I'm currently on Propanolol 160mg, 20/25 Lotensin, 10mg Norvasc.

Joined a health club two years ago and lost about 25 pounds the first year, still could stand to drop another 15-20 pounds. I'm a 44 male in pretty good shape.

During the last two years of working out and dropping some weight, I seem to have developed this feeling of brain disconnection from my visual perception, a sort of sleepiness and that I can't wake up fully. Not really dizziness as in upset stomach, but maybe a touch of general dizziness at times. These feeling appear to be most noticable late in the afternoon 6-8 hours of taking the Prop and Lot in the morning.

Before I go to bed my BP has been quite low 105-100/60-70 but is usually 'up' when I'm walking and standing. It was 136/86 right after work out last night.

I think it's the Propanolol and the big dose that is the most likely culprit of my wierd feelings. Any help out there?

Thanks!

Quote from gib:

I'm currently on Propanolol 160mg, 20/25 Lotensin, 10mg Norvasc.

Joined a health club two years ago and lost about 25 pounds the first year, still could stand to drop another 15-20 pounds. I'm a 44 male in pretty good shape.

During the last two years of working out and dropping some weight, I seem to have developed this feeling of brain disconnection from my visual perception, a sort of sleepiness and that I can't wake up fully. Not really dizziness as in upset stomach, but maybe a touch of general dizziness at times. These feeling appear to be most noticable late in the afternoon 6-8 hours of taking the Prop and Lot in the morning.

Before I go to bed my BP has been quite low 105-100/60-70 but is usually 'up' when I'm walking and standing. It was 136/86 right after work out last night.

I think it's the Propanolol and the big dose that is the most likely culprit of my wierd feelings. Any help out there?

Thanks!

Gib,


I am going to take an uneducated guess and tell you that you lack some blood flow to the brain due to several meds and the Prop has more than likely been the precipitator as it has slowed you heart a great deal..
You BP looks to be quite low before bed which is good.
Let me ask you this...When your BP is higher do you feel better? I too have used a Beta Blocker and in the past have taken too much and it gave me similar feelings.


What is you heart rate BPM?


Also your weight loss alone may be contributing to some BP reduction and perhaps you would get by with a much lower dose.

Gib,
I've taken propranolol in the past for a long time. As you know, it's a fast hit drug that wears off quickly unless you are taking the long-acting formulation (not sure how well that works.) A typical dosing schedule for 160 mg might be 40 mg. every 6 hours...is that what you take?
I had 40's but took one in the morning and one mid-afternoon but no more because an evening pill kept me awake all night.
That fuzzy, groggy feeling is very typical of the pill, you'd THINK something that acted like that would CAUSE sleep but NOOOO (In my best John Belushi, RIP.) My worst problem was thigh weakness when climbing steps,,,and New Yorkers climb LOTS of steps.
I can't imagine taking the stuff anymore and maintaining my 6 day a week gym schedule. I still have a bottle (actually bottles and BOTTLES) to treat a rare case of "stage fright" with 40 mg...it works!

If your heart rate is down to 50-53 with it, I think you might feel overall better by getting off the stuff. Do it somewhat gradually with like 40 mg.m orning and 40 evening if you don't get the insomnia. After a couplle weeks go 20-20 and than drop it. You can always start up again iof your BP goes too high. It IS a good antihypertensive, but, like all beta-blockers, it has a lot of baggage. It even prevents migraines.

I'd recommend it for anyone who needs it for any TWO reasons (angina, tachycardia, rhythm irregularities, migraine, stage fright, hypertension) but not just for hypertension.

I think the drug that is the best in your regimen is the lotensin? Have you ever tried it alone?

Quote from Lenin:

Gib,
I've taken propranolol in the past for a long time. As you know, it's a fast hit drug that wears off quickly unless you are taking the long-acting formulation (not sure how well that works.) A typical dosing schedule for 160 mg might be 40 mg. every 6 hours...is that what you take?

I guess I'm taking the long acting stuff as I take one 160mg pill in the morning, once a day. Perhaps that would be one thing to change on the next Rx refill, a switch to smaller dosage a couple times a day as that would give me a little flexibilty to manipulate the dosage on my own. Or just ask him to reduce the dosage with the long acting stuff. The way it makes me feel, I'd guess I could cut it down as much as half? But then again, there's been others that say I should get off the beta-blockers all together, but that's another thread I guess.

[QUOTE]
I had 40's but took one in the morning and one mid-afternoon but no more because an evening pill kept me awake all night.
That fuzzy, groggy feeling is very typical of the pill, you'd THINK something that acted like that would CAUSE sleep but NOOOO (In my best John Belushi, RIP.) My worst problem was thigh weakness when climbing steps,,,and New Yorkers climb LOTS of steps.
I can't imagine taking the stuff anymore and maintaining my 6 day a week gym schedule. I still have a bottle (actually bottles and BOTTLES) to treat a rare case of "stage fright" with 40 mg...it works!

I'm at the gym 4 days a week and do 45min to 1 hour of cardio. I do feel pretty 'out of it' after a good workout. The doc originally put my on the beta-blocker to help combat problems with anxiety, it helped but didn't do it all for me. He set me up with Xanax for the times I get myself worked up too much, plane rides, job interviews, etc.

[QUOTE]
If your heart rate is down to 50-53 with it, I think you might feel overall better by getting off the stuff. Do it somewhat gradually with like 40 mg.m orning and 40 evening if you don't get the insomnia. After a couplle weeks go 20-20 and than drop it. You can always start up again iof your BP goes too high. It IS a good antihypertensive, but, like all beta-blockers, it has a lot of baggage. It even prevents migraines.

I'd recommend it for anyone who needs it for any TWO reasons (angina, tachycardia, rhythm irregularities, migraine, stage fright, hypertension) but not just for hypertension.

I think the drug that is the best in your regimen is the lotensin? Have you ever tried it alone?

Good points, the only problem is getting off the Inderal to try just the Lotensin. And I'd probably get some flack and eye rolling :rolleyes: from the doc in suggesting my own plan for medication, but I'll try to persuade him. I did run out of pills for a day a few years ago, found out you can't just stop the beta-blockers as I had a bad anxiety attack at work. Had to drive all the way home to pop a xanax to calm me down. Whew, don't want to do that again. Damn health problems anyway...Thanks!