My Dr has made her choice....uugghh..so nervous

NeuroticHousewife · 04-25-2006, 02:04 PM

She ordered metroprolol 25mg 4 x daily to replace my propranolol 20-30mg 4 x daily.

Does this sound like a lot??

Help talk me thru this please..I am so nervous about the switch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

penk · 04-25-2006, 02:16 PM

Hi, the best advice I can give you is to educate yourself about these two medicines and compare the differences. Also, talk to your pharmacist.....they usually can answer any questions and explain any concerns you may have. I have found that this always helps me. And may I add, talking to your doctor's nurse can do wonders. Hope this helps. Oh yes, and calm down....take 10 deep breaths and then be proactive in your care.....get the answers you need. Penk

NeuroticHousewife · 04-25-2006, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by penk

Hi, the best advice I can give you is to educate yourself about these two medicines and compare the differences. Also, talk to your phamacist.....they usually can answer any questions and explain any concerns you may have. I have found that this always helps me. And may I add, talking to your doctor's nurse can do wonders. Hope this helps. Oh yes, and calm down....take 10 deep breaths and then be proactive in your care.....get the answers you need. Penk

Believe me!! I did all of this LOL!! I spoke to 3 Drs and a pharmacist. They all had something different to say!!I have also looked up everything I possible can. On paper they seem pretty much the same...but still that huge scary list of possible side effects freaks me out.

My med is being switched because it is causing exercise induced asthma. I have been taking propranolol for over 2 years. And it has been GREAT for my fast heart rate and PVCs. But when I exert myself, I get way too out of breath.

I talked to my psychiatrist (I also have anxiety for which I take klonopin) and he said it is likely I may notice an increase in anxiety - YUCK!!!! And I spoke to my allergist's RN and she said that metroprolol will likely cause the same problem the propranolol did!! The pharmacist said that both drugs are pretty much equally safe and benign.

I am just very neverous. I do not want to experience heart side effects (increased rate or PVCs). And I do not want increased anxiety. Yet..I need to be able to exercise. Ugghhh..this is all so frustrating!!

penk · 04-25-2006, 02:35 PM

Hi, is this an inhaler you are using? I'm on Azmacort, 2 puffs twice a day and Albuterol when needed. The Albuterol can cause the pulse to race, so my dr. recommended 1 puff every 3 hours.....keep it spaced out. I have occasionally had to hit it more frequently and not only can it make the pulse race it can cause the BP to rise. I too talked to my cardiologist's nurse and they understand my concerns but said I also needed to be able to breathe. Unfortunately, sometimes we have to do what is uncomfortable to address our problem. Take care, and keep up the good work in gathering information about this. Doctors claim that PVCs with a normal heart are harmless.....but they are unnerving and if frequent enough, can make you feel really tired, etc... I hope you can use this new medicine. I would give it a try and expect the expected and hopefully you will do better on this one. Penk

NeuroticHousewife · 04-25-2006, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by penk

Hi, is this an inhaler you are using? I'm on Azmacort, 2 puffs twice a day and Albuterol when needed. The Albuterol can cause the pulse to race, so my dr. recommended 1 puff every 3 hours.....keep it spaced out. I have occasionally had to hit it more frequently and not only can it make the pulse race it can cause the BP to rise. I too talked to my cardiologist's nurse and they understand my concerns but said I also needed to be able to breathe. Unfortunately, sometimes we have to do what is uncomfortable to address our problem. Take care, and keep up the good work in gathering information about this. Doctors claim that PVCs with a normal heart are harmless.....but they are unnerving and if frequent enough, can make you feel really tired, etc... I hope you can use this new medicine. I would give it a try and expect the expected and hopefully you will do better on this one. Penk

No, it is a medication for my heart..not an asthma med. I do not take an asthma med because I cannot tolerate stimulants and they are all stimulants basically. Also, I dont have constant asthma..just when I really exert myself and even then I can eventually catch my breath..but it takes awile and happens too quickly for someone my age. The asthma is actually being CAUSED by the heart med I am on now..so that is why she is switching the heart med.

Thank you for responding!!!!