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Anyone take Inderal LA?
I just got diagnosed with svt, and was prescribed Inderal LA, and just wondered if anyone has used it. Mostly worried about side effects, and it lowering my hr too low. Thanks, Michelle
I just started taking 60 mg of Inderal LA yesterday. I also am an asthmatic that smokes and drinks around 1 pot of coffee a day.Yesterday morning my BP was 160/110 and my pulse was 143. About an hour after I took it last night, I could not even force myself to stay awake. My husband had to help me up the stairs to bed. I had two asthma attacks last night. I am hoping this gets better; I fell asleep before my kids even did. Has anyone ever heard of taking this medication in conjunction with medication for hypo-thyoidism?
I just started taking Inderal LA about 3 weeks ago. I used to get premature beats consistently for days in a row from June to September of each year for the past several years. I attributed them to stress. Then June of 2005 they came again and never went away. I was getting them everyday again for what felt like all day long and they were at times every two beats apart (which tired me out quickly) or less at no more than 8 beats apart. They were recorded during an echocardiogram, which revealed PVC's, and every day of a 30-day monitor which revealed both PACs and PVCs. My cardiologist said they were benign and my heart was healthy otherwise but also suggested that I try a beta-blocker if they were bothering me. I declined the beta-blocker, hoping they would just eventually go away. But a year and a half later they still did not go away. After seeing no end to the PVCs and PACs, I finally gave in and began taking a beta-blocker. At first I took Propranolol 3 to 4 times a day as needed, hoping that I wouldn't always be on medication but it seemed that I always needed it as I would feel the PVCs and PACs as soon as the medication wore off every 3 to 4 hours. My cardiologist then prescribed Inderal LA. I only have to take it once a day and I am 95% PVC and PAC free. I feel one or two premature beats every other day or so (wow what a difference!) And in the 3 weeks that I have been taking it, I've had only 3 episodes where I felt the premature beats for only about 20 minutes. One episode was because I forgot to take the Inderal LA and the other two were most likely from fatigue. The Inderal LA has been working great so far. I just have to now find out if I have to take it for the rest of my life. I didn't think to ask my cardiologist at the time, but my primary physician seems to think I should be on it the rest of my life. I'll see what happens.
Thank you so much for writing me. I'm 35, with a ten year old son, and my husband works out of state. I'm also raising my sisters (she's an alcoholic) two teenagers, and wish I wasn't. They are always into something. I just want a peaceful life for once. I'm stressed over everything. I wake up in the morning scared to stand up out of bed because I know that my heart will start the whole process of rapid beating. The minute I stand up it's racing. Why do you take the Toprol? Do you have SVT as well? I'm just starting on this ugly road, with my Dr. telling me that EP study maybe in the future if I don't respond to meds. Which scares me, not ready for that yet. It seems I'm getting my tachy spells daily lately, but I know for me the majority of the time its stress related. My hr during the day is 100-130, so I'm hoping the Inderal works for me. I'm dissapointed the LA wore off in only 4 hours, but maybe like you said it takes a few days. I start the 20mg 3xday tomorrow. Did you have any side effects, how about nightmares? That concerns me a little, also my mild asthma, but Dr. wants this tried first. Thanks again for talking to me, please feel free to do the same anytime you want to talk. I really feel so alone where I am, and my family think I'm crazy being glued to this computer, but it's the only thing keeping me sane. Take Care, Michelle
Hi guys, well, today hr was up a little high, in the low hundreds, took my first .20mg Inderal, but stil real tired and dizzy, and now having a hard time breathing. My Dr. is already gone for the day, but I don't know if I'm developing a cold or if the drug is making my asthma bad. The pharmacist said this is not a good drug for asthma, and so I'm bummed, because she said it is very good for panicy people, like me. So it's a catch 22. I'm scared to take the med tonight because I'm scared it will put me into a full blown asthma attack, and yet I don't want to stop because it has helped my heart rate. This is not good. Michelle
You are NOT alone!! There are a lot of us on these boards that understand your anxiety.
I never really found my triggers, but caffeine and stress definitely aggravated my episodes. It sounds like you have a lot on your plate right now....Can you get any other family members to help you out? What your doing for your sisters' children is wonderful!! We were foster parents to troubled children for 10 years and I hear ya on the stress associated with raising, or helping to raise, other peoples' children. Hang in there and do your best to take care of yourself first!!
