Those of you on beta blockers....

[micheller]

I started Inderal 20mg 3xday this week.  Still very tired, lightheaded from it, stomache very sore, just can't function.  Does anyone know how long it can take to kick in?  (I'm jealous of the ones who didn't feel anything)  Also, my Dr. told me to  play with the dosage if I feel it isn't working.??? I guess what I'm wondering is, where do I want my herat rate to be?  If I'm up moving around doing house work it is between 85 to 100.  If I go for a walk it is 105, and if I'm sitting it is anywhere from 60 to 80.  I'm not about to exercise, but then again, can't hardly do the housework as it is.  So, can anyone offer any advice on where the pulse needs to be.  Also, my bp goes from 95/60 to 120/80, so I'm afraid to get it too low.  The pharmacist said to give it two weeks and if it hasn't quit making me dizzy by then, it probably won't stop, but some people have said it takes weeks to build up.  I'm really confused. Michelle

[mmeee]

When I first started my beta blocker it took me like 9 days to kick the sides.  I was unable to function from being so tired!!!  After about 5 days of not functioning, it started getting better.  I didn't notice any more side effects after a week & a half...(I know some others that it took 2-3 weeks to start feeling normal again)  Hang in there!  Hope that helps!

[micheller]

Thanks so much for your reply, I was starting to worry.  Today is day 6, so hopefully it will start getting better.  What are you on?  I'm on the Inderal, and I know that it is one of the worst for dizziness, but she choose it specifically because it works well on anxious people, I guess.
Did you find yourself checking your pulse and bp the first week or two?  I'm doing it non-stop, because I don't know where the heck my hr is supposed to be.  I've never ever bothered to check before.  Yesterday morning it was pretty high, 105 walking around, and then in the afternoon it went too low,(I think?) I couldn't get it above 90, and it was as low as 58, and I did my dosage just like I'm supposed to.  Did it seem to take awhile for the medicine to even it all out?  I was scared to take my night dose last night because it was so low, so I took half the dose, and then this morning woke up with a fast heartrate.  I'm confused.  
What do you take a bb for?  Take Care, Michelle

[mmeee]

I'm on atenolol...I'm only taking 25mg a day now.  I was on 25mg 2xday, but it slowed me up too much.  I'm on the bb b/c of my blood pressure & high pulse.  I'm also on HCTZ & Methyldopa....still working on getting dosages figured out & possibly changing meds all together.  I've been on the bb for over a year now, but when I add new meds, or change meds...I go through the side effects everytime! :(  As for the pulse, I checked it constantly along with the bp...but I've slowed down on that...figured out it doesn't help matters at all.  Just made me more nervous & thinking about it all the time.  My resting pulse prior to bb was 100 or so, it is now down to 60 or so.  When I first started taking the BB my pulse got down in the 40's...that was too low & the reason for changing dosage.  If you are staying in the upper 50's & 60's resting, that shouldn't be a problem.  As for the 105 when walking etc.  That seems normal to me...I'm no Dr. though!!!!!