Dosage of beta blockers

[Terry]

I am a male of 57. About 5 to 6 years ago 10mg X 3 times daily Inderol was prescribed for arrhythmia(extra systole)2 years ago I could not shake it off and 80mg Sotacor X 2 per day was presribed. I managed with 80 X 1 per day up until a few weeks ago when my heart played up alarmingly and I was advised to use 80mh 2 per day which I have done for the past 2 weeks with some improvement. I have been advised to see a specialist with a view to increasing the dosage. On reading the relatively small doses most of you are taking, I am now concerned that my dosage is very large. Is it possible that I need a change of drug with a smaller dosage or does the dosage just get bigger and more ffrequent. I am told that it could go up to 320mg per day! One wonders what effect that will have. I can't really say I have had any adverse effects from any of the medication so far. I will be seeing the specialist shortly. Regards Terry.

[Terry]

Valencia, thank you for taking the trouble to reply. Yes I must admit the blood pressure problem has made me cautious. In spite of wanting to come off the meds, after all who WANTs to take them, I have decided to stick with it and resign myself to it. As I said to my Dr, we have only got one, so we had better care for it as best as we can. I have found that regular exercise, cardio type, makes a difference. Regards Terry.

[Valencia]

Terry
I can tell you from experience to be really careful how you come off your Beta Blocker. I was changing from one medicine to another and noticed that I didn't notice the palpitations as much so I decided to stop the meds. i  had talked to my Cardiologist and he had said if I felt comfortable it would be OK. Well, I ended up in the emergency room. My blood pressure shot up and i was really off balance I was really scared be careful how you come off of it. I called myself weaning myself.

[Terry]

Thank you. I have now seen the specialist and have had a full examination, sonar, BP and treadmill. The extra systole vanishes with exercise and he mentioned Reynolds(?) diseases which affects the right ventricle. The heart is in good shape otherwise. He said that I did not need the beta blocker if I was prepared to accept that the irregular beat was not life threatening and was prepared to live with the symptoms. Obviously I would like to leave the beta blocker out of my life. My problem is, can I wean myself off without any side effects. He says cut dosage in half and then miss out a few days etc over a period of 2 weeks or so. Do you think this will be OK? Regards Terry.

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

Dear Terry,
I'm not familiar with Sotacor.  Do you perhaps mean sotalol?  If so then this is a typical dosage for this medication.  However, it may not be the best medication to take if you are only having PVCs.  I would agree with your doctor that you see a cardiologist for testing and medication change.