Bradycardia and Beta-Blockers

[Fitbit-Joe]

I finally got to see a cardiologist, and we now have a diagnose, and other tests being arranged.

So my current symptoms, pain in my left arm, numbness in both arms, pins and needles in hands. Episodes of sinus tachycardia, when walking at a slow pace, and happens on a regular occurrence

So further test order, like ecg treadmill, and angiogram, but also been prescribed a beta blocker, which I am yet to collect from chemist. Cant remember the name, but think its Propranolol, now assume the doctor knows my medial history

So the beta blocker is being prescribed to deal with the sinus tachycardia episodes, sometimes at 150 bpm, and seated. But also have bradycardia, with a resting heart rate around 40 bpm. I have a wellue ecg montior and it recorded my heart rate while a sleep at 29 bpm

I more interested in anyone who has bradycardia, and is taking beta blockers, and how you feel

Just so everyone understands, I am contacting my doctor just to double check, the dose is safe for me, and they know of my bradycardia

[Palpman]

I personally would be querying the BB as they drop your heart rate by 7 to 10 bpm.

[Lezzers]

Hi

My husband has tachy/Brady & he takes bisoprolol 1.25mg daily. Beta blockers are usually the first line of defence against tachycardia but like you my husbands HR was dipping into the 40's which a cardiologist wasn't happy about. He has an ICD so his ICD was set to pace him at 50, but he has severe heart failure so they're usually very cautious with him.

I think I would contact your cardiologist to ensure he had taken on board that your HR is so low.

It's interesting to know that you're having numbness in both arms as this is something that my husband had started experiencing since he had an ablation. Could I ask if it happens at any particular time? Does the numbness, pain & pins & needle's coincide with your HR is going too fast? Has anyone said what could be causing this?

[Fitbit-Joe in reply to Lezzers]

The numbness has been happening for around 6 months, at varying degrees. Oct was getting pain in left arm, which was soon followed by numbness, and then in both arms.

By Feb my health was improving, but the numbness in my arms was a problem. My doctor prescribed me with, Duloxetine to treat the nerve pain. And this helped me greatly, so I began to slowly exercise, 3 - 5 days per week. So while exercising over the next 10 weeks, my hands were going numb, and warm to touch, and cramp/stiff. My finger tip, or more so my knuckles go very pale

Around 10 weeks into my exercise program, I began to get out of breath, and began to have arrythmias, and eventually tachycardia episodes. This is where my arms begin to go numb, and fingers getting pins and needles, even though Im on medication. I can now find my forearms and hands get sore, so my doctor things this might be a problem with my circulation, so hence the angiogram

With regards what brings on the numbness and pin's and needles, it more like physical exertion brings this on. The tachycardia episode, when I go out, to shop or work, its hit or miss when these come on

So hopefully next week, angiogram will be done and get some answers, and my doctor things I might have some blockages, due to previous high cholesterol results. As for my new med's, just hope that both doctors have read my medical file, and are aware of my bradycardia

[Lezzers in reply to Fitbit-Joe]

Thanks for replying.

You've reminded me that when my husband was having chest pain & fast HR one night he took his gtn spray and that sorted him out. The next morning this happened again but this time with palpitations, again the gtn spray worked. Then not much later he was quite poorly, his left arm went numb then started tingling which then became pain that spread to his chest & jaw, which gtn didn't relieve. He then had a VT storm. This happened a few times over the next few months. A recent MIBI scan showed his arteries are good though he does have a blocked LAD, but that's been blocked for 25 years.

When he was in hospital recently, not his usual hospital, the different dr's there kept wanting to increase his bisoprolol. I had to keep saying no as this reduces his HR too much and causes his ICD to pace his ventricles too much, which damages the heart.

Good luck with the angiogram. I hope you manage to get to the bottom of what's causing this. I would be interested to know how you get on.

