When I called my doctor last night, he decided to take me off the clonidine and replace it with Inderal, which I've never taken before? Has anyone else had experience with this med? It did bring my BP down, though I do have a headache today, which I don't know whether it's related to the new med or just a coincidence. I have to track my BP over the weekend and call the doctor on Monday. I just want to feel GOOD again!!!!! AAARRRGGGHHH!

My cadiologist just gave me toprol the other day. I haven't taken it yet because I read it can make you gain weight. I want the old beta blocker like Inderal or Atenonol. I'm anxious to see what others say.

I'm on Inderal, not only for my BP but for anxiety issues. It makes me a bit on the draggy side and I think it made me gain weight, but my blood pressure does seem pretty steady now, and the anxiety issues are pretty much gone, but I really can't say it was the Inderal that did it because I was pretty anxious on it maybe for the first six months I took it.

Irish Lass,

I have been on Inderal for over one year now for tremors essential tremor to be exact. I have just had a week with doctors neurologist mri etc etc and just over the last two days he has increased my inderal to 3x10mg per day. I think I feel a little better although I must say after the MRI on the first day I tried Inderal I had the worst headache I dont believe it was from the inderal because it is often prescribed also for migraine. I will let you know in a little while how they are working for me. I think they are pretty much a good med as they are prescribed for so many things including angina heart palpitations and BP mine is high at the moment.

Keep posting



Flying Fairy

Gia,

My Doctor tried to put me on Toporol for MVP and I am telling you it made me so dizzy I was ready to pass out. I was only taking 1/2 of the lowest tab and it was bad. I cut the tab in 1/4 and it still was making me dizzy.

Just thought I would let you know. Now I am off all of them.... Propranolol gave me screaming headaches and Altenenol didn't really do anything bad.

Jenny

I have in the past been on inderol, propranolol, and atenolol. The only noticable side effect for me on these meds was having "vivid dreams," which seemed more like hallucinations, some nights. I'd wake up sure that I'd seen a spider coming down from the ceiling, and I would literally jump out of bed, which woke me up. Kinda funny, but not!

One thing you should know is that all beta blockers can cause depression and/or anxiety in some people. That's why I stopped taking them a couple of years ago.

Good news from the cardiologist today--my echo looked great, and the Inderol seems to be kicking in finally. I have to continue to track my BP and call him on Thursday with an update. He has me on 20 mg. twice a day, plus Benicar in the morning and also Triamterene (a type of dyazide) in the morning. So far, so good, thank God!!!

Hello Irish Lass,

Congrats on your results its always so comforting to get good results. I am so happy for you. why were you put on Inderal in the first place.? I have just started to take extra and today I felt absolutely out of it and also having more palps today. Did you ever experience this?

Flying Fairy

FF, When I first went on BP meds (before the Inderal, about 2 years ago), I experienced the sluggishness, and it took about 6 months to get over it. Changing to Inderol from Clonidine really hasn't affected me; in fact, I can't really tell a difference. My blood pressure still isn't as low as it was, though, and that does bother me, but at least I know my heart function is fine. The doctor says it may take awhile to "reset" to a lower point. I haven't had much of a problem with palps; I experienced them when I had the episodes of extremely high BP, but I think it was probably a fear reaction. In general, though, my heart rate stays pretty stable. IL

I take Toprol 100mg for my blood pressure. It has worked great and no side effects that I have noticed. I will tell you that I think that the onset of Peri raised my blood pressure. The Drs. say no but how could I go from normal BP to 160/90 all of a sudden. I had other peri symptons although I did not realize it at the time. Ask your doctor about Toprol, I know a lot of people taking this med with much success. Good Luck!

Angel1

I use Inderal when my skipped beats are bothering me. My blood pressure is actually abnormally low (90/55), so I try not to use it, but sometimes have to.

My doctor tried having me use the extended release Interal to see if it would help migraines (it's supposed to). Of course, it did not help me. Not much helps the hormonal type except hormones.

