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Beta Blocker Questions?

Posted , 3 users are following.

mike9205700
mike9205700

Hey All, lol

Hope you are all doing well. So let me give you my little story short and to the point! I always had anxiety the last couple years and have Klonopin as needed. I normally do not take it but always have it around keeps me at bay, I know.. Sounds fun. So about a week ago, I had an appointment with my Cartogolist and I parked very far in the parking lot and his office is on the other side of the building - so the walk was long. By the time, I got to his office I was drained, anxious probably due to me not feeling well (going to doctor), and my heart rate was very high. We did and EKG, Echo, and also I had a 3-4 days 24-hour monitor. I left that day with a new script for 50MG of Metoprolol Sur 50mg. I started taking it that night as my pressure was probably high, but it has always been around 145/100, sometimes a bit higher really depends. Anyhow, since I have been on the medicine about ~2 weeks in, I was feeling a bit off with lightheadedness and headaches. So I called in and they reduced me down to 25mg/1 per day. I am taking my medicine at night. The week since the change, I feel lightheaded/dizzy but not to the point where I am going to fall over, just 'off.' I called again today and the receptionist said what is your readings, I said lately they have been pretty good such as 130 to 145 over 80-90. I have been tracking the pressure and the pulse as well and finding the pulse from the machine between 80-95, just depends on what I am doing or was doing. Regular, not exercise. They told me to go back up to 50mg/1 time per day to be protected, not sure what that really means, but I can adjust if needed as per the doctor tonight. She said the doctor said it doesn't seem to be the medicine. Any thoughts?

I've been seeing my GP regularly, always do blood work as normal, etc. I did complain about my neck having pain. I was sent off to have an MRI and they found out I had a herniated disc. I am following up with a specialize because I do have pain in my neck/shoulder/chest at times. I also do have some acid reflux at times. Any help would be great!

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • mike92384
    mike92384 mike9205700

    Posted

    Hey mike9205700...If you go to the forum where there's a lot of discussion about Metropolol, you'll be a busy guy. I had problems with it a few years back where it gave me terrible headaches to the point where I thought my head was coming off. I'd take the pill at 7.30am, & by 11am, my head was pounding like a drum. You could set your watch by the time it got bad. I'm rather surprised the Dr. gave you a prescription for 50mg Metropolol right off the bat before getting the results of the 24hr monitor. Did you have a chance to rest before seeing the Dr., or having the EKG, & Echo? If not, the results could be inaccurate. After just 2 weeks you were reduced to 25mg...

    You didn't state your age, but I'd say that readings of 130/80 or 145/90 are pretty good. The pulse seems to be in the normal-high range..but as you said it depends on what you're doing or had been doing. To be told to go back up to 50mg "to be protected" boggles me, then it was said you can 'adjust if needed". A patient should NEVER be the one to decide on adjusting their meds...especially with a beta blocker. 

    I find that Atenolol works much better for me. A pharmacist friend of mine told me the difference between Metrpoolol and Atenolol is that one is water soluable, while the other is fat soluable. I do not have the headaches with the Atenolol as I did with the Metropolol. By the way, it's the Metropolol that's fat soluable.

    I think you should consult your doctor yet again...don't play games with medicine. 

    • mike9205700
      mike9205700 mike92384

      Posted

      Hey Mike, thanks so much. I'm a 30 year old man. I am overweight. I just checked my pressure again as I write and using the wrist monitor... as of now it was 143/91.. 83 pulse(rest)... I had a meeting to go to yesterday, but my head was off (still is a bit off since I went back up to 50mg and not sure if it is the meds) doing this to me. I've had a few things before for Acid Reflux and taken PPI before and had to stop those meds due to also getting headaches, not same family, but same concept. I feel slow but beside from feeling slow I just feel off, fatigued... and I never felt like this before all the time until this med really started. I spoken to my sister who is on HBP meds as well and she had a beta blocker but didn't recommend it. She is on something called: Felodipine 5mg. Even at work, looking at the screen makes me a bit off/lightheaded and I'm driving myself nuts. I went to bed normal time last night and woken up around 3am, light headed and just thinking about it. I am not sure if I have muscular straining as I spoke to my GP last night and I have a C3/C4 herniated disc but the anxiety is very high. Sometimes I want to go to the hospital but the pain I feel is pain I felt before and never towards the center of the chest. Only today when I entered sometimes car, I believe I was anxious, I felt burning mid chest for a short period of time <1 min. I really thank you for your help. Take care as well.

