I am new here. I was wondering if anyone takes Bystolic. I went to the doctor last Thursday and was SURPRISED that I have high blood pressure. The doctor put me on Bystolic telling me that it would slow my heart rate, help with anxiety and help me sleep. I made him start me on the lowest dose because I have med issues. Well it has lowered my BP considerably in only 5 days and it's helped calm me down but I have worse insomnia then I had before! I hope this is just my body adjusting. I see the doc again March 6th. I am trying to see if it is better by then. Any input would be appreciated.

Suzanne,
Were you diagnosed with high BP just based on that reading in the doc's office? Because most people's bp increases when they go to the doc and now some docs will not Rx BP meds just based on an isolated reading in their office. Often, if you buy a good automatic bp cuff (Omron) the doc will give you a little card on which you keep a record of your bp twice/day. After a week you will have a better idea if you truly have high bp on an ongoing basis.

It's important to remember that bp is never the same, it does fluctuate, but you want a picture of your average over a period of time to see if it's staying consistently high.

Also, most docs do not have the patient in the right position in order to get the most accurate reading. These are the guidelines:

1. Must be sitting in a straight-backed chair with back resting on the back of the chair.

2. Feet flat on floor.

3. Arm is bent at 45 degree angle at the level of the heart, resting on some support (pillow or something else)

4. BP cuff is applied, patient is to sit in that position and allowed to relax for a couple of minutes.

5. BP is taken.

Too often I've had docs have me sit up on the examining table (no back to lean against) with my feet dangling, and my arm with the cuff either dangling while the bp is being taken or I have to use my muscles to hold it up, which will affect the reading.

I've seen people get Dx with high BP based on a couple of readings in the doc's office in one visit, given meds, then feeling horrid once they start taking them because they really didn't have sustained high bp, and the med just makes their bp go too low.

As for your insomnia, look up the side effects. Also, check www.askapatient.com to see what other people say who are taking that med. I find this more helpful than just reading the known side effects.

If it's the med causing the insomnia, maybe tell your doc and he/she can tell you if it will pass eventually, or if you need to switch to another med.

Suzanne,

I'm not a doctor but i'm almost positive that beta blockers dont' cause insomnia. I'm on beta blockers and I so tired and they really do calm you down and help with the anxiety. Did you have insomnia before you started the BB? If they slow your heart rate down (that's why I take them) they should actually make you sleepy. Check with your doctor but with my experience with them, they make me drowsey.

Let us know how you make out, keep in touch

Moozie

I have been on Bystolic for 9 months and have had the opposite affect. I am tired much of the time, but my bp is down.

When do you take your bp meds?

Dr. told me to take them at night since they do make you drowsy.

Let me know how it goes.

Bystolic is suppose to be one of the best.

I tried taking it at night because doc said they would help me sleep. I was up about every hour. So by day three I started taking it in the morning. I did go on Bystolic's website and they said they could cause sleeplessness! I did have sleep issues before but not that bad. I would usually get up at 3 a.m. and then again at about 5ish on a "good" night. However my BP is down.