BLOOD PRESSURE MEDS - Help?

[Columbo-70]

I have Blood Pressure in general 160/95. I have been prescribed meds such as Bisoprolol and now Propranolol. I have come to learn that these meds are Beta Blockers that relax muscles and slow heart rate.

My question is - I am finding when I do anything such as walk up stairs , walk dog or do any simple exertion , I get a severe tight chest and feel short of breath. I have to stop , gasp and get my breath back. Surely this is because the heart needs to beat faster when you move to pump oxygen around body. I have experimented by stopping my meds and after a few days the issue completely goes away. Is it these Beta blockers that are confusing the heart to beat slower thus causing these episodes. I do find when I am walking dog this will happen again and again but eventually eases the further I walk. Is this the heart taking time to understand it needs to pump faster?

Any ideas why...it really is causing my life to be bed ridden.

[RufusScamp]

You need to talk to the person who prescribed them. The dose might need adjusting, or perhaps you could try a different drug.. But not being medical people, we can't safely advise you. It does sound unpleasant, and I hope you get some help.

[Columbo-70 in reply to RufusScamp]

Thanks...i will...ive already moved from Bisoprolol to Propranolol...Doctors seems clueless....Cardiologist is what i need not a GP

[Bingo88]

I should be talking to your doctor again and telling them something needs to change with it affecting your life so much. They don't know how badly these drugs are affecting you everyday and there's plenty of other drugs to help get your b.p down. Hope you get it sorted out soon. Brian

[RunRabbitRun]

hi, you don’t say how long you’ve been on the meds. I’ve been on bisoprolol for 6 weeks now and am just starting to feel normal when walking. At first I was like you, I had to sit down just walking around the supermarket when previously I’d easily walk several km.

A friend who’d had a heart attack and on same meds assured me it would get better as your body adjusts to the new lower heart rate. He was right. He even runs park run again.

So I’d say check with your doctor to put your mind at rest, but also give it time.

The lower heart rate helps prevent heart attack and stroke.

[Fitbit-Joe]

I was prescribed Bisoprolol three weeks ago, and started at 2.5 mg for around 10 days to get used to the med's. Im now on 5 mg, and I find the best way to take the med's is in the morning, and for around 2 hours just rest. Then when I go out, I take things easy for the first few hours. Each day I will walk further, to try to get myself to a reasonable fitness level

I have a slow heart rate, and these med's reduce my heart rate further, and I have no issues. Can be lying in bed, resting and my heart rate is around 35 bpm. Palpitations are gone, as are my tachycardia episodes

[NealS]

alsi have high bp about the same 160+/ 95 ish. Seen 2 cardiologist lately. One added monoxide tpo the cocktail i was already on, nextone took me off it both agreed its trial and error. Seems unbelievable there have been no worthwhile studies done. Good luck.

[Columbo-70]

Thanks everyone who has took the time to answer....ive spoken several times to 3 GP's and they think Im just having anxiety attacks as Beta Blockers dont cause these side effects....hmmm...Im not happy with that prognosis because when I stop taking Beta Blockers I have zero issues. Once again I will ask , but if your heart is beating slow due to these meds and I suddenly need to do something exerting then surely my heart needs to beat faster......i personally think that the electric signal in my brain to tell heart to beat faster is being suppressed....i was hoping somebody on here had experienced similar.......one GP I saw even had to google side effects on his mobile as he couldnt give me an answer.....