peripheral circulation

[paanda2]

i have been on atenolol (beta blocker) for a form of tachycardia (IST) for about 6 months, and since then, my blood pressure as decreased. it used to by about 110/70ish, but now its 90/50 more or less. my feet and hands are constantly freezing, and my fingernails on my hands are a deep pink/sometimes purple color. i told my cardio (showed him my hands) and he had no idea (which i found super weird that a cardio doctor couldn't make a correlation there...).

anyway, i consider these to by bad side effects of the medication. i mean, the bb is helping with the tachycardia; my 24hr average bpm is 76-78, and it used to by 96 (bad). but i will be seeing a new doctor (as this one seems clueless) to talk about this. my questions are: should i ask about other drug options? has anyone ever experienced this type of thing? any thoughts?

(also, to mention; i'm 20 F, normal/underweight, don't smoke, etc. i don't have other issues that i know of and other heart issues were ruled out before. i take birth control and an tricyclic anti-depesssant at a super low dose for migraines.)

any thoughts/advice would be appreciated!

[Lutheran122]

Its definitely the beta blocker thats making your hands and feet cold. The same thing is happening to me ( 44 year old Male taking Metoprolol ).

[paanda2]

all i know is that the average bpm on the holter was 96. my hr at that time was usually 84-88 resting, and probably 130 while walking? (i'm just guessing). my dr was concerned about this. however, i think he's wrong on a lot of things (i'm not kidding when i think he paid someone to take the test for him). i will be seeing a new dr in may.

i got my bp tested today and it was 90/58. right now my feet are like icicles, and my fingernails are deep pink, which really concerns me.

i want to talk to someone about not taking this medication, but my current dr frustrates me, and i don't have time to get a new one now because i'm in school fulltime.

[Encephalomalcia]

A heart rate of 96 for a 20 year old female is not that high. What was your highest resting heart rate before taking beta blockers?  Beta blockers are not good for a person and can cause heart problems.  People take beta blockers to reduce blood pressure and take some of the work load off of the heart.  Young people in their early twenties can normally have fast heart rates, which does not harm the heart (because of the young age).  My resting heart rate was 130 bpm and my doctor said no to beta blockers for me.  Lately my heart rate has been in the normal range and I am 44.  When I was in my teenager years and twenties my heart rate would go up to 180.  When the heart reaches around 160, it is very hard to breath.  If you are not having problems breathing, you may not want to be taking a beta blocker.  If you are thinking about stopping the beta blocker, check with your doctor.  Usually, a person has to wean down (take 1/2 pill for so many days before stopping).  Your hands are purple because of poor blood circulation due to low blood pressure, most likely. I know elderly people on heart medication who have the same symptoms.