Beta Blockers and Resting Heart Rate?

[emilycaitlin]

Hi,
I've been taking toprol xl for just over 2 weeks for svt. It's working great for that, have only had a few runs of tachy where hr was 140-150 sustained for a few hrs, which is much improved from the usual 180-200 lasting longer.

However for the past several months my resting hr refuses to drop below 100, often it is 120-130 even when lying down, and the toprol has had zero effect on this. I thought bb's were supposed to lower resting rate as well or am I wrong? Going to ask the dr about this when I go back but any ideas on what could be causing it?

BP was 126/70, so it's not lowering that which is a good thing, also I don't use caffeine or any other stimulants, not overweight and in great shape, 29 yrs old with no other related med probs besides svt. Just curious to get anyone's thoughts? Thanks, em

[CollegeGirl143]

Beta Blockers are so tricky.. For some people, they have no effect what so ever, for others, they will lower the resting heart rate too much.. Your doctor might want to consider either upping your dosage, or trying a calcium channel blocker.. Have you had an echo lately??

[emilycaitlin]

Hi thanks for your reply! I could probably go up a step with the toprol, or switch to a different med cause I'm getting bad insomnia on this. I've heard of calcium channel blockers but not sure what they are? Had a normal echo 3yrs ago, have a feeling I may get sent for another though, probably not a bad idea, I've heard fast resting hr prolonged is not good. Got checked for thyroid and anemia was ok, not sure where this fast hr comes from. Thanks, em

[CollegeGirl143]

if you cant find any other medical reason, it could be innapropriate sinus tachycardia.. The calcium channel blocker, does exactly that, blocks the calcium channels. (increased calcium makes the heart rate go up).. I personally found they helped me greatly when beta's didnt..Toprol also gave me horribly vivid nightmares.