If you end up with an EP study, try not to worry about it (yeah, I know...lol). I was "asleep" for about 7 hours for each procedure...I guess some people are awake, but I was resting very, very comfortably somewhere on an island (that's what I told the nurse just before she administered the versed).
Oh, you may find that the 20mg tablets work better for you...Don't worry about changing the way you take the RX - sometimes, it's just a matter of what works best for each person.
connie
I never really found my triggers, but caffeine and stress definitely aggravated my episodes. It sounds like you have a lot on your plate right now....Can you get any other family members to help you out? What your doing for your sisters' children is wonderful!! We were foster parents to troubled children for 10 years and I hear ya on the stress associated with raising, or helping to raise, other peoples' children. Hang in there and do your best to take care of yourself first!!
If you end up with an EP study, try not to worry about it (yeah, I know...lol). I was "asleep" for about 7 hours for each procedure...I guess some people are awake, but I was resting very, very comfortably somewhere on an island (that's what I told the nurse just before she administered the versed).
Oh, you may find that the 20mg tablets work better for you...Don't worry about changing the way you take the RX - sometimes, it's just a matter of what works best for each person.
connie
Hi Connie, well had a bad svt episode an hour ago, came on from a panic attack. Ended up taking a half a Xanax, and then finally took my Inderal, it was that or call the paramedics, because I couldn't get it down. Finally came down. My hr is 100 now, no skipping, so far, hopefully it won't go above that. I am really dizzy/lightheaded, does that go away? Not so much tired though. And get this, I have a headache, even though it's supposed to help migraineds, maybe mine is from the anxiety attack. Also a little sick to my stomache. Any advice? Oh, also, does it seem to take a few days to build up inside you to start really working? Thanks Connie, I appreciate talking to you. Michelle
Oh yes, I see the anxiety and I recognize the "pattern" you describe. It's the whole chicken and the egg thing....One thing leads to another. I've had anxiety issues for about 30 years, but I have learned to manage them better lately. I really think in my case the ablations helped b/c it helped calm down the palps (which would worsen with anxiety - you know how that works). I did find that BB's can also help with the anxiety from a heart point of view. You may find great relief in giving them a try.
Good luck!
connie
Good luck!
connie
Hi again Connie,
Thank you for sharing your story with me. I'm glad the ablations worked, someday you'll have to tell me about it, right now I'm so scared of the word that it puts me in a panic attack. (Although, from the majority that I read, they all work and it was a piece of cake.) I am 35, have had pac's and pvc's for the last 6 years. Sometimes I don't get any in a day, and some days I get 200. Dr.'s said they are nothing in my case, as people, such as yourself, have thousands in a day and are (usually) ok. I was told before that I could try a beta blocker for them, but never have. I've always have had anxiety disorder, and until this year have been able to manage it. Unfortunately, for some reason, when I get scared, my heart rate goes up to 150-180 and skips. They said I have SVT, which was caught on a holter strip, but the rate was 154, and it was a 6 second episode. I will at some point go see a specialist to look at the strip and tell me if it was really SVT or just sinus tach, but either way, I need to get my pulse down, and the Xanax is not doing it, plus, the skipping scares me worse than anything. That is where I'm at. I've had 2 previous holters in the last 3 years, all normal, except rare pac's and pvc's, and a normal echo with a possibly mild mvp. So I have one Dr. telling me to just work on the anxiety, and the SVT is not that big of a deal since it always comes down by itself within 15 minutes and it isn't a daily occurence, all the way to the other extreme with my friend, who is a heart nurse and used to work in a very big heart hospital that I should go get an ep study done and just get it ablated. WOW, that is a little scary for me just yet. My Dr. is in the middle, she thinks I should try a low dose beta blocker first and see if it relieves my symptoms, AND work on the anxiety. The Xanax does nothing for my pulse, so obviously I still need something for that. Hence, the bb. My only concern with the Inderal is that I have mild asthma, and I know Inderal is not a good choice for that, so I have put in a call just to make sure she remembers that I have asthma, in case she might want me on something else. I'm just not sure which one to take. If she wants me on the Inderal, I think I will ask for the 40mg first instead of the LA 60mg, I was thinking that way in case it doesn't suit me, it will be out of my body quicker? I don't know, see my anxiety disorder showing? :) Michelle
