Detox off beta blockers

[P2ohy]

I’m currently on beta blockers. Atenolol 50mg. Heart tests clear apart from left branch block when heart rate goes above 150 bpm when training. I want to detox off them. Has anyone done this? If so can you suggest safe way to do it with little side effects. Thanks.

[Celtic]

I was told by a pharmacist that no-one should just stop taking beta blockers if they have been taking them for some considerable time. They should come off them slowly taking about a week for each year they have been on them, ie if you have been on them for 2 years you should gradually taper off them over 2 weeks.

[P2ohy in reply to Celtic]

Thanks. I’ve only been on them a few months. Shouldn’t be too difficult.

[Celtic in reply to P2ohy]

In that case you should be fine.

[Gerant in reply to Celtic]

Aren't beta-blockers addictive? It seems that you will not be able to stop taking them quickly because your body is already used to getting a dose of these drugs. So I advise you to consult your doctor or study carefully the reviews of people who have used this product. It is better not to abuse it at all, as addiction treatment is a very long process, and it is better not to stumble with it. I had to be treated for addiction at fherehab.com/location/alcoh..., so I know what it's like firsthand. I hope you understand what I wanted to tell you.

[Fismith69]

Have you been advised to come off them by your cardiologist?

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Beta blockers are dual action reducing both blood pressure and heart rate to lighten load on heart. I would think you should speak to your GP/cardiologist first.

[craftbella]

I wouldn't stop them without speaking to your GP, especially if you were only prescribed them a couple of months ago, if it's because of side effects, then there will be something else they can give you,

[Pippa1234]

Beta blockers have nasty side effects, my cardiologist, after I researched, changed me to calcium channel blockers. Nothing untoward as yet.

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Pippa1234]

We are all different. My main problem with the beta blocker is tiredness in the evening although good company or an interesting film or book can alleviate this. Most TV is just sleep inducing! I have tried two calcium channel blockers and had issues with both: badly swollen ankles, dizziness, nausea and even bouts of vomiting! Sadly there is no easy solution to side effects - it is just trial and error!

[Pippa1234 in reply to MichaelJH]

Yes it is trial and error. A doctor told me "medicine is not a science, its trial and error".

[Hidden in reply to Pippa1234]

Amen Pippa!! I wish more ppl understood this too!!

[No_fixed_abode]

I have just done this, stopped a beta-blocker and went over to Losartan.

Had some irregular heartbeats/arrhythmia (IHB flashing on BP monitor) while taking blood pressure in the first 2 - 3 days. It has happened since then at odd intervals, usually after exercise. However, I was aware of the feeling of it for the first one, since then It has been silent. (note: I am diabetic, I may not experience chest sensation as others)

The beta-blockers were causing breathlessness walking uphill, this sorted itself out in about a week, no breathlessness after that.

Resting heart rate (and general heart rate) rose by about 11 BPM, it is only coming back to pre-beta-blocker level now after 4 weeks. (More detailed in another post)

There have been some cardiac 'funnies' in this period which are as I write this are starting to be investigated (low BP after for me extreme exercise). Given that it is only now that my heart rate is returning to pre-beta-blocker levels, I think these 'funnies' will actually be found to related to the beta-blocker withdrawal.

BP is now much better managed.

Bob

[P2ohy in reply to No_fixed_abode]

Thanks. I am on both beta blockers and losartan. That could be my problem.

[No_fixed_abode in reply to P2ohy]

Pleasure, that was exactly the information I wanted about 3 weeks ago

For me, as a diabetic beta-blockers were a bad choice, they were prescribed more or less as a therapeutic experiment, it did not work, I was actually B12d! I am now very happy to be off them as what they did to my breathing walking uphill was catastrophic!

With the heart condition you describe above, I don't know if the same is true, and am not a Dr, I am the experimentee not the experimenter... (But beta blockers are added to a list of medications that I will NEVER take again!)

[shopman]

Years ago was on 50mg Atenolol and standing joke at hospital was "does he have a pulse" as it was always in the mid-30's - joke was to send one of the trainees to me who would then get agitated because it was so low. Then I had my bypass and on reviewing what could be stopped or changed suggested I went down to 25mg Atenolol + 5mg Bendroflumethiazide + 10mg Ramipril. This brought me up to the mid 50's and gave me part of my life back - wasn't so tired or lethargic and went back to work (self employed).

Now I'm off the Atenolol - replaced with Bisoprolol, off Bendroflumethiazide altogether but still have the Ramipril. Taken with all the other medication gives me a slow pace of life now - retired but still do a bit of work and most important enjoy my grandchildren.

I guess what I am saying is there are always ways round things to get an existence that works for you.

[Gerant]

Aren't beta-blockers addictive?