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Beta Blockers Necessary?
I got back a suppressed reading on my most recent blood test. My TSH # was 0.02 I had further thyroid blood work done and everything came by normal T4 , T3. The Family Dr. perscriped me Metoprolol SR. I took it once and I felt horrible . I have stopped taking it until I see an endocrinologist. I have been taking the lowest dose of Clonazapam for anxiety at night. I don't see an endocrinologist for about 3 weeks. Will it hurt anything to NOT take a Bb?
My guess is that the doctor may be using the beta blocker for control of the anxiety related to the hyperthyroid--it is the only thing other than an antithyroid med that controls the anxiety related to the thyroid---it worked for me--I was having these strange panic attacks and just shaking all over and unable to control it and the beta blocker stopped all of that--of course the beta blocker also is used primarily to control the rapid heart rate. When the MD suggested the beta blocker I was resistant but finally agreed to start on a low dose. I was started on metoprolol long acting 12.5 mg once a day and gradually increased to 75mg once a day to control my sypmtoms. I think if I had initially started on a the high dose then I also might have felt awful too. One note is that with the long acting it did wear off sooner for me ( my metabolism because of the hyperthyroidism was so fast) since I metabolized the drug in a shorter time. Once my hyperthyroid was treated with an antithyroid med I was gradually weaned off from the beta blocker.
I know when I was initially diagnosed with hyperthyroidism I landed in the ER with rapid heart rate and was shaking all over because of the hormones racing through my system they wanted to give me iv ativan--I stopped them and told them that I WAS NOT NERVOUS that I did not need ativan--that the beta blocker worked for this so they gave me the beta blocker intravenously and it stopped the shakes and the rapid heart rate. They still wanted me to take the ativan --I told them that I would only take an oral dose--they were reluctant but I worked there as a nurse and they listened to me. The nurse was going to be sneaky and not tell me--I asked what she was drawing up in the syringe and fortunately she told me --otherwise I'd have sued the ***** off from them if I had found out otherwise. I took the oral dose--against my better judgement. The only thing the ativan did for me was make me feel drunk. I was not happy--before all of this thyroid mess I barely took tylenol for a headache and here they were throwing the big guns at me. IV ativan can knock a person out or put them into a respiratory arrest if it is too high of a dose and especially if you are not use to that stuff. This incident kept me from going into the hospital when I had other high heart rate episodes--rate of 160--not smart to not get that treated I know but I did not want to have to deal with that other whole scenario again. I had only asked them to give the IV lopressor slow becasue I was afraid my blood pressure would bottom out --she said she was giving it slow and my blood pressure was fine but I did feel some chest pressure while I was receiving it--they wanted to give me another dose of the IV lopressor so they thought they might want to sedate me---crazy. I m still not happy about all that till this day and that was over a year ago. Try the beta blocker as long and your bp and heart rat can tolerate it--it helped me with the anxiety and shakes related to my hyperthyroid.
I know when I was initially diagnosed with hyperthyroidism I landed in the ER with rapid heart rate and was shaking all over because of the hormones racing through my system they wanted to give me iv ativan--I stopped them and told them that I WAS NOT NERVOUS that I did not need ativan--that the beta blocker worked for this so they gave me the beta blocker intravenously and it stopped the shakes and the rapid heart rate. They still wanted me to take the ativan --I told them that I would only take an oral dose--they were reluctant but I worked there as a nurse and they listened to me. The nurse was going to be sneaky and not tell me--I asked what she was drawing up in the syringe and fortunately she told me --otherwise I'd have sued the ***** off from them if I had found out otherwise. I took the oral dose--against my better judgement. The only thing the ativan did for me was make me feel drunk. I was not happy--before all of this thyroid mess I barely took tylenol for a headache and here they were throwing the big guns at me. IV ativan can knock a person out or put them into a respiratory arrest if it is too high of a dose and especially if you are not use to that stuff. This incident kept me from going into the hospital when I had other high heart rate episodes--rate of 160--not smart to not get that treated I know but I did not want to have to deal with that other whole scenario again. I had only asked them to give the IV lopressor slow becasue I was afraid my blood pressure would bottom out --she said she was giving it slow and my blood pressure was fine but I did feel some chest pressure while I was receiving it--they wanted to give me another dose of the IV lopressor so they thought they might want to sedate me---crazy. I m still not happy about all that till this day and that was over a year ago. Try the beta blocker as long and your bp and heart rat can tolerate it--it helped me with the anxiety and shakes related to my hyperthyroid.
I do have all my blood work. The Dr faxed it over and then I went to the Pathology Lab and got the extensive thyroid blood work. I have all my #'s.
COMMUNITY LEADER
You should always get a copy of your lab report, rather than relying on the doctor to give a verbal synopsis of your labs. Your doctor is obligated by law to provide a copy, upon request. I never leave my doctor's office without a copy for my records.
That said, many doctors believe that if your results are "in range", everything is normal. That's usually not the case. What matters most is where your results fall within the range.
TSH is a pituitary hormone, which does not adequately reflect what's actually going on. Free T3 and Free T4 are much more important.
Do you have symptoms of hyperthyroidism? Have you been tested for thyroid antibodies?
That said, many doctors believe that if your results are "in range", everything is normal. That's usually not the case. What matters most is where your results fall within the range.
TSH is a pituitary hormone, which does not adequately reflect what's actually going on. Free T3 and Free T4 are much more important.
Do you have symptoms of hyperthyroidism? Have you been tested for thyroid antibodies?
Oh yes, she did exactly what the dr. told her to do & it was also on the bottle of how & when to take.
Well I don't think this type of medicine is take as needed. I think it's get on it and be VERY careful weaning off of it. Reading about Bb....they are serious meds and I think you need to be sure you NEED them before you just take them because a Dr. wrote a script for them. I err on the cautious side when it comes to meds.
I know my twin had to take the heart medication when her HR got above a certain level.
She took 1 if her pulse was over 90 & 2 pills if ove100. She didn't always need them. She did hate them....
She took 1 if her pulse was over 90 & 2 pills if ove100. She didn't always need them. She did hate them....
I do have them at times. They come and go. But when I take my blood pressure it's always GREAT and so is my heart rate. I just called his office and he said it's okay for me to stay off of them until I see the Thyroid Endocrinologist. I would hate to be taking something for a problem I don't even have.
Are you having any heart palpatations? If your HR is fine I don't know why he gave them to you. Maybe he was afraid you may start having rapid heart rate or something.
I have not been diagnosed with anything yet. I just had the low TSH reading. The Thyroid Blood work was a complete Thryoid check and my Family GP said the levels were all normal and good. When I take my blood pressure my heart rate is very much in range. I will be going to a Thyroid Specialist in then next 3 weeks. I was thinking since we don't have a true diagnosis yet that I should wait until he decides if I need to be on them. Bb are a pretty serious drug.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Have you been diagnosed with Graves Disease? For what symptoms did your doctor prescribe the BB?
What are the actual results of your T3 and T4? Were they Free or Total?
If you are actually hyper, it could cause you to have heart issues. You might talk to your doctor and see if there is another bb you can take that won't make you feel bad.
It does often take some time to get used to a medication, too, and initial side effects often go away.
What are the actual results of your T3 and T4? Were they Free or Total?
If you are actually hyper, it could cause you to have heart issues. You might talk to your doctor and see if there is another bb you can take that won't make you feel bad.
It does often take some time to get used to a medication, too, and initial side effects often go away.
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