Heart rate decrease after 10 minutes gentle walking

[sobs1962]

Hi to all and Happy New Year.

Just wanted to ask if anyone has had a similar experience to me. I decided to take my pulse rate as I'm very gradually coming off Propranolol as I know it interferes with T4 to T3 conversion and my resting heartbeat was 100. I went for a walk round the block which involved a gentle incline and took about 12 minutes and when I got back I took my pulse again and it had decreased to 85. I have previously taken my temperature before and after exercise only to find it decreased after exercise. What I want to know is it my thyroid or potentially my adrenals that is causing this to happen and should I be worried. Just so you know I'm currently taking 10 mg of Propranolol in 2 doses half a 10 mg tablet twice a day and intend to cut down to 7.5,5 and 2.5 to make sure I am coming off it as slowly as possible, having had bad withdrawal symptoms back in April and May last year.

Any advice or wisdom would be greatly appreciated.

[shaws Administrator]

I take one propranol at bedtime and have done so for many years, but it doesn't affect my pulse rate.

[sobs1962 in reply to shaws]

Thanks for that but was on 160mg early in 2020 and came off it over a 4 week period which was far too quickly and causes a major rebound effect. I was put on it for anxiety which is a definite no no according to my psychiatrist and I don't have any heart problems but the Propranolol has done more harm than good and shouldn't be prescribed for anything than it's original purpose.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Do you wear a Fitbit or equivalent so that you can monitor your resting heart rate

Propranolol invariably lowers or steadies heart rate

nhs.uk/medicines/propranolol/

Propranolol slows down your heart rate and makes it easier for your heart to pump blood around your body.

How slowly are you reducing

I found I could only tolerate 5mcg reduction every 6-8 weeks

And the last 10mcg even slower

Reducing by 2.5mcg ......waiting 6 weeks .....repeat etc

Last 2.5mcg.....drop one day a week

Following week, drop 2 (non consecutive) days a week etc

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/168...

Propranolol decreases plasma T3 and increases plasma rT3 in a dose-dependent manner due to a decreased production rate of T3 and a decreased metabolic clearance rate of rT3, respectively, caused by inhibition of the conversion of T4 into T3 and of rT3 into 3,3'-T2. This inhibition of 5'-deiodination is not secondary to inhibition of thyroid hormone transport across the plasma membrane.

Propranolol also may reduce magnesium, perhaps because it lowers parathyroid hormones

labtestsonline.org.uk/tests...

Drugs that may decrease PTH include cimetidine and propranolol.

Magnesium modulates parathyroid hormone

academic.oup.com/ndt/articl...

Making sure you have enough magnesium by supplementing (must be four hours away from levothyroxine)

shaws

[sobs1962 in reply to SlowDragon]

Was taking a magnesium powder daily but haven't had any for a couple of weeks. Will start taking again. As far as decreasing dose will definitely do it as you suggest,I don't want to go back to that awful 5 weeks back in April and May last year. I'm just trying to do the best I can for myself and not make things worse.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to sobs1962]

Yes ....don’t rush...perhaps hold at 10mg for few weeks

[sobs1962 in reply to SlowDragon]

I agree, will stay at that level till mid February.