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Beta Blocker for preventing afib and PVC
I'm 52 and I have had 3 episodes of Afib (30y, 35y, 48y). I also used to have frequent PVCs but very few anymore mostly due to relaxation techniques. I am on Troprol XL 100mg and Lotrel 5/10.
I have recently acquired mild allergic asthma. I have read that Toprol is cardioselective and is ok for asthma, however, my allergy doctor thinks that with my type of asthma, I could benefit alot from immunotherapy allergy shots.
There is nothing wrong with my heart other than what I have mentioned.
Allergy shots while taking a betablocker scares me and most everything I read says it shouldn't be done. I went to see my cardiologist about it and he lowered my toprol to 50 mg and changed my Lotrel to amlodopine besylate 10mg and said the epipen would work. My allergy doctor doesn't agree and is still nervous, so am I.
Q: Are their other comparably safe drugs to replace my beta blocker? (CCBs?) I am under the impression that the BB is for "preventing" Afib, but I was on it when I had my last episode. The BB does seem to help the PVCs somewhat. Is there a possible way for me to get off beta blockers?
--nervous
I have recently acquired mild allergic asthma. I have read that Toprol is cardioselective and is ok for asthma, however, my allergy doctor thinks that with my type of asthma, I could benefit alot from immunotherapy allergy shots.
There is nothing wrong with my heart other than what I have mentioned.
Allergy shots while taking a betablocker scares me and most everything I read says it shouldn't be done. I went to see my cardiologist about it and he lowered my toprol to 50 mg and changed my Lotrel to amlodopine besylate 10mg and said the epipen would work. My allergy doctor doesn't agree and is still nervous, so am I.
Q: Are their other comparably safe drugs to replace my beta blocker? (CCBs?) I am under the impression that the BB is for "preventing" Afib, but I was on it when I had my last episode. The BB does seem to help the PVCs somewhat. Is there a possible way for me to get off beta blockers?
--nervous
Beta blockers kept me out of Afib and out of the hospital for 7 years. I am now have been on an anti-arrythmic and Warfarin. for the past year. I hope to get off of that soon. I think different meds work for different people. Afib is a whole different animal than the pvc's, pac's and tachycardia. I have those also, but they are non-sustained and not (for me) the emergency that Afib is.
When I first went on the beta blockers, I was very concerned about getting a flu shot because of the epinehphine issue -- the handouts said it wouldn't work if you're on the beta blocker. Discussed it with doctor and decided to go ahead and get the shots, since I'd never had a reaction. I've had a flu shot every year since, no problem. I also took allergy shots years ago (pre beta blocker) and so did my son, and I don't believe they really helped me or him. In fact, my allergist didn't really recommend them.
I hope some of this is useful for your condition. I wish you luck.
When I first went on the beta blockers, I was very concerned about getting a flu shot because of the epinehphine issue -- the handouts said it wouldn't work if you're on the beta blocker. Discussed it with doctor and decided to go ahead and get the shots, since I'd never had a reaction. I've had a flu shot every year since, no problem. I also took allergy shots years ago (pre beta blocker) and so did my son, and I don't believe they really helped me or him. In fact, my allergist didn't really recommend them.
I hope some of this is useful for your condition. I wish you luck.
"Back in 2009, I had a major PVC outbreak that lasted 18 months, peaking at about 8 months then gradually getting better. I tried BBs, CCBs, supplements including COQ10, Magnesium, Calcium, Potassium, that I can remember. If someone wrote on the internet that they ate dog crap and it helped their PVCs I would have tried it. I asked an EP for an ablation, he felt I should wait it out and he was right. "
My PVC outbreak was in 2001. Thats when my cardiologist switched me from antenolol to Troprol. They said the PVCs would get better in a couple months and that I needed to "calm down and get rid of my stress". I tried alot of suppliments. What really helped was a book mentioned on this forum alot "Hope and Help for your Nerves" by Claire Weekes. and old book published in the 60's. It really helped my nerves practicing the techniques and after some time my PVCs started going away. I now only have the "normal" 1 or 2 pvcs every week or so. I've been good like this for the past 5 years.
My PVC outbreak was in 2001. Thats when my cardiologist switched me from antenolol to Troprol. They said the PVCs would get better in a couple months and that I needed to "calm down and get rid of my stress". I tried alot of suppliments. What really helped was a book mentioned on this forum alot "Hope and Help for your Nerves" by Claire Weekes. and old book published in the 60's. It really helped my nerves practicing the techniques and after some time my PVCs started going away. I now only have the "normal" 1 or 2 pvcs every week or so. I've been good like this for the past 5 years.
"If you've been taking the BB for a long time, wean off it very slowly. Your cells remodel to accommodate drugs, they will have to remodel back to normal which can take months. "
Thanks. I knew there is re-bound effect but I didn't know that. I've been taking some type of BB for 25 years.
Thanks. I knew there is re-bound effect but I didn't know that. I've been taking some type of BB for 25 years.
y = years old, and my afib trigger is vagus related. Each time I had afib, I had a extraordinary stomach "bloat" issue: extreme overeating & gas, vomiting while laying on myside (I've vomited many times standing up over the toilet - no problem), and this last time I had a gall-bladder attack with bile backing up into my stomach (gall-bladder is gone now).
