Should I take beta blockers

[curlyred56]

I have just been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism.  I am having more frequent bouts of pounding increased heart rates.  My appointment with an Endocrinologist is Nov 1st.  I am having panic attacks and take 1mg of Klonipan.  My question is is it safe to take inderal when my resting heart rate is usually between 55-65?  What dose should I start at?

[yankeeRN]

Also wanted to tell you that if you exercise --DO NOT EXERCISE until this hyperthyroid is sorted out and your md gives you the ok--it is too dangerous.  Before I knew I had hyperthyroidism--and for me Grave's---I had been exercising intensely--kicking butt at the gym--till I found out what was going on with me and then I was horrified to think that I could have given myself a heart attack in this state--I couldn't figure out why I was getting so exhausted from my workouts--the old saying no pain no gain can be a very dangerous thing for hyperthyroidism--but I didn't know I had it. Mine got so bad that just walking across the room would send my heart rate soaring and give me chest pressure and shortness of breath.  I also found I couldn't watch anything on tv that was suspenseful or scary--it did the same thing--crazy.  Now though I am mostly regulated---it has been since Sept 2011 since my diagnosis.  I take just my antithyroid med--for me PTU because I developed hives from methimazole.  I hate taking any medicine but this I know I must to live and I am thankful that this is treatable.  I have gained 20 pounds since Sept 2011 which does not make me happy but I do exercise and try to eat right so it is mostly toned weight--it is what it is--it could be worse.  I am thankful for this forum because they have helped me cope--they have walked in my shoes so I know they truly know how it feels and  know what I am going through.  You will get on track too and life will be normal--try not to get discouraged.  Also take charge of your health by being on top of your labs and how you feel--if you don't feel right talk with your md and if your md doesn't listen then make him listen or find another md.  Learn all you can about your illness but don't dwell on it. Have a great day and best of luck :)

[yankeeRN]

The beta blocker--your inderal---will definitely help the panic attacks because for you the cause is your hyperthyroid.  I was always told in nursing school --treat the cause of the problem if it is known.  I also have hyperthyroidism--when I was very hyperthyroid and had shakiness and panic attacks the beta blocker worked--in the ER they wanted to give me ativan--as a matter of fact they insisted I take the ativan and were going to give it to me intravenously when I asked what the nurse had in the syringe she told me it was ativan--I flatly refused--she was "concerned"  because she wanted to calm me down from all the shaking and my rapid heart rate (170 bpm) .  I told her I would take it orally but not intravenously.  My shakiness  and rapid heart rate was caused by the thyroid and the only way to stop it was with the beta blocker to block the thyroxine's effect on my heart  and my nervous system. Though I was shaking I was not having a panic attack at that time--I just could not stop shaking--my whole body. Having those bursts of rapid heart rate and shakiness and sometimes chest pressure are very uncomfortable--but it is the beta blocker that helped and increasing that really helped  till I was started on the antithyroid medication. The ER md gave me a prescription for ativan but though I filled it I did not use one dose from that.  The oral ativan dose that I had been coerced into taking made me feel "drunk"--not a feeling I wanted --thus no more ativan for this gal.  

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

You should discuss with your general doctor, but beta blockers are a common treatment for hyperthyroidism, particularly with palpitations

[curlyred56]

I talked to my Endocrinologist and she highly reccommended taking the Inderal.  I started last week and feel better already.  I have been keeping an eye on my pulse and BP and they have been fine.  I am taking 20mg BID.  I find it has reduced my panic attacks and I don't wake at night with a pounding heart.  I am being tested for Graves Disease.  Hopefully they will figure out what is causing my thyroid to over produce and calm it down.  Thanks for you advice.

[cvnurseann]

I am also a patient on this forum however I am also a cardiac nurse and maybe can help a little :) The first thing I'm sure any nurse or MD on this forum would tell you is to consult with your physician who prescribed the Inderal regarding dosage and directions.  That being said, generally it is safe to take a beta blocker (such as Inderal) as long as the pulse rate is greater than 60bpm.  We always check a pulse prior to giving a beta blocker and as long as at that moment it is greater than 60 we will give the medication.  If it is less than 60 we hold the medication.  I don't think you will get an answer of what dose to start at by the MD on this forum, as every patient is different and he has not physically examined you.  It is generally deferred to your physician who prescribed the medication. So if you have been prescribed Inderal and have been given a certain dose and are just wondering if you can take it with a lower heart rate...the answer is as long as your pulse is 60 or greater.  But if you need guidance as to what dose to start at, you really need to talk to your doctor. Hope that was even a little helpful! Good luck!