How does stopping propanalol affect your heart rate?
Question posted by maat18659 on 6 April 2016
Last updated on 10 April 2016
I'm 14 and 5 months and have been on propanalol for about 1 and a half years due to migraine treatment. It has worked and practically reduced my migraines from 5 severe migraines to maybe 1 every two weeks. I have been feeling like absolutely s*** lately. (Hard getting out of bed, feeling hungry, feeling sick, feeling dizzy and a few more that I just can't take anymore). I have been taking 80 mg every day (40 every morning and 40 at night) I have reduced that to 40 each day (20 at morning and again, 20 at night.) I have been slowly getting off it over the past few weeks and then last week finally giving it up without any problems. (I was doing 20 every morning). Now I'm fine but when I do sport my heart rate goes up way to much than I'd like it. I'm not a athlete but I'm fit and I find it hard to maintain a stable heart rate. Do I need to pretty much train my heart again with physical fitness to get it fit again or is it a side affect? I played rep cricket last season and went fine with breathing (on propanalol). So the bottom line of my question is :do I have to train my heart with fitness or is it just a side affect?
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Answers
TO
tomtom4
10 April 2016
Hey, I was tachycardic (fast heart rate) for a while after stopping propranolol. It will return to normal. Propranolol is lipid soluble; this means that it dissolves into fat molecules easily, which usually means there will be a bit that remains in your system for a slightly longer time. My heart rate has returned to normal despite having a resting heart rate of over 100 after I stopped. My resting heart rate is now back to 60-70 with no propranolol, it took a couple of weeks.
Be careful doing exercise, if you feel any tightness, chest pain, extreme breathlessness, then cease the activity, take a rest and sip water. If the symptoms persist contact your doctor/er. I can tell you what else helped me; electrolytes, specifically potassium, and even a small amount of sodium bicarbonate etc. You can get them easily from the store or ask the pharmacy for "oral re-hydration salts" (they are sometimes sold for recovery from diarrhea) or even some sports drinks, oh and bananas have high potassium too. These electrolytes directly modulate electrical activity on the heart and are completely safe and natural to take with no side effects (unless you take ridiculous high amounts) This may help until things return to normal.
Votes: +1
MA
maat18659
10 April 2016
Thanks for the help. I'm not sure if I mentioned that I collapsed about 5 days after stopping propanalol but I had a concussion a few days later from a head collision with a mate. I was light jogging and I started to feel dizzy and then I started seeing spots. I ended up seeing a docter. Thanks everyone for the help I'm feeling so much better and feeling like I have more energy to do things now
TO
tomtom4
10 April 2016
You're welcome. You'll bounce back in no time because you're young, don't worry. We can't know for sure why you collapsed, I'm sure you discussed it with your doctor, right? It might be worth getting yourself a heart rate or blood pressure monitor (you can pick one up on amazon for about £30). Sometimes seeing stars etc can be because of either high or low blood pressure which can temporarily affect the amount of oxygen/blood flow to the brain. I find ibuprofen and paracetamol combination effective when I have a migraine attack. Have a good diet, and don't over-do the exercise for a while and it sounds like you'll be just fine. Stay hydrated and keep the stress levels low. Take it easy for a while and don't put competitive pressure on yourself, it will make you a better and more competitive athlete in the future. Watch out for those head injuries too because that won't help your migraines! Glad you're feeling better now.
CH
chuck1957
10 April 2016
Tom thanks for adding me as a friend I have to put it in a folder some crazy reason this site has a bug in it and it won't let me add friends So I try off and on to add my friend request I have sent tons of email to the adminastrator but no help.Upsets me because sometimes it's nice to be able to send a message to a friend that does not post. even when I try that it goes on as a post not a private message. Hope all is well with you just want you to know im not upset about our little difference that day as I said if we do have a difference in thinking those are what are great to just be able to im each other so that we don't have what looks like bickering between members. again I am sorry I came off wrong like I think I told you im still having lots of problems with the after effects of chemo. and read things wrong. etc.and it's very hard to see the questions and my spelling etc. so forgive me for that.ALL WE all want to do is give others help that we have had problems with etc.hang in there your doing a good job Chuck aka
CH
chuck1957
7 April 2016
Maat; If it continues after a few more weeks check with your doctor but you still have Propranolol in your system after taking it as long as you have. This I have done to and just slow down when your heart beat raises to much this sounds like withdrawals yet Just so you know you might have to go back on with a smaller dose if the headaches come back but you might see if you can get the timed release so it last all day and you don't have near the withdrawal as you do on the tablets This should clear up within a week or two or see the doctor
Votes: +0
MA
maat18659
10 April 2016
Thanks for the help, appreciate it
CH
chuck1957
10 April 2016
Never a problem come back anytime lots of great people here to help that have been through just what you are. Remember since your taking tablets you can always take and taper down if you notice any type side effects. like skipped heart beat etc that is when I notice I have forgotten to take it. Hope all goes well for you let us know.