My PVCs where classified as benign. Just a nuisance.
My PVCs where classified as benign. Just a nuisance.
COMMUNITY LEADER
I don't understand your notation (30y, 35y, ..) what does that mean? Understanding this may help "us" understand your question.
I take BB and CCB, both seem to help block or otherwise cut down on the AFib signals getting a reaction (beat) from my left ventricle. Nether seems to have any affect on my AFig, but who knows I don't have anything other than the fact that my resting HR was about 135 (permanent AFib is my condition) with low dose BB (I think I was taking 25 mg) Metoprolol following heart surgery. I now take 50 mg BB and 240 mg CCB a day.
I have no experience with PVC, "itdood" has extensive experience with that one.
I take BB and CCB, both seem to help block or otherwise cut down on the AFib signals getting a reaction (beat) from my left ventricle. Nether seems to have any affect on my AFig, but who knows I don't have anything other than the fact that my resting HR was about 135 (permanent AFib is my condition) with low dose BB (I think I was taking 25 mg) Metoprolol following heart surgery. I now take 50 mg BB and 240 mg CCB a day.
I have no experience with PVC, "itdood" has extensive experience with that one.
p.s., CCBs and BBs are work very differently though both slow the heart rate down. If you afib is fast - rate induced, substituting a CCB for the BB may help. This has to be done slowly.
My interest is around PVCs. I've done a lot of searching over the years. I've never once found a scientific study to examine the use of beta blockers to treat benign PVCs. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
I see beta blockers get prescribed a lot for benign PVCs. I don't know why. I was given these for my major PVC outbreak, it made them worse. Others report they get better.
The only thing I can think of is that they may be useful for someone with the following PVC profile
-frequent PVCs where intervention is considered a true clinical issue
-tachycardia enhanced PVCs, meaning the faster the heart rate the more PVCs someone gets (determined through proper tests of course).
SInce BBs slow heart rate, then the BB may be helpful.
Were your PVCs ever classified like this?
Back in 2009, I had a major PVC outbreak that lasted 18 months, peaking at about 8 months then gradually getting better. I tried BBs, CCBs, supplements including COQ10, Magnesium, Calcium, Potassium, that I can remember. If someone wrote on the internet that they ate dog crap and it helped their PVCs I would have tried it. I asked an EP for an ablation, he felt I should wait it out and he was right.
Well guess what, that PVC outbreak is over and that happened on its own. I know that nothing I did resolved the issue. Although I will say that the only supplement to really help me was Magnesium. Maybe that helped but I don't think that was the root cause.
If I had been on a BB the entire time I would SWEAR that's what helped me, and unfortunately I'd still be in it. If I had started eating dog crap the entire time as an internet treatment and they got better, I would SWEAR that's what helped me. If I prayed to zues for relief, I would swear up and down that's what fixed it. The fact is, benign PVCs come and go on their own, no known cause.
So, whether or not the BB helped your PVCs is debatable. But no one can be sure, not even your doctor. Work with your doctor on this decision.
For the afib I'm not so sure. If the afib came on during faster heart rates perhaps the BB is helpful. If there's a different action for the BB to help prevent afib, I'm not aware of it, I hope someone comes along with more info.
If you've been taking the BB for a long time, wean off it very slowly. Your cells remodel to accommodate drugs, they will have to remodel back to normal which can take months.
I see beta blockers get prescribed a lot for benign PVCs. I don't know why. I was given these for my major PVC outbreak, it made them worse. Others report they get better.
The only thing I can think of is that they may be useful for someone with the following PVC profile
-frequent PVCs where intervention is considered a true clinical issue
-tachycardia enhanced PVCs, meaning the faster the heart rate the more PVCs someone gets (determined through proper tests of course).
SInce BBs slow heart rate, then the BB may be helpful.
Were your PVCs ever classified like this?
Back in 2009, I had a major PVC outbreak that lasted 18 months, peaking at about 8 months then gradually getting better. I tried BBs, CCBs, supplements including COQ10, Magnesium, Calcium, Potassium, that I can remember. If someone wrote on the internet that they ate dog crap and it helped their PVCs I would have tried it. I asked an EP for an ablation, he felt I should wait it out and he was right.
Well guess what, that PVC outbreak is over and that happened on its own. I know that nothing I did resolved the issue. Although I will say that the only supplement to really help me was Magnesium. Maybe that helped but I don't think that was the root cause.
If I had been on a BB the entire time I would SWEAR that's what helped me, and unfortunately I'd still be in it. If I had started eating dog crap the entire time as an internet treatment and they got better, I would SWEAR that's what helped me. If I prayed to zues for relief, I would swear up and down that's what fixed it. The fact is, benign PVCs come and go on their own, no known cause.
So, whether or not the BB helped your PVCs is debatable. But no one can be sure, not even your doctor. Work with your doctor on this decision.
For the afib I'm not so sure. If the afib came on during faster heart rates perhaps the BB is helpful. If there's a different action for the BB to help prevent afib, I'm not aware of it, I hope someone comes along with more info.
If you've been taking the BB for a long time, wean off it very slowly. Your cells remodel to accommodate drugs, they will have to remodel back to normal which can take months.
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