Thank you for sharing your story with me. I'm glad the ablations worked, someday you'll have to tell me about it, right now I'm so scared of the word that it puts me in a panic attack. (Although, from the majority that I read, they all work and it was a piece of cake.) I am 35, have had pac's and pvc's for the last 6 years. Sometimes I don't get any in a day, and some days I get 200. Dr.'s said they are nothing in my case, as people, such as yourself, have thousands in a day and are (usually) ok. I was told before that I could try a beta blocker for them, but never have. I've always have had anxiety disorder, and until this year have been able to manage it. Unfortunately, for some reason, when I get scared, my heart rate goes up to 150-180 and skips. They said I have SVT, which was caught on a holter strip, but the rate was 154, and it was a 6 second episode. I will at some point go see a specialist to look at the strip and tell me if it was really SVT or just sinus tach, but either way, I need to get my pulse down, and the Xanax is not doing it, plus, the skipping scares me worse than anything. That is where I'm at. I've had 2 previous holters in the last 3 years, all normal, except rare pac's and pvc's, and a normal echo with a possibly mild mvp. So I have one Dr. telling me to just work on the anxiety, and the SVT is not that big of a deal since it always comes down by itself within 15 minutes and it isn't a daily occurence, all the way to the other extreme with my friend, who is a heart nurse and used to work in a very big heart hospital that I should go get an ep study done and just get it ablated. WOW, that is a little scary for me just yet. My Dr. is in the middle, she thinks I should try a low dose beta blocker first and see if it relieves my symptoms, AND work on the anxiety. The Xanax does nothing for my pulse, so obviously I still need something for that. Hence, the bb. My only concern with the Inderal is that I have mild asthma, and I know Inderal is not a good choice for that, so I have put in a call just to make sure she remembers that I have asthma, in case she might want me on something else. I'm just not sure which one to take. If she wants me on the Inderal, I think I will ask for the 40mg first instead of the LA 60mg, I was thinking that way in case it doesn't suit me, it will be out of my body quicker? I don't know, see my anxiety disorder showing? :) Michelle
One other thing, after about 4 1/2 hours, my heart rate has started going back up when I'm up moving around. Back up to 100-115, when I'm sitting it is down to 68. Do you know if it takes awhile for the med to stabilize, or is it supposed to work right away? I think the pharmacist said it will take a few days to even the heart rate out. Do you remember? Thanks, Michelle
I used to be on Inderal XL and if I'm not mistaken...it takes time to build up in your system for you to have the full effects and benefits of the medicine. I was on it for several years and I think it just ran it's course because I had a bad episode Jan. of 03 and then they changed me to Toprol XL. Don't feel alone...please..because I am 32 and have been battling this beast since I was 18! It consumes your life and it is very hard to get a grip on. I had a bad episode earlier and know that is all I can think about and I am on the verge of a panic/anxiety attack. I have a 3 year old to worry about and it's hard...I know...My biggest thing is just trying to find the triggers...I know sometimes it is stress..sometimes I haven't had enough water and I am dehydrated...sometimes it is that time of the month...and sometimes...I just don't know why...and that is scary...anyway...I come on here quite a bit to read posts to help me in my fight and I felt compelled to respond to you...I wanted you to know that you are not alone..there are alot of us out here fighting this battle...
God Bless
God Bless
Hi Michelle,
Sorry in advance for the length of this post. I used to post on the Heart Forum all the time, but stopped for a couple of months because it can be a bit consuming : )
If you search the Heart Forum you'll find lots of posts from me (momto3). Some people confuse me with momto3girls, but there really are two of us : )
My palps started when I was about 19 (a LONG time ago..haha) and like most others on the board I was told they were benign.I took BB's for symptoms. For years I was on/off BB's for symptomatic relief. I was on several different regimens, but when the LA version came on the market, it really made life simpler. Taking the RX once/day was easier and side effects were negligible. BTW, my daughter took Inderal LA 80 for migraines and had NO side effects and it worked wonders for the chronic migraines.
One time, the doctor prescribed atenolol but about 20 minutes after I took the first pill, I started shaking all over...I don't know anyone else that had that reaction, but I went back to my trusty Inderal. I found it to be pretty effective.
...moving forward 20+ years. I was increasingly bothered by the pvcs, but they were still benign!! Oh, I have known for 20+ years that I have mitral valve prolapse and mitral regurgitation so I have regular echos to watch the valve. The arrythmia was an "a la carte" problem : )
In 2000, because of increasing SOB I was sent for a TEE to determine if I needed valve surgery....YIKES!! Fortunately, I was not a surgical candidate.
