Need to change Beta blockers due to exhaustion,which one is best?

[Teacupforme]

I am on Lopressor (metropopol) 50mg in the morning and 50mg again at night. I sometimes take an extra 50 mid day. I also take an ARB with them. I changed my evening dose from 6 pm to 3 pm now due to the insomnia the BB causes.

The insomnia I suffer sometimes is unreal. I go days without sleep way beyond fatigue to complete exhaustion. I can't even think straight, and I have no idea what is going on around me due to complete lack of brain power.

This is from the Beta Blocker. I was on a higher dose, and almost collapsed on a few occasions due to exhaust. Though from my earlier post you can see that I have stress related BP and a touch of anxiety,so my GP insists Beta Blockers are right for me.

I know there are different ones out there. I think in th past I may also have been on Atenolol with similar sleep issues.

My question is are they all just about the same,and could a change to another relieve the insomnia, or not likely?
I just don't know what to do anymore. Due to the exhaustion, my BP actually rises because my body is fighting to cope with the exhaustion and pain from exhaustion. Ironic isn't it? There is only so long someone can go without sleep. I realise now why sleep deprivation can be used as torture. That's exactly how I feel after 2-3 nights of no sleep and 9 hour work days. I feel like I am being tortured,and my BP goes up anyways?

What can I do?

Thank you

[Guy1_USA]

Have you ever tried an ACE inhibitor like Monopril or the like onstead of the Beta Blockers for high BP...? The only potential side effect that is most common is coughing... but the minority get that. I've been taking it for 16 years and I don't have any coughing... maybe you wouldn't either.

I tried a beta blocker for 6 weeks and hated it. Will not ever try it again.

Good luck.

[flowergirl2day]

teacup,

Having been on two types of beta blockers, I sympathize with you. I am having a day you describe on my tiny dose of Bisoprolol. I am completely familiar with the type of fatigue beta blockers cause. I fell asleep in an office chair earlier while in the middle of finalizing details for a custom deck railing. Had slept all the way there, and was awake but unable to concentrate enough to talk on the way back. The exhaustion, both physical and mental, is complete.
Unfortunately, if you stay on beta blockers, that is not going to change.
Beta blockers block the effect of adrenalin on beta receptors. This slows down the heart and its demand for oxygen and blood. As a result, there's a reduction in cardiac output and less oxygenated blood is carried to the tissues. We are both on a selective beta blocker. This means that beta 1 receptors in the heart are affected for the most part, resulting in changes in the heart rate and the strength of the heart beat.
As Venture man suggested, you should quit using the beta blockers. I can tell you from personal experience that the fatigue never changes. You have to re-organize your life completely around that fatigue. You will always feel sleepy, tired and have insomnia. I did with Labetalol and still do with Bisoprolol. A non-selective and a selective beta blocker. Not much difference in that regard. ACE inhibitors are excellent for reducing blood pressure. So are the ARBs, combined with thiazide diuretics. Unless you have angina, or had a previous MI or a similar cardiac problem, you do not need to be on the beta blockers. Let your physician deal with the two separate medical issues - your anxiety and hypertension - individually. I have a feeling he just wants to make it easy on himself by prescribing one medication to help both. You should be aware that other antihypertensives increase the effects of beta blockers. Some anti-depressants, ashtma and diabetes meds do to. My advice matches Venture Man's: if you want to lead a fairly normal life, get off the beta blockers!

flowergirl

[famnd]

Hi,

Don't have much time as I am getting ready for a Dr's appointment on Friday-like studying for a final exam . Scanning your posts leads me to think your problem likely your adjustment to your job than your b/p. Dr. Dean says there is no point taking anti-depressants etc. unless you are willing to get counseling to help you cope with your problems & get some insight into solutions for the stress they create. Public speaking is the number one fear of humans so you shouldn't feel inadequate etc. for your stress reaction to it. There are ways to cope with that fear. Check out some good books on the subject.

I take Lebetalol 1800mg so I can vouch for FG's statement that one's life must revolve around the side effects. I have no choice so am making the best of a bad situation. There are ways of reducing the fatigue but I don't have time to post them now-try to do that this weekend. Since this is a apha/beta blocker, I feel there isn't as much fatigue as the pure beta blockers gave me (still more than I would volunteer for ). I don't have the sleep problems that pure beta blockers gave me (nightmares.) Taking lebetalol requires one to pay strict attention to detail & the willingness to re-arrange one's life. A big plus I found is the drug takes away one's appetite which really helps prevent over eating from all this stress of taking drugs.
Still I have gained at least 20 lbs from a combination of taking b/p drugs, being disabled from a drug reaction for a long period, & being hypothyroid.
Lebetalol would be my choice for your situation if you have to take a beta blocker rather than the pure beta blockers. My first choice would be to get counseling & perhaps take biofeedback therapy so you could be drug free.
Fam

[Teacupforme]

Thank you everyone for your replies. The knowledge on this board is overwelming. I knowhave to take a deep look into my situation.

Thanks again-