Atenolol efficacy vs PVCs

[stlcard1521]

Hi, I'm a healthy 21 y/o male who was recently prescribed atenolol for PVCs. I've been taking half a 12.5mg tablet for 3 days now; I think the tablets are making them worse. I'm getting about 10 or so a minute since I've been on the atenolol. I have some minor regurgitation in my pulmonary and tricuspid valves. I took atenolol for 1 day last month when my doctor first prescribed it (took a 25mg dose) and my PVCs were really bad that day so I quit taking it. I went back for a 30 day follow up, told him it made them worse and he said I just needed to take it for 4 or 5 days atleast to get a steady state blood level (He told me to maybe try going to 12.5mg when I restart, which is what I'm now doing). I restarted taking it again this week, it's been 3 days now and my PVCs have been more frequent than normal. Just wondering if the medication should be working, or if I need to take it longer. Otherwise excercise and good nights sleep seem to minimize them, I'll just drop the atenolol and go back to dealing with them. Thanks

[fearfactor]

Hey guys - I take 12.5 mg a day of Toprol XL and it really doesn't help my PVCs all that much.  It does lower my BP and heart rate, however - that is why I can't take a higher dose.  I already have low BP anyway.  I am wondering if Inderal might be better for me since I hear so many have had good success with it.  I never tried Inderal because I heard it causes weight gain more than Toprol.  No one here has had weight gain with it?  I just want to make sure because I'm a former anorexic and weight gain would be catastrophic for me even if my palps were better.  Has anyone been on Toprol and switched to Inderal?  Did it work better?
Thanks!

[upbeat63]

Yep, you read right, my 48hr holter showed on average 1220 PVCs/hr and it is over 20% of my heart beat. But I'm still told the same thing. Mostly unifocal, and benign. Stress echo was "normal".

I think ablation is recommended if the PVCs are debiliating. I don't think mine are, yet. I mean, from time to time I get into a real tail-spin and think oh no, this is it, I can't take it anymore, but I have also become a master at distracting myself from thinking of them exclusively, and if I'm good at that, for the most part I don't notice the PVCs. They are still there, but I try not to let them rule my life.

Ablation comes with risks. But I do know some people have benefited greatly, especially for other types of arrhythmias. Some people continue to get PVCs even with an ablation. So I guess it's an option if I truly can't stand it anymore. Even 10 an hour would be better than 1200. But I've come to realize high frequency is not the end of the world. Unless I give in.

All that being said, when I finally "broke down" and tried the toperol XL at 12.5mg/day it stopped a constant bigeminy that my heart had gone into (and a few short runs of non-sustained VT). Mostly it lessened the sensation of the PVCs without reducing them. So I take it "as needed" my choice not doctors, because it slows my heart rate too much and that feels uncomfortable. I haven't tried any other BB. But I also have xanax on hand (also as needed)for any anxiety.

If you'd like to talk more, because as you can see, I can go on and on, my email is ***@**** and just put something heart related in the subject so I know it's from this forum.
Hope you all are having a great day.

[madgeOwens]

Thank you.  I feel wonderful for the first time in e quite awhile. I do hope it continues. I can hardly believe it.
Thanks for all of your good advice and pep talks. Your very kind.
Madge

[tickertock]

When I took inderal for PVCs and sinus tach, even at doses as low as 10mg 3 times daily it practically eliminated them completely within a day or 2 , sometime just in hours they were gone for months to years , if its the inderal you may have found the magic bullet, keep your fingers crossed and good luck with the continued relief.

[madgeOwens]

I was getting them aprox every 4th or 6th beat...with no let up when I had holter monitor.......thats quite alot I believe.
Yesterday I started 80 mg time release Inderol and I was not having many at all today............is that coincidence or the inderol???? holy **** I do hope Indrol is doing it.

[Abeybaby]

Did you say you get 1220 per hr????? Holy **** thats alot that would be more than 25% of your total beats per day? Did they not tell you to ablate them? Isnt that very unfortable? I get max 2000 per day and most days 700-1000 and I am going nuts i couldnt imagine your circumstances.