Lowering Portal Vein Hypertension

[scooterpp]

Apparently Beta Blockers are the only option, but I literally can barely move when I take them. Any suggestions?

[Howard_Sherwood]

Following endoscopy which revealed varices (banded and removed) soon after diagnosis (Cryptogenic Cirrhosis), I was prescribed Propanolol (Inderal) to lower portal vein hypertension. I suffered lethargy and low mood as side effects and as soon as possible (i.e. no further varices) came off that medication. I do not have experience of other beta-blockers which may have different effects in different people, but suggest that you ask your GP/consultant if there are any alternative drugs that may perform the same function.

[jules45]

Hi, I take one called bisiprolil. Admittedly they make me slurr my my speech and drop off so I take it before bedl I had 6 varicies banded last year so Im happy to take them. Good luck

Julie

[AyrshireK]

My hubby had 42 varices banded over a 2 year period - other than a short stint on carvedilol (prescribed by a locum) he has never taken beta blockers for portal hypertension.

His liver doctor took him off carvedilol and said it was no good because he'd already had a massive bleed.

Touch wood, to date he's not had ascites but has had the varices, portal hypertensive gastropathy and aneurysms in his splenic artery (due to PH).

Seems different doctors take different approaches to these things. Hubby generally has low blood pressure (apart from the portal vein) and beta blockers wern't good for him.

[cazer]

I took a betablocker it made me feel terrible.i was given a different one ..carvedilol and i can tolerate this one.l do take this at night as it makes me feel a bit dizzy.

I was told that they work in different ways...something to do with the lungs.i found with the first one i couldnt even walk across the road without being out of breath but this one im okay with.so its worth trying diff ones but try and get them that work in the other way.cazer.x

[pishi1]

I take a low dosage of carvedilol and am ok. I do need to have another endoscopy to see how the varices are doing. I too am another cryptogenic for non alcoholic cirrhosis.

[thewayforward]

My partner takes 60 mg propranolol daily.Sometimes it affects him a lot,but most of the time he can tolerate it.The consultant told us that the alternative would be a gastroscopy at least once a month,to check for varices and band them if needed.But there would be still a risk for bleeding.Besides he's got low platelets and bad clotting,so gastroscopy by itself is a risk for him.He would need platelets transfusion before every procedure.So he is better off with propranolol.I know it's not fun,but without it it's much worse.People advised us here to try and change propranolol to another beta blocker.Maybe you can try that.

[sandy56789]

I know someone in this situation who can't take beta blockers as she has asthma. She is prescribed a calcium channel blocker - I think amlodipine - instead.