Switched from Beta Blocker to Nitroglycerin

[bzmed]

My dr recently changed me from a beta blocker to nitro after a heart cath procedure.  He is now out of town for at least a week and I am having a lot of chest pain (although the nitro has made me feel not as tired and sluggish) and palps, etc.  I have heard that beta blockers should be tapered.   Has anyone else been changed from beta blockers with no tapering and if so what was your experience?  

Did you see an increase in chest pain and palps for awhile?  Thanks for any help.

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

you can call his office and ask his nurse am sure they have some dr that takes over while hes not there , i would give it a shot .

[bzmed]

Yes... you are right in that nitro opens arteries (they found that I don't have significant blockages but small coronary arteries) and beta blockers control heart rate so the heart doesn't work as hard.

I do not know why he took me off of the beta blocker because I also have moderate mitral regurgitation.  I don't have any high blood pressure and the beta blocker did drop my bp into the 90/60 range.  Not sure if that was his reasoning.  I have a follow-up with him in two weeks but the chest pain went on most of yesterday and some today.

Just wondering of I can associate this to dropping the beta blocker.

[Flycaster305]

I may be incorrect, but I've always assumed beta blockers are used as a treatment to strengthen heart function and nitro is used as a treatment for heart pain by temporarily opening up the arteries.  I take both, but I've never thought of Nitroglycerin as an agent to strengthen the heart.