Has anyone had any problem stopping clonidine? I just started yesterday at the lowest dose. Today I had a horrible headache and felt a bit off balanced. The pharmacist told me that the headache is quite common with this medication and should stop after awhile.

Does anyone have any experience with this bp med.?

I just recently started Inderol (time release) for symptomatic pvc's. I have b/p usually around 90/50......so I was concerned......it stopped the pvc's almost instantle and I feel human again.

My doctor just started me on Inderal (10 mg) twice a day on an "as needed" basis. I told her that I didn't want to take something every day since I just need something for my bad "episodes" - anxiety and palps/PVC's - when I feel out of control. Funny, but since I made the appointment with her 2 days ago, I haven't had any bad symptoms! Wish I knew which came first, the palps or the anxiety. Guess it doesn't matter - I just hope the stuff works when I need it. I'm so afraid of side effects...we'll see what happens...

Has anyone else been prescribed a low dose beta blocker on an "as needed" basis?

I take 80 mgs a day for the combination effect of reducing my anxiety and my blood pressure. The only side effect I've seen is it may make you tired in the beginning, and it's also difficult to get your heart rate up if you like to exercise. I also thought it made me gain weight, but the doctor said no.

You CANNOT take it on an as-needed basis. It's messing with your heart rate, and I know if you want to go off of it you have to wean from it gradually. However, I know in college we used to use a pill here and there to calm us when we had to play recitals. That was only one pill though and only rarely, so the effect wouldn't be the same.

You're right about that Meryl, you can never take a beta blocker on an as you need basis. You can actually cause a fatal irregular heart beat. All of this information is available online by searching the particular drug. You should really discuss this with your doctor Buzzz. My doctor also told me as Meryl has said that you also have to be weaned off of these medications for this very reason.

Ladies you may want to read the factson Inderal for those of you taking this beta blocker. Itis not used on an as needed basis. Check out the site PDR health.com for info.

Angel 1

Want to add that my doc also said that BB [atenolol in my case] cannot be "as needed." She further advised against even cutting the pill in half to take 2x a day. Said it metabloizes better over a 24 hour period. A few folks here have been told otherwise, but I seem to tolerate it better once a day. Jumping on and off sounds like asking for trouble...

Also, I know docs SAY BB's don't cause weight gain, but I am having a hard time keeping the pounds off - pills are slowing down heart rate and you can't raise your HR as well when exercising, so it only seems logical that weight can sneak on. Like I need help in that department!

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You and me both! I still think the BBs have contributed to my weight gain! I hardly eat anything and get fat!

Yup, I totally agree...the only way I can lose even a pound now is to virtually starve, and if I have anything more than a glass of water, it comes back. When I saw my GYN last week, she made a really big deal out of the weight gain (I've gained 20 pounds in two years)--she said it's not so much how much I weigh, which is at the high end of the range for my height, but still okay, but that I put on so much so quickly. I told her that frankly, at this point, it's the least of my worries & I just don't care...I have NO energy, I'm on four different pills that all say "may cause tiredness", etc., and the stress from the whole peri-meno thing is such that I'm glad just to get through each day. I've always been a tremendously energetic, upbeat person, and she knows that, so she was understanding once I told her all that. When I told her about my insomnia/night sweats, she offered to give me something to help me sleep, but I declined it--if I take anything else that causes drowsiness, I mgiht not wake up!!! haha Anyway, the weight gain happened immediately after I started on the meds, so I am totally convinced they do have an effect. (I'm hoping that I will experience the "menopausal zest" I've read about on this board & then I'll have the energy to exercise again!!!!!!)

Yes Irishlass, from your lips to the peri-meno angels' ears!

I've gained over 25 lbs. w/ med's and am verrry down about it. But at the same time, I don't have any energy to try & fix it. I crave sweets and carbs 24/7. None of the doc's I see [PCP, endo, GYN] can answer why that is... Get much better info here w/ you ladies.

Many thanks,
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