If you were prescribed a beta blocker to treat hypothyroidism or if you develop hyperthyroidism while you are taking beta blockers, you may be at higher risk of a thyroid storm if you suddenly stop taking your medication. A thyroid storm is a life-threatening condition that can increase your heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature to an abnormally high level.
Beta blockers are often taken to prevent cardiac arrest, however, sudden withdrawal from them can increase your risk of sudden cardiac arrest. Sticking to your medication schedule is important. If you find that you have trouble taking your beta blockers, or following other prescribed treatments, talk with your doctor.
He or she can help you develop a strategy that will work best for you. Once a beta blocker has been stopped, it may be tricky to resume taking the medication. Work with your doctor and follow instructions carefully.
If this is the case, call your doctor for direction. Our providers are board certified in general cardiology and interventional cardiology. We have over 30 providers with decades of experience in heart-related care. October 27, September 2, August 6, July 30, This information is not intended to replace the advice of a medical professional.
You should always consult your doctor before making decisions about your health. Posted by Revere Health. Why your doctor might prescribe a beta blocker Your doctor can treat a variety of conditions with the use of beta blockers, especially conditions of the cardiovascular system.
There are different types of beta-blocker. Some block beta receptors all around your body, including in your lungs and the blood vessels in your arms and legs as well as those in your heart. These were the first type of beta-blocker to be developed, and are known as non-selective beta-blockers. Examples include propranolol for example, Inderal. Newer beta-blockers, such as atenolol for example, Tenormin and bisoprolol for example, Cardicor , selectively block beta receptors in your heart.
Beta-blockers are only available on prescription from a doctor. Which one your doctor offers you will depend on why you need them. They come as:. Some beta-blockers you take once a day, whereas others you may need to take two or three times a day. Depending on what your medical condition is, your doctor may prescribe beta-blockers in combination with other medicines. If you stop beta-blockers abruptly, your blood pressure may go up suddenly and you may get irregular heart rhythms palpitations.
If you take beta-blockers to treat angina chest pain , stopping your medicine abruptly could make your chest pain worse. If you need to stop taking beta-blockers, your doctor will tell you how to reduce your dose gradually, and may suggest you switch to a different beta-blocker or another type of medicine. Always follow the instructions your doctor or pharmacist gives you about when to take your medicines.
Read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine carefully. If you have any questions about your medicines or how to take them, ask your pharmacist. Beta-blockers can interact with certain other medicines, including some heart medicines, which can put you at increased risk of certain side-effects. These include hypotension low blood pressure.
Your doctor will make sure that the medicines they prescribe are suitable when used together, and may monitor you if necessary. Beta blockers may cause a reaction if you drink too much alcohol. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist before you take any other medicines at the same time as a beta-blocker. They may also lessen over time as your body gets used to your beta-blocker. Please read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine for more details.
The following are some of the more common side-effects. Side-effects often wear off with time, as your body gets used to the medicines. But if side-effects from your beta-blocker medicine are bothering you, talk to your doctor. They may be able to reduce the dose or switch you to a different medicine.
For more information, see our section above on Taking beta-blockers. Bupa's medicines checklist PDF opens in a new window 0. Always check the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine to find out how to take it and if you need to take any precautions like not drinking alcohol. Beta-blockers slow down your heart rate and cause it to beat with less force.
This lowers your blood pressure. This may make you feel dizzy and you might even faint. Your doctor will usually try other medicines to treat high blood pressure first. These include diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme ACE inhibitors and calcium-channel blockers. This is because these medicines are better at reducing the complications of high blood pressure, including stroke and heart attack.
Your doctor will usually only suggest beta-blockers as a treatment for your high blood pressure if:. Taking beta-blockers will usually mean you can exercise for longer than you did before, without getting symptoms.
Taking regular exercise is good for you — it helps keep your body healthy and your mind well. When you first start taking a beta-blocker, you might find that you feel very tired and less like doing exercise. This should pass as your body gets used to the medicine. This is a big surprise, with big implications. The first beta blocker, Inderal, was launched in by Imperial Chemical Industries for treatment of angina.
This drug has been hailed as one of great medical advances of the 20th century. Its inventor, James Black, was awarded the Nobel prize in medicine in The 20 or so beta blockers now on the market are very widely used — almost million prescriptions were written for them in the US in They are standard issue for most people with heart disease or high blood pressure.
This may now change. A large study published last month in The Journal of the American Medical Association found that beta blockers did not prolong the lives of patients — a revelation that must have left many cardiologists shaking their heads JAMA , vol , p The researchers followed almost 45, heart patients over three-and-a-half years and found that beta blockers did not reduce the risk of heart attacks, deaths from heart attacks, or stroke.
The goal of this second study was to examine the effect of drug compliance on death rates in patients who had had heart attacks.
About half of patients complied with their drug regimen. Unsurprisingly, these people were nearly 30 per cent less likely to die than those who did not comply. This was to be expected, but there was one big surprise. While the result held for the standard classes of heart drugs — statins, anticoagulants and antihypertensives — it did not for beta blockers. Regardless of whether or not patients stuck to their regimen, their risk of dying was the same.
0コメント