Already a member? Sign in
What - Inspire is a place where you can connect with people who share your health concerns and find information and advice in groups sponsored by organizations you know and trust.
Why - As a member you can use Inspire to let friends and family know how you're doing, contact others who share your health concerns, receive personalized updates and information about participating in surveys and clinical trials, and more.
How - Joining Inspire is completely free and usually takes less than a minute. Join now!
I am trying to find out the differences of these 3 beta blockers. I am having a problem taking them. I have never used Antenol. It does not seem to be one that was offered to me. Also, has anyone ever had shortness of breath/chest pressure or heartburn with any of them?
Asthma Toprol XL Heart failure Surgery Atenolol Blisters Beta blockers Coreg Heart attack Metoprolol Heartburn Stress
Lisaheart77, so sorry to hear that you are having new issues after your valve replacements, how frustrating, compounded by the fact that you aren't tolerating the meds they are giving you. I've heard from others that fluid retention can be one of the culprits of delayed recovery - I hope that they find and treat the source of your symptoms soon!
Houston, please let us know how it goes at Mayo!
Nancy
Hi Nancy,
I appreciate everyone that is answering me. I was never offered Atenolol, so I do not know it would work differently for me. Right now I have to take it easy until I get to MN. The doctor is insistent that all my symptoms are the arteries. I actually get pressure in the chest that makes it harder to breathe, but I have pressure too. My symptoms have gotten worse, so I hope that they can do something.
Hi Nancy,
Actually, I had two damaged heart valves from radiation when I was younger, which was causing steadily worsening shortness of breath to where it was interfering with my ability to function. They were hoping to buy me a few years before heart valve surgery with the metoprolol, thinking they could slow my heart rate and help the shortness of breath. It didn't work so 7 weeks ago, I had my mitral and aortic valves replaced. Since then, I've dealt with SEVERE shortness of breath due, we think, to fluid retention (most people would be pretty recovered by now and seeing great improvements from pre-surgical levels). But I also have high heart rate still, as well as a new abnormality, and they are trying to figure out which came first. Meanwhile, they want to bring down the heart rate which is why they are experimenting. I am, evidently, a complicated case.
Hi lisaheart 77,
My problem with Toprol was my mouth. I was on it for awhile, and the dentist told me to buy the toothpaste, gum, and mouth spray for it. I felt like I had blisters in my mouth. I was put on a beta blocker because of heart rate and artery blockages. My heart rate was not as high as yours, but the blockages are the concern. I get short of breath with Coreg, but he told me it is my coronary artery blockages. I took a stress test that was not good, and they are sending me to Mayo in MN this Wednesday. The doctor here has kept in touch with me everyday, so it may not be the Coreg. He said I have to keep the heart from working so hard right now.
lisaheart77, you said you stopped the metroprolol and then after a period of no shortness of breath you started having it again and that is why you went back to the hospital, where they put you on Coreg? Are they considering that the shortness of breath is caused by something other than beta blocker since you started having it again while off? I take a very small dose of atenolol because of an ICD implant in April and have tolerated it very well. As mentioned by others, beta blockers can have different effects on each individual, depending, in part, on what other health issues they migth be dealing with.
Houston, I hope you find a beta blocker that you can tolerate!
Nancy
I have tried metropolol and noticed an IMMEDIATE and drastic increase in my shortness of breath prior to having surgery to replace two heart valves. It was so immediate that it was obvious and as soon as I stopped it, it went back to "normal." After surgery (still in hospital) they gave it to me again to try to lower my heart rate. Within an hour, I tried to go to the restroom and got so winded it was like hyperventilating/panic attack (I don't get panic attacks). Funny thing was that my heart rate was not elevated and my oxygen levels were good. Who cares, NO MORE metropolol for me.
So now I'm back in the hospital and still have abnormally high heart rate and they are trying me on Coreg. I noticed last night that after a couple of days of improvement in my shortness of breath (which is why I'm here right now) it was getting worse again within one day of starting the Coreg, even while lying in bed. I think it's the Coreg.... my doctors are hoping not because they want so badly for me to be able to tolerate it. We shall see. I don't relish feeling tired and short of breath all the time in order to "survive." I've had an abnormally high heart rate (around 100) my entire adult life... lately it's been 120-140 which is out of control, but wow. It sucks so bad when the treatment makes you feel worse. Is it worth it???
Anyway, I digress... in my experience beta blockers can cause shortness of breath that has nothing to do with asthma.
I was on atenolol for a few years following a heart attack and with all the meds I take I can't say I noticed anything particular with side effects. My problem I guess was whether it was doing any good because my heart failure over a period of a year got worse while taking it. So I was put on coreg this March and at first side effects were horrible.....started at 6.25...went up to the 12. 5 end of April but got symptoms very similiar to severe asthma. So they lowered it to 3.125 and side effects are not that bad......plus it is doing what the atenolol didn't do....it is making my heart failure better in terms of raising the ejection faction. One often has to find a beta blocker that will do the job I guess....as for side effects....each one seems to effect us all differently....my husband takes toprol XL and doesn't notice any side effects and it keeps his heart rate lower.......he tried others that didn't work.........oh yes, my shortness of breath with coreg is minimal and frankly not sure if from the pill or heart failure........
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_blocker
Here is a good description on beta blockers.
Joyce
I have been on Antenol since March 2009. They put me on it when I failed the echo stress test. I had an angiogram that led to a triple bypass (56 years old) two months ago.
I have not had any side effects that I am aware of.
My husband who had a triple bypass 4 months ago (50 years old) was put on Metoprol. He complains of dizzy spells when standing up to fast and shortness of breath when he sets out to do a task to fast.
LIZ,
What side affects did you have on Coreg? What dosage were you on? Also, what dosage of Toprol XL did you take? They are telling me that some people are sensitive to drugs. I wonder if there is an alternative way to go?
Hi, I was on toprol xl for 8 years and did well on it but my dr. took me off it saying i had been on it too long and put me on coreg cr.I had a bad time getting use to the side effects but now have been on it for a year and have none of the side effects you mentioned.I do get short of breath but was told it is the problems that i have with my heart..maybe if you stick with it you will get use to it.it is a very good drug .I have never been on antenol.Try to give it some time , i hope you will feel better soon.Good luck , Liz
Add to the discussion