Propranalol - heart pain?

Ache is kind of an unusual description. I am not trying to say you described it incorrectly, just never heard that before.

Here is what I think. Hyperthyroidism, which is what you had when diagnosed, can cause heart pounding, racing, arythmias, an overall feeling of anxiety, trouble sleeping, muscle pain with quick fatigue, hair loss, dry skin, dry eyes.

I am not clear whether your heart troubles started when you first started the med? Or when you started to lower the dose? That would help me understand what might be going on. And, it is just the propranonal that was reduced right? You are still taking the thyroid meds?

Did he lower your dose because the tests showed you hypothyroidism now? Which also can cause muscle pain, and other symptoms.

Also, propranolol is used for anxiety I think? So you are probably having a bad withdrawal, kind of a rebound anxiety.

@JLeslie Propranalol is a beta-blocker, used for anxiety, high blood pressure, and migraines (and possibly other things).

Hi JLeslie!

Sorry I should have been more specific…. Propranalol is a beta blocker as you know, which is prescribed in conjunction with meds for hyperthyroid. I am not being treated for anxiety. The thyroiditis was triggered by a nasty stomach virus and the thyroid levels are now normal, but I’m on 10mg Tapazole (thyroid meds) until 12 Sept when I have another blood test to make 100% sure it’s still normal.

The Propranalol: since day 1 of starting with it I’ve experienced a tight chest and a dull pain/ache in my heart that comes and goes. I did tell the gastroenterologist this and he said not to worry. I was on 40mg from 12 June to 4 Aug; then 20mg from 5 Aug until 22 Aug. When I had the lower dosage the chest pain disappeared, and the dull ache in the heart was still there, but much less pronounced. From 22 Aug I have been Prop-free… now I’m not sure if this is a good thing or if I should have moved down to 10mg? Perhaps this is just withdrawal symptoms that will eventually ease off altogether?

The doc says that it’s such a low dose it should not be causing a problem… but some are more sensitive to certain meds than others….

Hi JLeslie…. thank you for your response by the way!!! much appreciated!!!

@AudreyB Well, I disagree with your doctor that a low dose won’t cause anything, that is a ridiculous statement. You could even be allergic to some inert ingredient that has nothing to do with the dose. What I think is you should never take that drug again if there is an alternate drug that can do the same job, I think you are allergic/suffer bad side effects from it. Feeling a certain way from day one of a medication pretty much tells me probably the meds caused it. The way to test it is to go off, and then try back on the medication few weeks later, called a retrial, but of course you cannot do that in this case. So, keep this in the back of your mind if you ever need to take the medication again, request a different one, or if the symptoms start up when taking the same medication, immediately request a change in medication. I also think it probably is a withdrawal affecting you now, and it might take a week or two to feel better.

One last question, did you start both drugs at the same time? If so how are you sure which drug caused your side effects.

I am taking this same medication. You should be seeing a heart doctor.

My cardiologist at Vanderbilt, stated since I retired, he wanted me to have a long and enjoyable rest of my life. He stated the police job had given my heart a run for its money and he wanted to slow down my heartbeat from 80 beats per minute to 60. I have to tell you that this altered my lifestyle in a big way. At first, I could hardly put one foot in front of the other. It took about 3 months for me to adapt to this lifestyle. My brain wants to still be very active, but my heart and propranalol will not allow this. I am stuck with this medication for the rest of my life. I thanked my doctor for his concern.

Propranalol has many uses. I am taking 50 mg in the am and 25 mg at night.

See a heart doctor. not a regular MD.

@JLeslie – thank you for the information… unfortunately I was in rural southern Thailand at the time and I was very ill (colon colitis, gastritis, and then the thyroiditis) – I should really have gone back insisted on an alternate to Prop. Tapazole side effects are not at all respiratory/heart related. It’s definitely the Prop.

@john65pennington – thank you, and I hope that you find an alternative, after 2 months on 40mg per day my heart rate was down to 53 BPM and I’m 39 years old!! Scary stuff indeed. You could suggest reducing your dosage until you feel a bit better. Halving mine worked wonders.

In Thailand you don’t see GP’s/MD’s you go straight to a specialist. The gastroenterologist in southern Thailand was incredible, and very thorough. The endocrinologist here in Phuket still says it’s not the Prop that is causing it…. – all I DO know is that I am seeing a cardiologist today as I did not have a good night last night (racing heart, tingling in arms, dull ache) – be it the Prop or not, something else is going on and it’s not normal… will report back later.

Take care both of you and have a great day!