Beta Blockers

[cynthiaG]

I remember years ago when my cardiologist first put me on a beta blocker, I started with Metropolol...took for a period of time and of course, will all beta blockers, made me tired....I remember he put me on Atenolol instead and told me that it would make me less tired...anyone had a similar situation? feeling better with a change in beta blockers?

[Sarah]

Re: Beta Blockers

Dear C,

Every beta-blocker is a tiny bit different from the other. Some are more specific in their function and this may make you less tired.

Personally, I didn't like metropolol (Toprol) very much and am very happy on my nadolol (Corgard). But everyone is different, too, so you have to find the one you like and tolerate best.

So the short answer is "Yes."

S

[mtlieb]

Re: Beta Blockers

Hi Cynthia,

Metoprolol made me very very tired, in fact all i wanted to do all the time was sleep. It was a terrible drug for me. I'm on Atenolol now, by my own request, and i feel like a different person. Lot's more energy and for the most part i feel like a 'normal' human being again (although some people might debate just how normal i really am)

Jim

[cynthiaG]

Re: Beta Blockers

thanks for your responses! I had been taking only 50 mg. of Atenolol for the past 14 yrs. or so. The doctor has increased my dosage to 125 mg./day. That was less than 2 weeks ago. I was having occasional (possible atrial tachycardia). I've been more aware of heart beating especially at night...I don't know, maybe it takes a while to adjust. I wish I felt like I did before. I don't like this increase. I find it harder to sleep on my left side (more so than before). I'm having a problem "adjusting" to this change ....I still don't understand if an echo hasnt changed in years, then why is this happening?

[Sarah]

Re: Beta Blockers

C

HCM is organic, just like you. It is influenced by what is going inside you and outside. And sometimes we just don't know why.

Please see my post on your other thread about your neck for more info on bbs.


Take care,

S

[mtlieb]

Re: Beta Blockers

Cynthia,

When i first started taking the atenolol, i did notice that it wore off a bit earlier than i would have liked. Usually around nine or ten o'clock at night i became aware of my heart beating harder and it was a bit difficult falling asleep. I have started splitting my dose (100mg) into two 50mg doses, one in the a.m. and one in the p.m. and this has given me much better overall coverage throughout the day. I am even sleeping on my left side again. Woo hoo!

Ask your doctor if splitting your dosage might be of help to you.

Jim

[cynthiaG]

Re: Beta Blockers

actually, I am on 125 mg. of Atenolol/day. I take 50mg in the a.m., 25 mg. mid-afternoon and the remaining 50 in the evening, I can feel the difference in the way I feel since increasing the dose....more slowed down. Going to a local cardiologist next week, but my primary contacts will be the specialists at Tufts NEMC. I like to have a local cardiologist close by just in case I want him to check something out

[Glen Beamish]

Re: Beta Blockers

I was on Inderal for almost 30 years and did just OK.
I was switched to Atenolol last year and loved it, I felt great, but doc was not happy it slowed my resting heart rate to below 50 bpm.
He put me on Monocor and it seems very much like Inderal, just OK, plus my resting rate is still below 50 so I guess I will have to try something else.
I think because I cycle a lot that may affect my heart rate too, but doc want to get it above 50.
So there are definetly differences in the different beta blockers.

[stmprscrpr]

Re: Beta Blockers

Hi Cynthia,

I hope you do well on Atenolol. I've tried three different beta blockers-Lopressor, Toprol and Atenolol and felt horrible on all of them. Besides being very tired, I felt like a mental zombie and was very depressed. I feel much better on a calcium channel blocker and am taking Verapamil (Calan) now.

Dolly Y

[cynthiaG]

Re: Beta Blockers

thanks, Dolly. Actually I've been on Atenolol for several years (always felt tired) but now my dose is doubled and feel like you said...it's a different kind of "tired"...I feel scattered brained by evening and just not the same as before. I've been hearing a lot of people are on Verapamil

[BrodyB]

Re: Beta Blockers

My son was started on Atenolol (50 mg) last year. His normal sleep heart rate was 47 bpm, so the problem was being sure the meds did not slow him too much more if any. He took it only in the mornings. It made him impossibly tired and simply was not able to wake up. He also begin to collect lung fluid. He was changed to Verapamil three months ago and has improved. While he is still tired as compared to his pre-HCM diagnosis and beginning of meds, he is much better than with the Atenolol. He sleeps better and has began to adjust.