Road Cycling and Beta Blockers

[TomJoad]

Hi there. I am 38 years old, diagnosed with a minor heart condition that requires that I take beta blockers. My doctor says that its ok for me to ride. Any experiences making the adjustment from non blocker riding to riding while on blockers? I know that they will limit my heart rate, but are there any differences other than that? Thanks!

[stapfam]

Hi there. I am 38 years old, diagnosed with a minor heart condition that requires that I take beta blockers. My doctor says that its ok for me to ride. Any experiences making the adjustment from non blocker riding to riding while on blockers? I know that they will limit my heart rate, but are there any differences other than that? Thanks!

Riding on B.B's will not damage your health- but you may feel that it is. I was on them for a year and taking them in the morning really affected me. I could not get my HR above 130 and at that I was dead. Breathing hard- no energy and no enthusiasm. Way round it for me was to take the B.B the night before- none in the morning but one as soon as the ride was over.

I had a Bypass and 11 weeks after the op- by using the night before method- I managed to do a 40 miler with a few steep hills on that although I took within my pace and did work hard up them- Managed to get HR up to 165 by the top of 3 hills. Rest of the ride I kept around 125 to 130.

[DnvrFox]

Riding on B.B's will not damage your health- but you may feel that it is. I was on them for a year and taking them in the morning really affected me. I could not get my HR above 130 and at that I was dead. Breathing hard- no energy and no enthusiasm. Way round it for me was to take the B.B the night before- none in the morning but one as soon as the ride was over.

I had a Bypass and 11 weeks after the op- by using the night before method- I managed to do a 40 miler with a few steep hills on that although I took within my pace and did work hard up them- Managed to get HR up to 165 by the top of 3 hills. Rest of the ride I kept around 125 to 130.

Is that "condition" atrial fibrillation, perhaps?

[TomJoad]

Is that "condition" atrial fibrillation, perhaps?
Welp, its a myocardial bridge that causes chest pain, weird fluttering (atrial fibrillation?), slightly high blood pressure, and it also makes my heart beat hard. The blockers have helped, but I really dont want to give up riding. Im a little afraid of having a heart attack one sunny afternoon whilst cycling, I must admit. The doc says its ok, but Im still a little leary.

[DnvrFox]

Welp, its a myocardial bridge that causes chest pain, weird fluttering (atrial fibrillation?), slightly high blood pressure, and it also makes my heart beat hard. The blockers have helped, but I really dont want to give up riding. Im a little afraid of having a heart attack one sunny afternoon whilst cycling, I must admit. The doc says its ok, but Im still a little leary.

OK

I developed continuous atrial fibrillation, and had it repaired by an arm of the Cleveland Clinic. There is a very, very long thread (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=68479&highlight=atrial+fibrillation)on the topic here on the forums if you are interested.

I hated the BB's, and other meds and their side effects. I am off all of them now except a couple of very low doses for BP.

[Louis]

I've been on BP meds. since age 30, including beta blockers. I've learned to live with side effects. Maybe that is one reason I've never been keen on racing and high performance riding. My doctor seems to agree with that thinking but does not want to take me off of them.

[DnvrFox]

Ask about Diovan. No side efffects for me.

[Louis]

Hmmm...Diovan. I'll ask him next time I visit, sometime in January. Also have to see how much the insurance company will pay. They're big on generics. Thanks DF.

[DnvrFox]

Hmmm...Diovan. I'll ask him next time I visit, sometime in January. Also have to see how much the insurance company will pay. They're big on generics. Thanks DF.

My MD writes a Rx for double the size I take, and I get a 90 day supply through the insurance company. So, I break them in half and they last for 6 months at the same price.

If my blood pressure is doing real good, I break them into 3rd's, and the Rx lasts 9 months.

(Strangely, the easiest way to break them is to bite them with your teeth. Much better than a pill cutter. Truth!):D

[Louis]

Thanks again for the info DF. We were getting all drugs paid 100% up until last year when the company clamped down on us worthless retirees. Now we pay a % depending on the drug. I'm going to have to shift into the pill splitting mode. Great idea.

