NEBIVOLOL AND THYROID MEDS

[JaneChapple]

Hi

I have just been prescribed Nebivolol for a very short burst of AF and atrial tachycardia. Otherwise the rest of the 7 day tape was normal. Originally Cardiologist suggested bisoprolol but I was on this drug several years ago and it lowered my heart rate too much so I was taken off it. I had AF at the time due to a viral infection and I hd also been on flecainide for this. Eventually all returned to normal.

I read on the PIL that it can lower blood pressure too and I recently had the following readings:

97/51 HR 59

86/53 HR 61

My watch often shows a HR of 49 which seems to occur on waking. It is correct because I check the time I wake up and it is the same reading I get from the watch.

I have Hshimotos thyroiditis and only one kidney and read it can affect kidneys too, so its a catch 22 situation really. The palpitations I feel are very short lived when I feel them, always less than a minute and happen about 5 times in the day, but occasionally I am kept awake at night. I also have benign heart murmur from birth.

I am trycing to keep off beta blockers if at all possible i am on NDT and my endo recently told me to try 3 grains one day and 2.75 the next s he felt this would stop the palpitations, but it has not worked and has made my temp drop below 36 in the morning soxam going back to 3 grains. Do wondwr if the thyroid is causing the palpitations. I have suppressed TSH of 0.1, ft4 20.5 and and FT3 of 6.5. I take aspirin 75mcg and the usual vitamins and minerals. Also have Essential Tremor and poor sleep.

Was thinking of trying ashwaganda.

Advice welcome

Thanks

JaneC

[silverfox7]

Have you the ranges for your thyroid readings? They differ from lab to lab and they look a bit high to me. I have seen the top of the FT3 range to be 6.8 but my range is 5.7 so I feel I can't presume yours.

[JaneChapple in reply to silverfox7]

Hi Silverfox

Here they are:

MAY 2018

TSH 0.01 (0.21 - 4.2)

FT4 21.4 (12.0 to 22.0)

FT3 6.5 (3.11 - 6.8)

The FT4 is higher than I quoted. Endo told me to take 3 grains one day and 2.75 the next as he thought it would stop the arrythmias, but it didnt unfortunately. My temp dropped to 35.9 but does rise to 36.8 but mostly due to hot weather I think, as normally I cant get it above 36.4.

The endo asked if I wanted to try T3. Couldnt afford to go private though. I did think about adding T3 to NDT or just T3. Was on combination therapy before NDT but previous endo never titrated dose,and I didnt know much about it back then.

Spoke to doc this morning who wasnt keen about T3 as she thought it would increase my arrythmias. Really good GP but not knowledgeable about thyroid sadly. I feel the arrythmias could be caused by thyroid, but I do have a benign heart murmur from birth as well as one kidney.

I mentioned about nebivolol as the PIL stated that you should not take it if you have low blood pressure or low heart rate below 60 which I have. She agreed I shouldnt take it. I mentioned flecainide which she thought would be a good idea. She is contacting my cardiologist butcI have since read it can cause tremor and I have ET too. What a problem it all is!

Thanks for responding.

JaneCx

[silverfox7 in reply to JaneChapple]

No problems. Only wish I could be more help.

[kiefer]

You say you're taking all the usual vitamins and minerals. As you know, dose is important. How much magnesium are you taking and do you have an RBC magnesium (not serum) test result?

Magnesium can have a profound effect on the heart and is useful (for some) as a sleep enhancer. As long as you have decent renal function (i.e., you don't have renal failure), there shouldn't be a problem taking more if necessary.

[JaneChapple in reply to kiefer]

Hi Kiefer,

Im on Osteocare two tablets daily 300 mg. It also has Zinc, Copper, Magnanese, Calcium, Vitamin D and boron). I dont have renal failure and recent scan showed other kidney to be entirely normal. I dont have a recent magnesium test result though but am due a blood test soon. They wont check for selenium so possibly wont check for magnesium either. Labs seem to be in charge these days not the doctors!

I do struggle with sleep and have done so for a long time. I know lack of sleep does affect the heart too. So I may add another table (150) and see how it goes. Im not sure about the RBC magnesium test -would the doc do this? I think they only do serum one?

Thanks for the advice.

JaneCx

[kiefer in reply to JaneChapple]

Don't bother with a serum magnesium blood test; it could be normal while your tissues are still severely deficient. An RBC (red blood cell) magnesium test, if low, would give greater confidence towards that possibility.

You'll want to isolate your magnesium supplementation so that you can increase it without increasing everything else. A recommended daily intake of elemental magnesium is between 300 and 420mg, depending on gender and age.

Magnesium comes in many different salt forms: oxide, hydroxide, citrate, chloride, etc. What's most important is how much 'elemental' magnesium is in each dose and how much of it is absorbed.

For example, a 500mg magnesium oxide tablet is not going to have nearly the same absorption as a different salt. Mag oxide 500mg contains 300mg of elemental magnesium but only 4% is absorbed. Not a good choice. Most bundled vitamin and mineral supplements don't provide a therapeutic amount of elemental magnesium.

Obtain a magnesium salt that has good bioavailability. I chose a product made by Doctor's Best. It's a high potency magnesium glycinate/lysinate 1 gram tablet and it contains (per tablet) 100mg of ELEMENTAL magnesium. I take 4 per day.

[JaneChapple in reply to kiefer]

Thanks for your help Kiefer.

You are very knowledgeable. I will order the brand you suggest. Hopefully it doesnt have magnesium stearate although there seem to be arguments for and against this. I have asked doc for RBC test with magnesium. Hopefully it will help. Do you take them all at once or throughout the day? Sorry for another question!

Regards

JaneCx