What helps you wean off beta blockers with minimal discomfort?

Posted by jdgreene2008 @jdgreene2008, May 4 8:48pm

I'm currently in a wean-off period (week 2) of carvedilol that I've been taking for nearly 2 years following Bentall procedure for a TAA. Dosage has always been 3.125 mg twice daily. My wean-off period is now 3.125 mg once a day until my current supply runs out. I'll probably gradually go down to 6 days a week, then 5 days a week, etc.

I'm curious if there are any steps you can do for your overall health to get the best possible outcomes, such as eating low inflammatory diet, etc, that can limit effects of any side effects. So far, I've been side effect free but I know that may change as the weekly dosage decreases.

Recently had good blood work done. I'm also taking a statin Rousvastatin and Lisiniproil+HCTZ 20 mg. My cardiologist is going to double the dose of the lisinopril since the Coreg is being eliminated. My resting HR in the doctor's office of 42 bpm was the reason for his decision to take me off the Coreg.

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I think that sufficient sleep, keeping stress manageable, eating a balanced and comprehensive diet (watch transfats and omega-6 fatty acids. The latter is found in seed oils, and it can cause a lot of inflammation if they are consumed when partly or wholly rancid). Walk or do something you can tolerate that gets your heart above 115 BPM, depending on your age it can be higher, three times weekly for about 30 minutes (helps with weight control in addition to keeping the heart fit). Enjoy socializing and hobbies, and minimize social settings, including social media, where your BP rises when you read something unreasonable or politically opposite to your views (IOW, keep your adrenalin production minimal to keep your heart rate moderated, Vagus tone positive, and your immune response from becoming frayed by chronic stress).

But really, your best ally is your mind. If it accepts the protocol to get yourself off the drug, if it makes sense to you, and you follow it without getting wrapped around the proverbial axle, I don't think you should be unduly concerned about side-effects. And, if it turns out that you must re-establish the drug for some valid reason, I don't think a resting HR near 42 is anything to be concerned about. When I was younger, and had the body of a Greek god, and could run 20km in under 88 minutes on a training run, my resting HR was near 35. That's freakin' low! But I lived. Hours 'n hours, weeks 'n weeks, years now. When you get down to 35 and you're not in especially great shape, that would be the time to sit up and take notice....in my view. However, I'm not in the health care field. I do know that your AV node will keep your heart beating at 30 BPM as the absolute bottom line failsafe if the SA node gives out for some reason. Forty-two beats a minute is quite a bit north of that. (shrug..)

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@gloaming

I think that sufficient sleep, keeping stress manageable, eating a balanced and comprehensive diet (watch transfats and omega-6 fatty acids. The latter is found in seed oils, and it can cause a lot of inflammation if they are consumed when partly or wholly rancid). Walk or do something you can tolerate that gets your heart above 115 BPM, depending on your age it can be higher, three times weekly for about 30 minutes (helps with weight control in addition to keeping the heart fit). Enjoy socializing and hobbies, and minimize social settings, including social media, where your BP rises when you read something unreasonable or politically opposite to your views (IOW, keep your adrenalin production minimal to keep your heart rate moderated, Vagus tone positive, and your immune response from becoming frayed by chronic stress).

But really, your best ally is your mind. If it accepts the protocol to get yourself off the drug, if it makes sense to you, and you follow it without getting wrapped around the proverbial axle, I don't think you should be unduly concerned about side-effects. And, if it turns out that you must re-establish the drug for some valid reason, I don't think a resting HR near 42 is anything to be concerned about. When I was younger, and had the body of a Greek god, and could run 20km in under 88 minutes on a training run, my resting HR was near 35. That's freakin' low! But I lived. Hours 'n hours, weeks 'n weeks, years now. When you get down to 35 and you're not in especially great shape, that would be the time to sit up and take notice....in my view. However, I'm not in the health care field. I do know that your AV node will keep your heart beating at 30 BPM as the absolute bottom line failsafe if the SA node gives out for some reason. Forty-two beats a minute is quite a bit north of that. (shrug..)

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Thanks!
I like to chalk up some of my decline in HR to increased cardio fitness as well. I've been going at it and increasing gradually ever since I was recovered enough to start jogging some 6 weeks after surgery.
I only started to really see weight loss about 6 months ago since I needed to improve my lipid panel and learned that you cannot outrun a poor diet. Now that I've cut down my processed (specifically ultra processed) food significantly, my weight is going down.

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When I gradually came off beta blockers, I recall taking a pill every second day, then every third day, etc, until I was no longer taking them. I do not recall the brand name of the beta blocker I was on, but I was on both beta blockers and channel blockers and came off both. That was back in 2019, but now I'm having increased blood pressure again. I eat a whole foods plant based diet, but had slowly incorporated grass fed meats and farm raised chicken that had no pesticides, anti-biotics, etc. I believe it was the meat that caused my bp to increase again because I was still exercising and living a health lifestyle. I do have problems with sleeping and that is definitely part of a heath lifestyle, plus I am a highly anxious person by nature. Those two things are probably also contributing to my increase in bp.
I was intially off all oils, butters, salt, sugar, etc, but found myself slowly incorporating olive oil into my diet along with grass fed yogurt and butter. I wil cut those out again and see what happens. Every body is different, and I guess you will just have to check your bp as you slowly decrease the prescription. Seed oils are highly toxic - I would definitely stay away from them. If you are going to consume dairy, I would definitely choose grass fed. Our foods are definitely contaminated today.

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@jdgreene2008

Thanks!
I like to chalk up some of my decline in HR to increased cardio fitness as well. I've been going at it and increasing gradually ever since I was recovered enough to start jogging some 6 weeks after surgery.
I only started to really see weight loss about 6 months ago since I needed to improve my lipid panel and learned that you cannot outrun a poor diet. Now that I've cut down my processed (specifically ultra processed) food significantly, my weight is going down.

Jump to this post

I like that statement about You can’t out run a poor diet. So true. My mom has poor diet and poor sleep hygiene, yet constantly complains of feeling tired and sick. I’m not sure how to motivate her.

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Some folk get into a routine/rut that is comfortable because it's one of the few things left in their lives that is 'theirs'. That they can control. It might be deleterious, even injurious,..................................................but it's theirs.

When visiting, you might ask her if you could read her a small excerpt out of a recent medical journal publication showing the link between inactivity, poor sleep habits, and mental decline. Or between those and mood disorders. You could make it clear to her that you worry she won't be around much longer and that you'll miss her. You could offer to take her for short walks, hopefully encouraging her to go longer as time goes, assuming she is capable.

Food is comfort. When other aspects of life are becoming increasingly intrusive or troubling, food, at least, can bring pleasure. That one will be hard for her to part with. Good luck there. Sorry...

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@celia16

Get her an under desk exerciser. She will find that it is easy to pedal and one can be on the Internet or reading and pedal at the same time. It increases leg strength and may help with her issues.
It is fun too.

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@timely

@celia16

Get her an under desk exerciser. She will find that it is easy to pedal and one can be on the Internet or reading and pedal at the same time. It increases leg strength and may help with her issues.
It is fun too.

Jump to this post

I like that idea. My dad actually has a type of foot pedal device you peddle while seated, but she won’t touch it. She’s pretty stubborn. I’ll suggest it though.

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