Medicine increases

[Mom2four85]

Hope everyone is well....It's been awhile; been moving so I've been gone for about 6 mths...so my question is - how do you know when it's time for a dosage increase?  I've been Propranolol for 3 years now and went on 60mg twice daily last year my last cardiologist tried 120mg once daily but it was too strong

I don't know if it's from the stress of house hunting, moving and unpacking or both but my meds just do nothing except make me sleep any more.  Doesn't control my HR or symptoms and the past week I've noticed my heart hitting the inside of my chest wall and a burning sensation again.

no insurance right now so I can't go to the dr because I'm waiting on my approval for the pre-existing condition insurance plan again after a 6 mth break from it also.

[Mom2four85]

thanks for the responses; after seeing my primary he referred me to another cardiologist due to some changing symptoms and increasing pvc's again; I'm sure my ICD report will be lively to see again - it's been an eventful 6 months and I have to see EP again to determine if they're going to change up the meds some

[DeltaDawn23]

On splitting the capsule --  I know you can take some capsules apart and sprinkle the contents on applesauce (or something similar) if you have trouble swallowing pills.  I think your pharmacist would be able to tell you. On a nurses' advice,  I did split a time release pill that wasn't meant to be, and that helped a lot.  Sorry I can't be of more  help.

[Mom2four85]

jerry the PCIP  is a great plan I was on for about a year; ITdood told me about it a couple of years ago but had to go off it due to financial issues with so many medical costs...finally caught back up and can go back on the plan so I'm waiting for my new card but I bet it's going to change soon...maybe for the better =)

Inderal (Propranolol) is a BB and I found it to work the best but even after 3 years it does still lower my bp quickly; which with ANS issues I have to watch.

DeltaDawn23 the capsule I take can't be split or I would do that; do you know if you can split capsule or half the meds inside?

[DeltaDawn23]

You might want to try breaking the pills and taking them in 1/4's or halves to avoid the big drop in bp.  That worked for me, even when I was on an extended release one.  Keep a close watch on your bp and hr and if they get too low, delay the dose.  Good luck.

[Jerry_NJ]

First, good luck with your insurance transition, us folks with "existing conditions" have a battle.  The turmoil in medical insurance in the USA caused by the battles in Washington DC must be making things more difficult, for those business who provide insurance as a benefit too.  My first insurance was when I went to work for the Bell System way back when it was The Telephone Company of the USA.  It did not have a preexisting condition requirement on its insurance....was a great company, all that's left of it today is AT&T, from which I am retired.

To your real question, and assuming propranolol is a beta blocker, I went on a combination of BB and Calcium Channel Blocker to keep my HR lower.  I think I had to go through a transition to get over a too low BP, but my BP is not normal.  I take 50 mg of Metoprolol and 240 mg of a CCB, forget the name.  I take the low cost generics, so I don't have the extended release and take each 1/2 twice a day.

[Mom2four85]

I'm going to my general dr Friday so I'll mention it...just curious how others know when it's time to change doses .  I'm supposed to be on 120mg once daily but it made my bp way too low and I fainted more often; if it doesn't let up with symptoms I'll go to the dr

[is_something_wrong]

I wouldn't change the dose without a doctor's approval.

I've been on Propranolol since 2010, and I'm still on the same dose (10 mg twice a day, luckily I'm switched from 20 mg pills to 10 mg now so I don't have to break them in two and the rest dissolves in my pocket :p) . It works fine.

Of course, stress, etc. can "break through" the propranolol effect. Could you try to call a doctor and ask what to do?