A year or so later, my holter monitor recorded 22,000+ pvcs, lots of couplets, some triplets, too many bigeminal episodes to record...still benign!!! Despite previous holter exams, I never knew how many pvcs I was having...I guess a LOT!
Oh, eventually, Inderal became less effective. However, I am able to use it now for breakthrough episodes and it helps. Yes, the Inderal helped right away. For me, within 20 minutes of taking it, I noticed improvement.
Several months later, a routine echo revealed that I had developed cardiomyopathy; my ejection fraction had dropped over the course of less than a year from 60 to 40%. That's when all #@$$ broke loose. Long story short...there was speculation that my pvcs were causing the cardiomyopathy. Apparently, it is a rare, but potential side effect with high frequency pvs. The pvcs were no longer benign!!!
I was prescribed flecainide and then rhythmol and they both worked to control the pvcs. However, I did not want to be on antiarrythmics for the rest of my life.
I had two ablations in 2003 (each targeting different foci) and both were successful. Today, I have fewer pvcs and nsvt, but they're still tracking that pesky leaky valve. I go in for a stress echo in November and my fingers are crossed for another good report.
Panic attacks wreak havoc on those of us with arrythmnias!! I tend to be an anxious person, but when it came to the pvcs, I was never really worried about dying or anything. I just hated that "jumpy, jittery" feeling. I had the opposite problem as you - exercise settled my extra beats. I just couldn't keep running all day!! I didn't really experience the racing heart feeling, mine always seemed to be puttering and jumping...
Trust your doctor or find one who you do trust. My doctor actually gets pvcs, so I felt very comfortable with her. She is an EP and gets it!!
Hope you have a great day!! Let me know how the Inderal works for you.
connie
Sorry in advance for the length of this post. I used to post on the Heart Forum all the time, but stopped for a couple of months because it can be a bit consuming : )
If you search the Heart Forum you'll find lots of posts from me (momto3). Some people confuse me with momto3girls, but there really are two of us : )
My palps started when I was about 19 (a LONG time ago..haha) and like most others on the board I was told they were benign.I took BB's for symptoms. For years I was on/off BB's for symptomatic relief. I was on several different regimens, but when the LA version came on the market, it really made life simpler. Taking the RX once/day was easier and side effects were negligible. BTW, my daughter took Inderal LA 80 for migraines and had NO side effects and it worked wonders for the chronic migraines.
One time, the doctor prescribed atenolol but about 20 minutes after I took the first pill, I started shaking all over...I don't know anyone else that had that reaction, but I went back to my trusty Inderal. I found it to be pretty effective.
...moving forward 20+ years. I was increasingly bothered by the pvcs, but they were still benign!! Oh, I have known for 20+ years that I have mitral valve prolapse and mitral regurgitation so I have regular echos to watch the valve. The arrythmia was an "a la carte" problem : )
In 2000, because of increasing SOB I was sent for a TEE to determine if I needed valve surgery....YIKES!! Fortunately, I was not a surgical candidate.
A year or so later, my holter monitor recorded 22,000+ pvcs, lots of couplets, some triplets, too many bigeminal episodes to record...still benign!!! Despite previous holter exams, I never knew how many pvcs I was having...I guess a LOT!
Oh, eventually, Inderal became less effective. However, I am able to use it now for breakthrough episodes and it helps. Yes, the Inderal helped right away. For me, within 20 minutes of taking it, I noticed improvement.
Several months later, a routine echo revealed that I had developed cardiomyopathy; my ejection fraction had dropped over the course of less than a year from 60 to 40%. That's when all #@$$ broke loose. Long story short...there was speculation that my pvcs were causing the cardiomyopathy. Apparently, it is a rare, but potential side effect with high frequency pvs. The pvcs were no longer benign!!!
I was prescribed flecainide and then rhythmol and they both worked to control the pvcs. However, I did not want to be on antiarrythmics for the rest of my life.
I had two ablations in 2003 (each targeting different foci) and both were successful. Today, I have fewer pvcs and nsvt, but they're still tracking that pesky leaky valve. I go in for a stress echo in November and my fingers are crossed for another good report.
Panic attacks wreak havoc on those of us with arrythmnias!! I tend to be an anxious person, but when it came to the pvcs, I was never really worried about dying or anything. I just hated that "jumpy, jittery" feeling. I had the opposite problem as you - exercise settled my extra beats. I just couldn't keep running all day!! I didn't really experience the racing heart feeling, mine always seemed to be puttering and jumping...
