Beta Blocker Question

I guess I'm not sure what my question is.

I take mine more for anxiety. My heart racing is uncomfortable, so we thought a BB in combo with my Benzo might help.

However, I think it's making me just as nervous. I still notice the feeling of my heart in my chest, only now it's unusually slow. I feel short of breath, but I think that's because I'm panicking about this new feeling. I've also been extra emotional, but that could be time of the month stuff.

Did anyone else who has used a BB, feel weird and uncomfortable when they first started? I'm just not sure it's worth it.

Thanks, tela44.

Mine seems to be making my shortness of breath worse. I'm enjoying the slower heart rate I think, but it's not gonna work if I'm short of breath. I've emailed my cardiologist and I think I will go off the BB and see if it makes a difference.

I've never noticed my meds causing more shortness of breath either, but I've been noticing it a lot this past week and it's actually a side effect of the Toprol. I think the best thing would be for me to quit it and see if it stops. If it does, then I have an answer and if it doesn't then I know it's just me being a not so awesome breather at the moment.

Yeah, I do 4 and 7 too. I just haven't been responding well to breathing exercises for awhile now.

Thanks for the suggestion though!

Hazel,

I agree, I think it's a combo of both. I've decided to taper off the toprol. After yesterdays full blown panic attack, I can see that it isn't helping me much, so no sense just taking a pill for the sake of taking it.

Hey Park!! I'm getting the same exact thing. Been taking my beta blocker everyday now almst 2 weeks. I also get where I can still feel my heart and it's almost to0 slow and scares me (I've jolted awake a few times right as I was falling asleep thinking my heart stopped beating)..but also i'm still getting fast heart sometimes. Also I am definitely getting the shortness of breath as well! It's a feeling like i'm breathing too fast or just not breathing the right way. Having it right now as i'm typing this. Thinking I might start weening off of them and seeing how I feel during the day again

Hey I had so much anxiety about starting beta b. meds and SSRIs but sooooo glad I did , I had to get to the point where I was having daily panic attacks that's when I decided I need help and went on SSRIs It has helped a ton I havent had a panic attack in 4 months now and I still feel the same just with way less anxiety , still battling agoraphobia but getting better and better . Im on Zoloft 75 mg and metaprolol 6 mgs daily I know it's a small dose of the bb but even that small amount helps .
I hope you find a Ssri that works for you ..

Thanks for the support Rn. I'm almost excited to try them now.

Larry, I'm constantly short of breath and haven't had the energy to do the treadmill. I've gotten on and walked, but haven't pushed myself at all because I don't feel like I can.

I'm on day 3 of tapering and I'm less uncomfortable. I need to do a lot of thinking about what the next steps are for me. Meds? No meds? I'm just very confused right now, but being on the beta blocker has definitely been uncomfortable, so I know this is the right decision for me.

It is sooooo hard to decide what (of any) medication to take. I struggled for months and months. My mind and mood and symptoms were constantly changing, making it hard to settle on a decision. Plus, I have a wicked pill phobia. But in the end, it's all about quality of life.

I still have a full bottle of lexapro here that I never ended up using. But if I EVER go through anything like I did last summer, I will have a much better easier time talking myself into, I think.

I would love to have another baby , but I know that I'm not there yet and I wouldn't want to go through pregnancy with panic and than taking care of the little one with anxiety , those moments are just too precious to not give our full attention to,
If I was you I would really wait until your are less anxious and I have concerns too about getting off the meds in the future , but I know that I'm so glad that I took them , I was in hell on earth during the time when my panic attacks were at the worst .
I'm very GREATFUL for the Zoloft , and it the future once it's time to come off I'll deal with it then , maybe it's something we need for life ,
Some have severe anxiety and some don't it might really be a chemical in our brain that we are lacking ,
And I'm not sure if there are any long term effects on our bodies when we stay on the meds , from what I heard its not too bad to be on them for a long time .
And was wondering when your pulse went up how hight did it get ?

My first fear when thinking about going on Lexapro was how the heck am I going to get off it!! And that fear is probably what kept me from taking it.

I remember you saying a while back that you cut way back on your Xanax. Have you upped it back to your original dose? Or is it just not cutting it?

My old therapist uses 5-htp. He swears by it. I'm am wishing the best for you, Park!!!