chronic dizziness

[hyalella]

I'm a 38 year old male, 6'1" 215 pounds.  About a year ago I suffered bouts of dizziness/lightheadedness, usually when doing something active (skiing, hiking etc.)  I was taking 100 mg Toprol for high blood pressure (for about three years).  I had an MRI of my head (normal), stress echo (normal), vestibular exam (normal), neurological exam (normal).  My doctor took me off beta blockers and put me on Cozaar thinking it might be the beta blocker making me dizzy.  I felt better for a while (three months)then the dizziness came back when I was skiing.  He switched me to Norvasc, still dizzy, somewhat worse.  I was starting to think that chronic hyperventilation and panic were the cause (numb lips, fingers, belching, classic symptoms) so he put me back on a low dose of beta blocker (25 mg) this caused the worst dizzness yet, all day long, tired, low pulse rate (<50 bpm). So, what gives?  Am I dizzy for two reasons - low pulse rate on beta blocker and panic attacks?  Is it common for blood pressure medicine, especially beta blockers to cause lightheadedness, especially when exercising?  I am at wits end, work is suffering and I can't excercise and play in the woods like I want to and need to. I would like to try to go off all BP medicine, but am afraid panic attacks and related dizziness will hide other manifistations of dizziness.  Is there another blood pressure medicine that does not have dizziness as a side effect? Thanks for your help.

[CCF-M.D.-RCJ]

hyalella,

Thanks for the post.

Q1:"Am I dizzy for two reasons - low pulse rate on beta blocker and panic attacks?"

Difficult to say.  An easy way to get at this would be to monitor you during activity.  This could be done with an exercise treadmill test, or by giving you an event monitor during skiing.  If you wanted to really be thorough, then you could have a friend check your blood pressure when you had an event.  A more aggressive measure yet would be to have a tilt test.

Also, has your blood sugar ever been checked during one of these spells?

Q2:"Is it common for blood pressure medicine, especially beta blockers to cause lightheadedness, especially when exercising?"

Not common, but it certainly happens that some people get dizzy when on medicines for high blood pressure.

Q3:"Is there another blood pressure medicine that does not have dizziness as a side effect?"

All blood pressure medicines lower the blood pressure, obviously, but not all of them lower your heart rate.  So the cause of the dizziness needs to be determined  before changing therapy further.  

[nikl]

I also had bouts of dizziness that would come on suddenly no matter what I was doing. Had all test done couldn't find anything until one doctor told me it was bacterial combines with viral(not an ear infection though) that effects the crystals breaking off in your canal. Prescibe a very strong antibiotic and antihistamine. Cleared up and rarely have bouts of dizziness. I do beleive what dr said because also son and mother had this same problem off and on until received antibiotics. If you believe it is bp related I hope you find something that helps. Good Luck

[Dr MOM]

Hi all,  I just got back with my 22yo son from the internist.  For the past month or two, he has been having dizziness, lightheadedness, fogging feeling in his head between his temples, even sometimes feeling nauseous.  The dizziness isn't as often as the others.  He may feel like that daily, off and on, for a few days in a row, and then not at all for several days.  Four weeks ago, his initial appt, vertigo was discussed.  The usual vertigo test showed no idication of it being vertigo.  It was decided to see if it may be food induced.  The types of food and beverages were tracked to see if there were any differences in the way he would feel.  Nothing there.  Today now, we are looking at it possibly being migrane induced, without the headache. His blood pressure was 90/60.  He lost 12 pounds since his initial visit.  (He is 6'1" 167 lbs-today)  The doc gave him Topral 50mg to try, possibly increasing to 75mg.  The doc says that if the med doesn't fix it, then we will probably see a neurologist.  The doc says it is possible that it could be (silent) seizures.  Has anyone had this type of problem to prove to be a seizure type condition?

[mbimom]

Wow I read that article and that really sounds like what I have. I had surgery on 12-15 and on 1-1 I woke up and passed out a couple of times. Went to er and was told I was getting the flu. When I didn't get sick I went to my family doc because I was still having dizzyness and he sent me to my cardiologist. My blood pressure was high and I had an arrythmia while I was in his office. The card. gave me a haltor monitor and I am awaiting the results. When I read that article I was shocked, none of my doctors mentioned bppv, as I have told them I get dizzy when I lay down and every time I look up. I will mention this wed. at my cardiolgist appt. Thanks for the info. Terri

[jan]

Hi Dr. Mom,

The symptoms your son is having are much like mine.  I actually had 3 diagnoses with the same symptoms.  I have NCS and IST, and yes, seizures.  When I was given the beta blocker for the NCS and IST the awful brain fog went away. Since that time they have added a calcium channel blocker to help with the IST.  I recognize a breakthru tachy by symptoms of dizziness and lightheadedness.  

My seizures are so similar that my neuro, cardio, and I had a hard time knowing which was happening during the different events.  In time I could tell.  If I had just stood up from a seated or stooping position and it all hit, it was the NCS.  If my pulse was racing, of course it was tachycardia.  If I was sitting then it was the seizure.  Then I tuned in real close to the symptoms of my seizures and it was easy to distinguish even if I was standing.

It all stinks!

A dr. on this forum or the neuro forum recommended trying to get a TTT with concomitant EEG.  See if that is possible.  I was diag. for NCS by the TTT and my IST was confirmed through it (the IST had been seen on a holter just prior to TTT).  The EEG's kept coming back normal until I had a VEEG, which is an EEG done in the hospital while being watched by video.


I hope you can get some straight answers from the drs. and soon.  Best of luck.

[charchar]

hi, I have a step-dad that is a diabetic and his blood sugar stays around 250 to 300 and we have been working on that with changing his insulin he also takes highblood pressure meds. and weighs about 325 lbs and 5'7" and of course he needs to lose weight but he has never had his heart checked out, personally I don't think he could pass a stress test. he doesn't excercise . He has been getting dizzy everyday and he is seeing a dr. but he doesn't even ask about his heart and his dad had heart problems .(deceased now). Is there any chance this could be heart related or is this just because of the sugar being high. He has complained of shortness of breath a couple of times. He is 64 years old. I think if he had a complete work up he would be suprised of what else might be the problem. but he is sooooooo stubborn and it takes something really serious to get him to listen . But the question is could this dizzyness be heart related?