can u die from beta blocker

[izzy588]

can u die from a low dose of beta blockers

[Irishmanwrites]

No is what I want to say, as your clearly worried

That said, You can die crossing the road!

If the medication has been prescribed to you, have no fear re dying.

Izzy: what's wrong? Tell us why you'd post this?! How do you feel?

[johnathonm]

Not if you don't overdose.

[sixpack]

follow docs instructions---I'd have to say no.  docs are not in the habit of prescribing things to kill peeps.

[izzy588]

I was prescribed 20 mg but they don't work so I took 2 of them and felt a lot better but I had a stretch of like 10 seconds where I had weird heartbeats

[dizzylulu]

Hi Izzy588,

I am on extended release beta blockers (I'm young, in my late 20's), but I'm on them for high heart rate and blood pressure.

Here's the deal (from what I know), beta blockers should even out your heart rate, because they make it so that adrenalin shouldn't affect your heart rate and blood pressure as much. So even if you're nervous, you migth feel it, but it is suppose to make it so your heart doesn't pound.  (It hasn't proved too helpful for me, besides managing my daily blood pressure issues).

However if you are on an extended release, once you're on it for a while, you don't want to just go off cold turkey, because then the adrenalin starts affecting your blood pressure and heart rate again, and you would want that to happen slowly. So it is a drug to wean off of.

I personally wish I had tried harder to find alternative ways to control my blood pressure because I'm finding it hard to get off of the beta blockers, like if I forget to take them- but it's hard to know if my heart is pounding hard from not taking the beta blocker, or anxiety.

I hope it helps you! :)
dizzylulu

[Caseman]

Izzy,

I wouldn't worry too much! I have a beta blocker prescription (propranolol, 20 mg) which my doctor says I can take up to 3x a day as needed. Even after taking 3, I haven't felt any negative effects.

You said you felt a "weird" heartbeat - what exactly happened? Were you in an anxiety-provoking situation? Could it be that it was just a physical symptom of your anxiety? I know that my heart feels funny in times of high anxiety - I'll get palpitations, pounding heart feeling, etc.

[izzy588]

What happened was I took 2 20 mg tablets before presentation and it worked miracles then I went to get something to eat and while waiting in line I got this weird heartbeats . It just freaked me out

[San Andreas]

Izzy - I have been on tenormin for about 30 years (due to a mitral valve prolapse which caused irregular heart beat at times originally, now I have borderline high BP so for that too)  I have never had one issue with it.  I believe that there are some people who can have some scary side effects.  The weird heartbeat might be one of these.  I would suggest you give your MD a call and discuss it just in case.  Good Luck - SA

[izzy588]

Can I take 1 20 mg and split one to take 30 mg

[Irishmanwrites]

Izzy,

You have questions that are best answered by your doctor.

It wouldn't be uncommon after a big presentation to have some physical manifestations of anxiety esp if anxiety is your underlying condition. This latter point you haven't confirmed, but if it's the case then heart beat concerns are a core symptom.

[sixpack]

as irish says, call the doc

however, you can call the pharmacist about breaking a pill in half.  Generally speaking, if there is a score line on the pill, you can break it.  If not, call a pharmacist or doc first.

[San Andreas]

They can definitely be broken in half.  I am supposed to take one pill in the am and one in the pm.  For some reason a whole pill in the am makes me a little dizzy/buzzy headed.  So I split it and take half and then the other half a few hours later.  My MD said this was fine .  BUT - agree with Irish that you should call your doctor on Monday and ask them.