Trust your doctor or find one who you do trust. My doctor actually gets pvcs, so I felt very comfortable with her. She is an EP and gets it!!
Hope you have a great day!! Let me know how the Inderal works for you.
connie
Sorry about the svt and panic attack. I've also taken Xanax and Inderal when my arrythmia just wouldn't let up. It usually works, but not always. Much better since the ablations.
I don't recall any dizziness from the Inderal, just kinda tired and sluggish. Everyone is different and it could be the Inderal, or it could be the combination of the meds. Try to rest and just relax for the evening...maybe it'll help with the dizziness.
Two years ago, when I started on an ace inhibitor (lisinopril), I experienced dizziness for 4 months...eventually, it went away...But, jeez! You may want to wait a day or so, and then try the Inderal in the mornings. Did your doctor tell you to take it at a particular time of day...sometimes it makes a difference.
I am not sure how long it will take for you to notice a difference. When I started on Inderal in the early 80's, I was taking it a couple times a day b/c there was not time release available. Now, I take it only on BAD days and it usually (not always) works within 20 minutes.
Hope I've been able to help and that you have a better day tomorrow : )
connie
I don't recall any dizziness from the Inderal, just kinda tired and sluggish. Everyone is different and it could be the Inderal, or it could be the combination of the meds. Try to rest and just relax for the evening...maybe it'll help with the dizziness.
Two years ago, when I started on an ace inhibitor (lisinopril), I experienced dizziness for 4 months...eventually, it went away...But, jeez! You may want to wait a day or so, and then try the Inderal in the mornings. Did your doctor tell you to take it at a particular time of day...sometimes it makes a difference.
I am not sure how long it will take for you to notice a difference. When I started on Inderal in the early 80's, I was taking it a couple times a day b/c there was not time release available. Now, I take it only on BAD days and it usually (not always) works within 20 minutes.
Hope I've been able to help and that you have a better day tomorrow : )
connie
Hi, dizziness is now very lightheaded, so a tiny better. HR sitting is 60, and up walking around is about 90, not going to do much more than that tonight. I do have a headache, but than I've had one of those everyday now for a month, with this anxiety. My Dr. just called, and said she wants me on the Inderal for a specific reason, but that she is going to call in the .20mg and to take three times a day, because of the dizziness and cost reduction. And to call her if my asthma is bad, but that is a risk she wants to take! Thanks for talking to me about this, I feel really alone right now. No one here understands what I'm going through. Michelle
Hi Connie, thank you so much for writing. I actually got a post from you in the Dr. forum too, on the cost of ep studies and ablations. My Dr. is wanting me to try beta blockers, and if they don't work, then calcium channel blockers, before going the ep study route. I am so praying that the bb works, as I am not ready, financially or mentally for an ep study, or ablation. I don't have insurance, so hoping this helps me. She at first talked about Atenolol, but then gave me Inderal LA 60mg to start, because I was worried it would lower my hr too much when I'm sleeping. It is normally 60 during sleep. Can you tell me your history? You said you had two studies and ablations, did they work? I'm just curious why you did the ablations if the Inderal was working good. Did the Inderal LA help right away, and did you notice any other side effects? I have severe anxiety attacks, and that was how they FINALLY caught this. I have had pac's and pvc's for 6 years now, and absolutely hate them, but this last year have had really bad panic attacks and then my hr goes up and skips. It also is exercise induced. I told them when I start exercising, or working real hard, my heart rate gets to about 140, then bam, skips and starts beating really fast, up to maybe 200, don't really know though. It lasts about 5 minutes, so it's not too bad, but leaves me emotionally shaken. And it doesn't happen everyday, in fact, if I never have get myself into a stressful episode, or exercise, I'm A-OK, haha. Well, I guess I should say that, every morning I wake up my heart is about 130 for about 10-15 minutes, and then when I take hot showers, if I get too hot, it races, and that goes along during the summers, when I get too hot, it races. During the day, my hr is anywhere from 80-130 just walking around, but if I'm sitting, it is about 60-80. I'm sorry for rambling, just really need to talk to someone that has this, as I feel isolated. My Dr. said this is no big deal, because if meds fail, ablations can usually cure it. I don't feel like having probes stuck in my main arteries just yet though. Thank you again!!! Michelle
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