Beta Blocker Pros and Cons?

Question

I have severe PVC and a very weak heart. I'm an active 24 year old female. I've PVC all my life. Over the last year my heart and PVCs have become worse and the Dr is wanting to put me on a beta blocker. What the common side effects and the Pros and Cons of taking a Beta Blocker?

Answer 1

I would venture to guess that you need to speak with your doctor about this idea of a "very weak heart." Have you had five heart attacks? Do you have a severely leaky heart valve that needs replaced? Do you have idiopathic cardiomyopathy? Do you have a congenital malformation? Perhaps rheumatic fever? Any of these are possible but knowing the condition certainly makes a difference in terms of discussing the relative merits of a beta blocker. If you don't have any of these problems or any other problem other than frequent PVC's then it is probably good to reconsider you heart's relative health.

Beta blockers are medications that have been around for quite a number of years. Therefore it is very unlikely that they hold surprise effects that no one ever considered. The main negative effects seen by patients on BB is generalized fatigue, low blood pressure, and slowed heart rate. Men sometimes experience erectile dysfunction.

Beta blockers can do a world of good (this is where knowing your actual condition would be helpful) depending on the condition you are treating. They are the standard of care for any patient having acute chest pain. Further they are commonly used for cardiac arrhythmias, congestive failure, and coronary artery disease. They sometimes dramatically improve the ejection fraction of poorly performing hearts. BB have been studied extensively and for some conditions they provide a substantial reduction in death compared to people who did not get the medication.

I would recommend that you trial the medication and see if it is effective and whether you tolerate it. I see very little down side to an initial trial. After the trial you can decide for yourself whether the value of the medication out weighs any side effects you might be having...it changes the whole matter from a theoretical discussion to real world.

Good luck.

Answer 2

I have SVT and I took beta-blockers when I was in high school. There are several different kinds, and they basically all work to stop certain body substances like adrenaline from reaching receptors. This can stop cardiac arrhythmias and prevent chest pain. I took Nadolol and Atenolol. In general, they controlled episodes pretty well (90% reduction in severity) and didn't have a lot of side effects. My heart rate stayed super low (30-45 BPM at rest) and my Reynaud's Syndrome was aggravated. Beta blockers worked well for me, but only because I couldn't deal with the condition. My advice- use them as a last resort, use a low dose, and follow the doctor's instructions EXACTLY.

Answer 3

I would list all the side effects and everything else I know about beta blockers but my drug book is down in my car and since its raining I'm not going outside.. If you have a weak heart and your Dr. wants to put you on a Beta Blocker I wouldn't mess around listening to people on Yahoo. Ask your Dr. explain how the medication works so you understand. If his explanation isn't good enough, ask your pharmacist to explain it. Make sure you are honest about *ANY* meds, vitamins, herbal remedies you are taking OTC or from a different Dr, etc. A lot of the patients I've taken care of have been on beta blockers for all sorts of reasons, there are many different types of beta blockers that do different things so be specific when your talking to your Dr. Good luck and God bless.

Answer 4

i replaced into positioned on beta blockers after a heart attack. I had additionally been dealt with for melancholy over 30 years. i attempted to describe to my dr. at heart Clinics Northwest that i replaced into transforming into very depressed. yet he does no longer even pay attention. For over 3 years i ought to rather make it away from mattress. finally, one physician did pay attention. He pronounced I had the"beta blocker blues" this replaced into then shown through a heart expert. i replaced into instructed it might take 3 hundred and sixty 5 days or with the purpose to get better. It took very very nearly 2. i'm continuously dismayed through ways undesirable the medicine maintains to be in poorer areas like Spokane Wa.

Answer 5

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