stopping it but actually making it worst.

BBs

Metoprolol is a good example of a BB which can give one breathless. I already had a change from an ACE med for hypertension in 2009. Put on low dose of M... OK but BP went low as I lost weight and came off. Also along the way at heaviest a new doctor asked me to take 47.75 x 2 and I couldn't breathe.

Put on M... after stroke with AF immediately got breathless, fatigue, exertion in trouble. Specialist explained that Bisoprolol does not affect AFers as much. So changed me.

But H/Rate was not controlled still high at 156bpm Day.

Now on 120mg CCB Diltiazem AM and BB Bisoprolol PM. CONTROLLED by a private H/Specialist.

Lost some weight or H/R now 60s Day 47 Night so improved.

We don't know your AF type, your now meds (asthmatics should not have M........) your levels H/R or BP.

Please relate to help us "in your loop of AF'.

Take care. Patience required as "you are sorted for comfort, control, etc to lose the symptoms of being uncontrolled."

Cheri JOY 74. (NZ)

[DiyChas]

My understanding is BB's like bisoprolol only lower your HR.They have no impact on AFib.