Hi there! If you do a search by my username you will find out that I have actually been having some issues with my beta blocker lately. I was prescribed bisoprolol 5mg. I was given this because my heart rate goes very high for no reason...just getting up out of bed in the morning sets it off. For five months I had NO problems whatsoever. In fact, I was starting to feel pretty good. However, in the past few weeks my heart rate started dropping too low. I cut the pill in half and for a couple of weeks that was OK. My heart rate is still pretty low so now I only take about a third of it. I am doing a little better now.

Beta blockers are different for everyone. A couple of years ago I took Inderal LA (propranolol is the generic) for migranes. I had absolutely no problems with that one except that it made me a little tired. I wasn't obsessed over my heart at that point in time, so I have no idea what effect it had on my heart rate. I took it for less than a year and then weaned myself off of it because I wasn't having headache problems anymore. When this heart stuff first started my cardiologist gave me atenolol. That one made me almost pass out after three days. I stopped it immediately. A lot of people take atenolol and have no problems with it, though.

If you are really suffering with the migranes I think you should give it a try. There are so many people on beta blockers and I think they are pretty safe to take. If it is not a timed release pill, try cutting it in half at first. The regular ones take about 20 minutes to start working (at least in my case) so you should know pretty quickly what effect it will have on you. If you're real nervous, have someone there with you. I used to take mine at night, but I have been scared lately about it slowing my heart down too much while I'm sleeping so I just take it in the morning now. If you do start taking it and you keep taking it, just NEVER stop it cold turkey. You have to wean off of these things.

What beta blocker did your doctor prescribe?

I hope this helped you. Keep me posted about what you decide to do!

Hi Leela,

My rx is propranolol 10mg x3 daily. I have migraine associated vertigo. There are some days I can hardly walk and it has caused me to become very anxious. My Dr prescribed Procardia first and I got even more dizzy and felt worse. Thats why he gave me propranolol. I think its not a high dose. I've just gotten so scared of feeling any worse. I did note that inderal is prescribed for anxiety, so maybe it would kill 2 birds with one stone.

Thanks for talking to me. I know that it could be so much worse then taking a pill, but I can't seem to convince myself of that.

CK

You said that you have migraine associated vertigo. I will have to look that up. I have never heard that term before. All of my problems started about 3 1/2 years ago with lightheadedness. I have been searching and searching for answers and I still have none. I have developed HORRIBLE anxiety over all of it. I, too, have some days when I can barely function because of it. That is really why I was given the propranolol a couple of years ago. My neurologist was saying I could be having a migraine with no headache. But it didn't help me. I hope it helps you! Please keep me posted. If you don't mind me asking - what are your symptoms? I am finding more and more people that have these same problems. Have you ever injured your neck or your back?

Hi,

This all started for me probably last Nov, but really in Feb. I started having times where I felt lightheaded and like I was falling side to side. It started happening more and more. Then my muscles got really shaking and felt like I had brain fog. I spent 2 weeks in bed to no avail. My dr said anxiety, which is true, by that time I was anxiety ridden. When I kept feeling like I couldn't get my balance I pursuded further. Finally I was told inner ear and sent to a neurotolist(think thats what they are called) They specialize in inner ear, dizziness disorders. After testing he arrived at vestibular migraine, same as MAV. I've never had a headache. Just alot of very weird symptoms, that are all suppost to be part of it. The inner ear board has alot of info on it. I know alot of people have been helped by the beta blocker. I think it's a matter of finding one that works for you. If the beta blocker fails, there is a whole list of meds to go to, all with bigger side effects.

How many mgs of propranolol were you on?

I hope you can figure out your cause of lightheadedness. It is a horrible way to feel. I can really get down and out because of all the stuff I'm missing. That's why I have to buck up and get brave so I can live again.

CK

Hi there. :wave: I was on Inderal LA, 80mg and then I dropped down to 60mg. It was a timed release version, so I only took it once a day. It didn't help at all with my lightheadedness. I suffered whiplash about 3 months before all of my problems started, so I am pretty convinced that there is something going on in my neck. I have a referral to another neurologist because the last one I went to was just a moron. Hopefully someone can find something out. Since then, though, I have developed problems with my heart rate. It is too fast most of the time, and that is why I'm on a beta blocker again. It also gets very slow too. Lately, my heart has felt very "skippy" and my heart rate can range drastically from one minute to the next. I have had all of the heart tests, and they tell me everything is fine, but I have a very hard time believing that. I have met other people on these message boards that have the same problems. Funny - we're all on the anxiety board. I'm not saying that I don't have anxiety, because I definitely do, but I don't think anxiety is the cause of all of my problems. Unfortunately, once you get labeled by doctors they try to pawn everything off on anxiety and it is hard to get anyone to look outisde the box, so to speak.

Sorry I got into all of my problems. I sure hope that beta blocker helps you. There are other people on the anxiety board that are also on beta blockers. Hopefully someone will read this and give you their experiences with them so you will have some more information. Have you tried the propranolol yet? Please keep me updated and let me know if it helps you. Lightheadedness sure isn't fun to live with!

CK - I think you should try the propranolol. I know you are scared to try it, but it is a very safe med. It seems to be prescribed a lot by neurologists for migraines. I am no doctor, but I think your dose is pretty low. You will know shortly after you take it what effect it will have on you. Just take it when someone else will be with you. I'm sure you will be just fine, but if someone else is with you then you will probably feel much better about it. Let me know when you "get brave". :)

808 - Before I started taking the beta blocker my heart rate would go up to about 130 just standing up. It would go down to around 70-80 if I was laying down. Now on the beta blocker it usually doesn't go higher than 80-90 (without doing something strenuous) but it drops down to 48-50 when I am sitting or laying down.