Beta blockers and exercise

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Feb 17, 2012

When I was taking Nadolol, my heart rate would be really blunted out during cardio exercise for a full 24 to 36 hours after swallowing the last pill. My heart rate is normally in the 150s or 160s during moderate to heavy aerobic workouts (jogging, stair climbing, etc.). However, the Nadolol blunted my pulse to the point where it would not go above 120 while exercising.

netglow, ASN, RN · Feb 17, 2012

Nope. Best to have him ask his doc. You know there are many reasons people take that stuff. But as far as the exercise goes, if he doesn't know what to do, and it seems like the exercise deal might be very new for him he needs to talk to his doc.

MomRN0913 · Feb 17, 2012

My dad takes all his meds in the morning, including his metoprolol 25 mg prior to going to the gym. He had an MI a few years ago, (genetics got him, not high BP or for lack of caring for himself) he then goes to the gym and lifts heavy weights for 2 hours straight. No problem. But i taught him he must eat more than a banana if he is taking his meds......

llg, PhD, RN · Feb 17, 2012

I agree to have him talk to his doctor ... but for me ...

I take a beta-blocker twice per day -- one first thing in the morning, and the other with dinner. It keeps my heart rate and BP pretty low. (My BP in the evening is often in the 95/55 neighborhood.) My doctor knows that I exercise and has never stated a preference for the timing of exercise in relation to the taking of my meds. I think she's just happy that I exercise. :-)

nerdtonurse?, BSN, RN · Feb 17, 2012

Yeah, I did the "please check with your PCP before beginning any exercise program" thing, but it's just been rattling around my head. Researching on the net seems like a 50/50 split -- some feel like it makes them feel worse, thus making them either less likely to exercise or making them not want to take their pill -- one person said it's like "hitting the wall" when you're running, you just hit it almost immediately, and takes theirs after. Others worry about blowing up the BP or triggering an arrhythmia (if that's what you're taking it for, I guess) and they take theirs before.

What I wonder about is...okay, you take your beta blocker and hop on the treadmill/start running. Your body starts trying to raise your heart rate to give your muscles (including your heart!) O2. But there's an artificial cap placed by the beta blocker. Logic tells me you'd "hit the wall" and need to slow down as the muscles scream for O2. Eventually, your lung capacity would improve, but...in the first months? I keep coming back to oxygenation of muscle tissue, especially that big old important one in your chest. And it's not like I can call the patient up and go, "Hey, this is Nerd and I was your nurse....say, what did the doc tell you?"

This is the kind of stuff that makes me stare at the ceiling when I should be sleeping...

netglow, ASN, RN · Feb 17, 2012

I would think in an unfit body, that that O2 demand would be more than the heart could keep up with: presyncope, angina, air hunger, dysrhythmia. Your body wants that O2 bad, and the heart's got a drag on it. Now if you've been exercising on a long term basis, you are just monitoring how you feel. I don't believe you are supposed to do high intensity stuff either way.

meandragonbrett · Feb 18, 2012

It's mostly the same as with somebody who doesn't take a BB. Your cardiopulmonary system becomes conditioned for the demands that are placed on it and it becomes much more efficient at balancing the body's demand vs delivery for O2.

As far as taking it before or after I would say it mostly doesn't matter. Many people are on controlled release BB for once daily dosing. You'd have to look at the pharmacokinetics of the particular BB they are on.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Feb 18, 2012

I have heard both from Cardiology. So I think it's an individual to each patient and what meds they are on.