    • mike9205700
      mike9205700 mike92384

      Posted

      Hey Mike, also to go back to your question. When I first went to the office, I was very worked out and my car was parked very far away plus his office is on the other side of the building. I was fatigued and my heart rate must of been in the 130s... Pressure was up. I rested for a bit and they did an echo, EKG.. I assume everything turned well on the EKG, and the lady who did the Echo said the heart was fine... At that point, I left about 1 hour later went to the pharmacy to grab the prescription... and headed home. I started the meds about 4 hours later. 
    • mike92384
      mike92384 mike9205700

      Posted

      Hey Buddy...143/91 really isn't anything to worry about. Remember...bp fluctuates from minute to minute. Do not take bp readings if you're feeling anxious or unwell. Don't take readings within 30 min of eating, smoking, drinking coffee, bathing, showering, exercising. Does your monitor take 3 consecutive readings, then provide the average??? If not, take a reading..throw that one away because it likely isn't accurate...if you want to try to avoid anxiety by that reading...don't even look at it, erase it from the monitor. Sit comfortably with feet flat on the floor, with your back supported by the chair. Apply the cuff to your left arm, about 1 1/2 -2" above the bend in your elbow. Be sure the cord runs straight down the centre of your inner arm to the middle finger, & the cuff shouldn't be too tight or loose. If you can fit two fingers into the top of the cuff comfortably, it's tight enough. Be sure it's not to the point where the insertion of two fingers is extremely easy, but on the other hand if you really have to work at getting the fingers into the top of the cuff, then it's too tight. Relax for a few min..then begin taking the readings. 

      I too suffer form Acid Reflux & was taking a PPI..but the PPI wasn't controlling things, so I'm currently under the care of a Gastroenterologist, who has me scheduled for Gastroscopy next month. 

      Your sister is taking Felodipine..I believe that's a Calcium Channel Blocker. A lot of people take Amlodipine, but it too has it's drawbacks. Some take it without a problem, others have one helluva time with it. 

      Now, you & I have something in common here...You sit at the computer screen, & it makes you feel a bit off/lightheaded. Do you sometimes experience a bit of nausea as well??? I too have this problem.

      My neck will become very sore & I do have a problem in the neck..not a herniated disc, but I have some narrowing where the nerve comes out., along with some osteophytes. It's very uncomforable as you can well imagine. Also, I got the optometrist to figure out what type of glasses I can use while using the computer because I'm not on the computer any real length of time, when I can feel my head start to burn & the headache begins. You could very well have muscle straining. Does the muscles in the back of your neck get very stiff/sore??? ...especially the muscles that run up the back of your neck...to your head...& to the spot at the base of the skull? ..not softer spot in the middle.The muscles in your shoulders can become very irritated because of how we sit at the computer. If you think about it...you might feel your shoulders are nearly up to your ears. Try to nip the soreness...massage the area...apply HEAT..yes, heat..it promotes blood flow to the area. 

      I also get burning mid-chest., but I blame that on what's going on (acid reflux)...& also the muscles could be affected because of the way we sit, etc.etc. 

      Remember...bp fluctuates minute to minute. Your bp can be 135/78..then 10 min. later it can be 145/82, or whatever. 

      Sorry to be so lengthy, but I wanted to provide you with as much information as I could in the hope it has been helpful to you. 

  • Tee19
    Tee19 mike9205700

    Posted

    Mike. Look up my thread. Tons of info Be sure and check with your doctor but pretty much for the most part everyone on my thread thinks that medication is poison and we all suffer through trying to get off of it I did it successfully as well as a few others on the thread that medication is pure crap please read the thread but please also consult with your doctor before stopping anything do not cold  turkey stop  the medication Trust me when I say taking that medication is pretty much the beginning of the end if you don’t get off of it when he did to me was horrific please look at my thread and start from the top

    I wish you well 

    • mike9205700
      mike9205700 Tee19

      Posted

      Hey Tee, took a look and I agree with you. I feel slow... and faded on this thing. It is not me. I don't know why but I feel very different on it.. As if it is me in the third person. I'm going to look into swapping it.

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