Extra Heart Beat/scared to take beta blocker

[annmarie38]

Hello I ecently decided that I wanted to get my heart checked because I was having palpataions turns out, I have an extra heart beat (also found out I have a murmor).  Also I have anxiety issues (no meds), which I have had for a long time. So, my cardiologist wants me to take a beta blocker I am going to be 38 very soon, I am very nervous about taking this medicine. My husband keeps telling me I have to take it he says why would they give it to you if you didnt need it. Well the fact is that he said it would help so that I wouldn't FEEL it. Are there any other options for me? I read about a women who had the same thing as me on here, she was told to try and ignore it. I have been IGNORING it for a long time. Also does this extra heart beat strain your heart? IS it ok to excercise with it too? I have a family history of heart disease and stroke, so that is another concern for me.
I hope you can help me. Thanks for reading!

[Ihatepalps2]

Hi! I take a beta-blocker--- Atenolol....a pretty big dose too...50 mg in the AM and 50 mg in the pm. Ive been on this for probably 13 years. Ive never had one single problem with it.
Maybe in the very beginning I was more tired than normal...i cant remember, it was that uneventful. I was given it for the palpitations, although its also used for high blood pressure. It does slow your heart down. My pulse ALWAYS sits in the 60's. Except when Im up and around of course, but exercising--dont try to raise yours if you go on it, the way other people do. The BB kind of prevents your heartrate from rising too much. My dr told me when Im exercising, that getting it to 100-110 is plenty and does benefit me, when on the BB. When Im at rest, or sitting still for a length of time, like at work where Im on a computer 8 hrs a day, my heartrate can drop to the low 50's...makes me wonder what it does while Im sleeping. But my dr isnt concerned in the least..and I dont have any symptoms, like dizziness, etc.SO....I say take it....take it slow so you know how your body is going to react..everyone is different...and I was just so glad to get it, because the palpitations were driving me crazy. But..its definatly not a magic pill..it will not take away the skipping, jumping heartbeats. Nope. We couldnt be that lucky.
But it lessens the way I FEEL them...if that makes sense.
When I had a stress test in 2007, they had me go off my BB 24 hrs prior...and boy could I tell!! I hated that feeling. My heart would pound when I was up walking around.
Im glad to be on it.
Good luck, whatever you decide to do.

[annmarie38]

Thank you for the advice, I never really thought about how many times I feel it. I feel after meals, I feel it when I lay down. Sometimes during the day too depends on what is going on with me too, like if I am over anxious or worried then I feel it more.

Thanks again for the advice from everyone.

[annmarie38]

Thank you for the advice...I am not afraid to take aspirin at all its just this beta blocker has me worried. I am tired as it is and struggle for the energy to even get my butt up to work out (mental mostly). I am just worried that this would make me even more tired. I will definitely start taking an aspirin a day.

[Jerry_NJ]

I'd try the beta blocker, just like your doctor prescribed.  If it is a low dose, I say less than 50 mg a day for Toprol, then you should have very few if any side effects...still people are different and have different reactions.

I think it could be a good idea to take a half (or reduced dose) aspirin a day with a meal to reduce the risk of a stroke.    Hope you are not unwilling to take even aspirin, of course some people can't because of stomach problems.  I take a half aspirin every morning with breakfast...so far no stomach problems.  And, no Strokes!

[ireneo]

How often does this "extra beat" occur? If you're having just a few hundred a day, then there's no danger to your heart especially now that your doctor has confirmed there's no problem. There are some people on the board that have thousands a day. That can be tiring and they do prefer to take meds. But be aware that there are side effects to medications too. It's up to you which "feeling" you would rather have - a heart hiccup now and then or fatigue from the pill.