Anyone here on/been on beta blockers for heart problems?

**Neo1130** · 10-18-2009, 10:57 PM

I was put on beta blockers about two weeks ago to help with palpitations and anxiety. Well, about a week in it started to not work as well and I was starting to get palpitations again, so I went off of them and now almost every other heart beat is a palpitation or better yet, premature ventricular contraction (PVC.) So, I just started again and they are not as bad as before...

I just want to know, is anyone else taking them, how did they help you and were you able to quit them and not have your condition return? I wanna know if I am looking for a lifetime of taking these or what... I am only 26 years old, but I do have anxiety from PTSD.

**BIGDAVE** · 10-18-2009, 11:10 PM

It takes alittle time for your body to adjust.Im on a Beta blocker and it took awhile.You might need a stronger antidepress to do with it.Hope this helps.
BIGDAVE

**Neo1130** · 10-18-2009, 11:21 PM

Man, I am just afraid of becoming one of those "vegetables" on anti depressants... I am not exactly 100% pleased with the medical coverage of the VA in my area and I want to know exactly what is wrong with me and what can be done to fix it... I just feel like the beta blockers are sort of a cover up... But I did spend a few days in the hospital last week because I was having heart problems. Just ended up being pericarditis (inflammation of the heart lining.)

Thank you for the advice/input... I guess I just have to know I am not the only one and that there is a solution available...

**BIGDAVE** · 10-18-2009, 11:58 PM

I take Lexapro and it just evens you out
Dave

**Justme** · 10-19-2009, 07:35 AM

I was in the hospital twice with a racing heart. I am on a beta blocker now and it helps. I still have some pulsating but it does not last as long or as often as before. I probably will have to stay on them for my entire life. I am 70 and don't know if you would have to at your age. The beta blocker only effects my heart and nothing else. I still am active and able to do all my normal activities and have no other side effects from the beta blocker.

**grinner** · 10-19-2009, 11:29 AM

At the risk of gettin' bashed again, I take nothing. I hate chemicals (and the doctors who push them). Very seldom have I taken a drug that didn't have the opposite effect it was suppose to. My body chemestry is veeery unique and over and over, doctors want to beta test with it, resulting in near death experiences that lacked woohoo factors too many times for me to let em "give this a shot" again.

**FloridaRT** · 10-19-2009, 12:29 PM

Have had heart palpatations for over 12 years now, do take beta blocker - along with 12 other meds every day. Hell to get old..................

Bob 69

**IES99** · 10-19-2009, 12:52 PM

spelling

**IES99** · 10-19-2009, 01:05 PM

Originally Posted by Neo1130

Man, I am just afraid of becoming one of those "vegetables" on anti depressants... I am not exactly 100% pleased with the medical coverage of the VA in my area and I want to know exactly what is wrong with me and what can be done to fix it... I just feel like the beta blockers are sort of a cover up... But I did spend a few days in the hospital last week because I was having heart problems. Just ended up being pericarditis (inflammation of the heart lining.)

Thank you for the advice/input... I guess I just have to know I am not the only one and that there is a solution available...

Did they make a diagnosis of the cause of the pericarditis? Pericarditis (like a fever) is a symptom of some cause: viral, bacterial, autoimmune? Pericarditis can cause arrhythmias (palpitations), so a beta blocker can help those, but knowing the cause of the pericarditis is important. If it was a virus only, it should pass and things be fine. However, if there is a chronic cause of the pericardial inflammation, the beta blocker is (as you say) only a treatment of a symptom.

Best of luck.

PS: To the poster who dislikes all medications: it is hard to respond to someone who doesn't realize how many people are alive today who wouldn't have been 20 years ago because of the development of so many new treatments. Yes, side effects must be looked for. But 2009 medicine is light years ahead of even 1981 medicine.

**markl67** · 10-19-2009, 04:03 PM

My father was having irregular heart rhythm and was put on a medication called procainamide. Supposedly, this medicine is for short term usage - well he was left on it for several years and it eventually destroyed his immune system causing an auto immune disorder called pyoderma gangrenosum. To make a very long and painful story short, it ruined his retirement and the last years of his life and eventually lead to his death in 2004. I say all this for one reason - be careful and do your own research before taking any medicine...