[Blueberrylover]

I have the same bracy and tacky and am due for my ECG tomorrow, good luck with your new meds

[Westie2012]

I was diagnosed with tachy brady syndrome and heart pauses , I was fitted with a pacemaker for the bradycardia and heart pauses then started on a beta blocker for the tachycardia . I’ve been ok on them and not noticed any side effects . Hope you get your tests and results soon

[Adhtz21]

Morning Joe, I was on 2.5mg Bisoprolol following Heart Surgery. I was fine for a year or so apart from fatigue days, but then developed bradycardia (first degree heart block on ECG) and my Apple Watch was forever warning me of low heart rates. My resting rate was often 49 but dropping to 42 in the evenings. I self reduced my bisoprolol to 1.25mg . This was later ratified by my cardiologist. It did help, but I’m not suggesting that you should do this. My Cardiologist did then prescribe Doxazosin which helped reduce my blood pressure slightly with the added benefit of raising my resting heart rate to between 55-65 bpm. Good luck in finding what is right for you. Regards, Andy

[Blueberrylover in reply to Adhtz21]

thank you Andy, I have had an ECG and blood tests, the blood test were fine but a little abnormality on my ECG, the Dr has put me on Bisoprolol 2.5mg, my pulse seems the same going from low to high but I have only been on them for 5 days, my palpitations come at night which are not very nice but I think that is a bit of anxiety(hopefully) I am not waiting for an Echo Scan, thank you for taking the time to answer me.

Thank you

Jan

[Blueberrylover in reply to Blueberrylover]

Sorry I am waiting for an Echo scan.

[Stentrunner]

I’m also slow, maybe 5-10 bpm faster than you. I’ve had stents following angina and also have atrial fibrillation. When my cardiologist wanted to put me on beta blockers my GP was adamant some alternative be found. I’m very pleased with the alternative, I don’t get too tired, and can still exercise 5 days a week (golf and running).

[Fitbit-Joe]

I have now seen my doctor, and we discussed the medication, so. As long as I know the risk, and overall if it benefits me, then thats good. But if there any bad ill effect, then I to contact my doctor.

So I normally keep a diary of my health, which helps when i need to update my doctor on my health. So now with the medication, Im keeping a detailed diary, heart rate from four different positions, like standing, or sitting, plus my blood pressure

So have been prescribed Bisoprolol, at 2.5 mg, so check my heart rate at 21:00, take meds at 22:00, then check heart rate at 23:00. Also noting how I feel, and if any side effects, and if its stops the tachycardia episodes

[Lezzers in reply to Fitbit-Joe]

That sounds good, some people are able to tolerate a low HR with no issues. My husband had no problems when his HR was dipping into the 40's but his medical team weren't happy about it. It's definitely a good med to be on to try & stop the tachys or at least keep them under control.

Good luck, hope it works for you 🤞

[Blueberrylover]

Hi Joe I have the same Bracycardia and sometimes tachycardia it can jump from 42 to 120 in secs and I am on beta-blockers which have made my BP go down a lot, I do get giddy and also have swollen ankles evening time and in this hot whether, I don’t know what is wrong with me yet as I am having a holter monitor fitted on 29th September 2023.

Many thanks

[Chasserman]

I’ve got exactly the same symptoms as you, I’ve been in hospital 3 weeks now on BB’s and thinners. Waiting to have cardioversion therapy / ablation procedure this week. Wish me luck, and Gluck to you. 👍

[sevilla315]

I had a heart attack last July, and was rushed to Barts in ambulance to have an emergency stent (and another 6 weeks later to unblock a partially blocked artery they found doing the first). Despite not having used any permanent drug in my 60 years at that stage, I was put on 6 drugs, including Bisoprolol, 5mg once a day. Initially I started feeling very heady, and "bright" (though I didn't feel like I was going to faint) especially if I got up too quickly. The GP reduced my Bisprolol to 3.75mg from 5mg and my Ramipril to 5 from 7.5 and things were much better. I was signed off after 6 weeks and my second stent, when my LVEF returned to the normal range of 50-55%.

I too noticed on my Garmin health app/watch and BP monitor that my resting HR dropped from about 56 (I was pretty fit and trained for 40 years) to high 40s, dropping like a dozen bpm. I also got a Wellue 24hr monitor a month or two ago and after a week of monitoring it showed a min HR of around 44. I questioned this on another forum, being too low, and someone said that his cardiologist said as long as it wasn't in the 30's which required a pacemaker, it was ok!!

I have decided to go to a private cardiologist to get all the answers I need - whether I need to be taking all these drugs, or is it is just a "one size fits all". My brother in Australia had a much more serious HA 9 years ago, got vey good care from their health system, and has never taken on a permanent basis either BB or blood thinner.