[byte_speed]

+1 on pill splitting, but splitting into thirds?

I beak mine into halves and then into quarters as needed. You must have well calibrated teeth to get thirds (but then I haven't tried that).

[Red Baron]

I'm on a Beta Blocker for about 10 years - (rather not go into details - BORING).

My 'zone 4 is 131-145' with, and about 15 bpm higher if I stay off for 3-4 days. But I see no decerned improvement in my times. I'm used to it and do fine.

[67walkon]

If its afib, there are things other than Beta Blockers that might be worth looking at. Go to affibers.org. There is much info there.

I have paroxysmal afib, which means it isn't caused by some specific condition. It is an electrical issue. Mine is set off by stress, or overindulgence in certain foods or beverages. Right now, it hasn't occurred for many, many months.

They have me taking a drug called rythmol SR, which has "mild" beta blocking tendencies. My HR has always been really low, so I don't really know how "mild" it is. However, the highest my HR has been on the bike (since I started riding again in August) is 146. I can cruise at 17 to 18 mph on flat land, which is all we have in Florida, for hours and stay in the 110 range.

But I don't experience any unusual fatigue or any shortness of breath or anything. If I get up in the 20+ mph range, my HR does go up to the 140's range, but that is about it.

By the way, I'm 57.

I suggest you do some research and then talk to your doc when you know more. My cardiologist says I'm just in good shape.

John

[edp773]

I am on Atenolol, which is generic for Norvasc. At first the Beta Blockers made me tired, but I got used to that feeling after awhile.

I have adjusted my riding to compensate for the BB. I also use a HRM even though everything I have read says not to. I know my maximum is somewhere between 145 and 151.

I am sure you will adjust well.

[Red Baron]

I have adjusted my riding to compensate for the BB.
HOW SO?


I also use a HRM even though everything I have read says not to. I know my maximum is somewhere between 145 and 151.

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN READING? I ALWAYS WEAR MINE. BEST TRAINING AND RACING TOOL I'VE FOUND. BTW -MY MAX DIDN'T CHANGE-BUT HARDER TO REACH. ITS 174.



I am sure you will adjust well.

YES SIR, AGREED!

.......

[georgewietor]

Best wishes for cardiovascular health in the new year. I enjoy the supportive advice offered in this thread..

Couple of points: Atenolol is the generic name for Tenormin, a popular b-blocker.
B-blocker generic names generally end in -lol
Norvasc ( amlodipine) is a calcium channel blocker - some overlapping properties, vastly different method of action.Not available as a generic in U.S.A. IIRC. Be careful when asking for generics should you happen to be in a low-cost no-prescription-needed part of the world, snowbirds!
Note that some drugs are prescribed for their cardioprotective or afterload-reducing properties. Over a long period of time they may be able to keep you ticking. Your cardiologist will expect you to continue them for long periods of time, even if you feel better.
If you face financial constraints, discuss this with your prescriber. There may be a lower-cost alternative which could be preferable to not taking the needed meds at all.
Pill splitting can offer savings when the wholesale cost per pill is fairly flat (ie Lipitor). Not all pills can be safely split. Your pharmacist can help you with this issue. The VA and some insurance companies have started promoting this to control their costs.

Cash customers can get competitive bids from pharmacies- worth the effort.
Note that some generics are so cheap per pill that buying 3 - 6 months all at once may offer considerable economies of scale. A surprising number of my hospital clientele have recently reduced/stopped some vital meds for financial or other reasons without consulting their prescribers
If you are heading for sunnier climes, realise that some heart meds are phototoxic- Amiodarone (Cordarone or Pacerone ) can give you a nasty sunburn. BOL/Geo.

[DnvrFox]

FWIW the Norvasc gave me tremendously swollen knees and legs - tremendously large. