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Does Propanolol Intake Cause Any Adverse Effects?
Question: I was prescribed apropanolol 10mg every twelve hours. I was having panic attacks, lightheaded feeling every few days and I would wake up from sleep fine but jolt when I began to move and my heart would race for like thirty seconds. In the norning I would have a intermitten speeding up of my heart that would last a few seconds and then slow down, then speed up, ten slow down. Then, my heart would feel fast all day when that would happen. Like I would be 75 - 90 instead of 63 like when I was relaxed. I also had some high blood pressure, like 133 - 144. I have been doing more yoga and doing calming things to manage it. My question is, I have taken the apropanolol twice in the last 24 hours. I am curious if I just start taking it as needed, will it have adverse effects? Some days my heart rate is totally fine and Some days it just races all day so I dont know if I should just not take the meds some days. I have had high anxiety and hypochondria. It all started about a month ago when I got costochondritis. Ive had two ekgs, one in august, one a few days ago. Both look fine. I am usually an extremely healthy person so I feel like I should just stop taking meds because of something emotional or it coul make me worse.
Brief Answer:
no side effects at low doses
Detailed Answer:
Welcome to HCM.
I have read your question and understand your concerns.
Palpitations (to feel your own heart rates) can be due to simple excitement, anxiety, during and after exercise or even in thin individuals also without any reasons.
Even if most of the time the reason will be anxiety, better to rule out once about heart problems, because palpitations are common in heart problems. Only ECG can't give idea about that.
So my advice to you is -
1. Ask your doctor to do 24 hrs ecg monitoring (holter monitoring) which you can take it with you at home for 1 day. It will give final idea to you and your doctor about is there any serious heart rhythm issues are there or everything is normal. Once it comes normal and you will be assured that no abnormalities are there in heart then your anxiety will be automatically reduced.
2.Propanolol you are taking is at very low dose, so don't bother about side effects at this dosage. You can take longer acting preparation for adequate whole day control of palpitations and short acting tablets as an when required.
3.Echocardiography which is like a sonography of hear is also necessary as it can provide proper structural details of the heart. Ask your doctor about this investigation also.
4 . Whenever you feel palpitations don't pay attention towards it. Just think about other things or count 1-100 at a time, you will forget about palpitations and they were gone if they are anxiety induced.
5.Continue all your anxiety medicines, no much harmful side effects noted at this dosage.
I hope I have given you satisfactory answer. Any other questions are always welcome.
Thank you.
Have a nice day.
no side effects at low doses
Detailed Answer:
Welcome to HCM.
I have read your question and understand your concerns.
Palpitations (to feel your own heart rates) can be due to simple excitement, anxiety, during and after exercise or even in thin individuals also without any reasons.
Even if most of the time the reason will be anxiety, better to rule out once about heart problems, because palpitations are common in heart problems. Only ECG can't give idea about that.
So my advice to you is -
1. Ask your doctor to do 24 hrs ecg monitoring (holter monitoring) which you can take it with you at home for 1 day. It will give final idea to you and your doctor about is there any serious heart rhythm issues are there or everything is normal. Once it comes normal and you will be assured that no abnormalities are there in heart then your anxiety will be automatically reduced.
2.Propanolol you are taking is at very low dose, so don't bother about side effects at this dosage. You can take longer acting preparation for adequate whole day control of palpitations and short acting tablets as an when required.
3.Echocardiography which is like a sonography of hear is also necessary as it can provide proper structural details of the heart. Ask your doctor about this investigation also.
4 . Whenever you feel palpitations don't pay attention towards it. Just think about other things or count 1-100 at a time, you will forget about palpitations and they were gone if they are anxiety induced.
5.Continue all your anxiety medicines, no much harmful side effects noted at this dosage.
I hope I have given you satisfactory answer. Any other questions are always welcome.
Thank you.
Have a nice day.
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Answered by
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