tommyboy68
03-26-2006, 11:38 AM
For the past several years I have taken Zebeta (Bisoprolol) to regulate my blood pressure. For many years my cardiologist said that the Zebeta was doing better and doing more than we could have ever imagined. Everything was cool, except that every year we had to increase the dose. We started at 2.5 mg per day and wound up as 5 mg twice a day, which he says is the max I can take.
About six weeks ago I had my yearly echo and follow up and he said that my gradient was higher and my blood pressure was too high. Since I was maxed out on Zebeta he added Verapamil to the mix.
When I started the Verapamil it was amazing. I was 100% symptom free for about 3 weeks and my blood pressure immediately went down to around 115/74. I was a happy camper.
Then one night while I was filling in driving truck I got incredibly lightheaded, could not get oriented, broke out in a cold sweat and felt cold and tingly all over. I thought I was in serious trouble.
I'm not the kind of guy that ever calls for help, but that night was the exception. I called my wife and said "I think you better get me some help out here, like an EMT or something. Here's where I am." I kept her on the phone and it gradually subsided, so we didn't go to the hospital, I had her come pick me up and take me home.
I followed up with my cardiologist and he said maybe my heart rate was too low, so he cut the Zebeta to 7.5 mg per day and left the Verapamil at 120 mg per day. Now I'm back to having more symptoms than I've had in years.
Are Beta Blockers and CC Blockers not a good combination? I was on Atenolol in the beginning, but it was bringing back symptoms of Athsma I had as a child, so we switched to the Zebeta.
I'm looking for some talking points when I go for my next Cardiologist visit tomorrow morning and need some more ammunition in my arsenal of knowledge. :)
About six weeks ago I had my yearly echo and follow up and he said that my gradient was higher and my blood pressure was too high. Since I was maxed out on Zebeta he added Verapamil to the mix.
When I started the Verapamil it was amazing. I was 100% symptom free for about 3 weeks and my blood pressure immediately went down to around 115/74. I was a happy camper.
Then one night while I was filling in driving truck I got incredibly lightheaded, could not get oriented, broke out in a cold sweat and felt cold and tingly all over. I thought I was in serious trouble.
I'm not the kind of guy that ever calls for help, but that night was the exception. I called my wife and said "I think you better get me some help out here, like an EMT or something. Here's where I am." I kept her on the phone and it gradually subsided, so we didn't go to the hospital, I had her come pick me up and take me home.
I followed up with my cardiologist and he said maybe my heart rate was too low, so he cut the Zebeta to 7.5 mg per day and left the Verapamil at 120 mg per day. Now I'm back to having more symptoms than I've had in years.
Are Beta Blockers and CC Blockers not a good combination? I was on Atenolol in the beginning, but it was bringing back symptoms of Athsma I had as a child, so we switched to the Zebeta.
I'm looking for some talking points when I go for my next Cardiologist visit tomorrow morning and need some more ammunition in my arsenal of knowledge. :)