What can I do about normal blood pressure and a high pulse?

[Moosiegirl]

Hello,

I have Graves' disease, and I am taking the drug, methimazole, to try to control it. I also was taking 40 mg of Valium for related anxiety and insomnia. Now, my doctor wants me to taper slowly off the Valium, and to take a VERY LOW dose of metoprolol, if my blood pressure becomes elevated. The problem is that my BP hardly ever becomes higher, but my resting pulse rate has recently jumped into the 90's, probably because of my Valium taper. I am down to 29 mg of Valium, which is still not a very low dose, and this is suddenly happening. I am taking 7.5 mg of methimazole daily, and my TSH has been getting lower all the time, although it is still within normal limits at 1.2. I was wondering if taking 7.5 mg of methimazole one day and 10 mg of methimazole on alternate days might help me with this elevated pulse problem while I continue to taper off the Valium. The reason the doctor wants me off the Valium is that it is making me nauseated and very depressed. Any advice would be appreciated. I would hate to self-medicate myself, but, the last time around, my endo was wrong -- he wanted me to decrease my methimazole to 5 mg per day, and then my pulse would have gone even higher, and I might also have developed hypertension. I used to be a medical editor, so I know a little about medicine, but I seem to be able to help others better than I can help myself. In addition, the Valium taper is causing a lot of symptoms, and it is a very hard drug to taper off. This is also causing me a lot of unwanted anxiety. Thanks for listening.

MoosieGirl

[tm514]

I took Toprol (probably the brand name for the drug you name above) along with Methimazole when I was first diagnosed with Graves.  The Toprol was for rapid heart beat and the hand/muscle tremors I was having at the time.  I only took it full dose for about 8 weeks, then took half a dose, then stopped as the Methimazole did its job on my thyroid.  My blood pressure was a little high, but not terribly so before starting treatment.

I took alternating doses of the methimazole (10mg one day then 5 mg the next), but I was tested every 4 weeks when I was on that drug.  You do NOT want to go hypothyroid, that isn't a fun place to be.

Are there other endos in your area?  I can't say I know where your town is.  Maybe it is time to get a second opinion?

Good luck.

[ChitChatNine]

I don't have knowledge in this area but wanted to say WELCOME to the community!

Cheryl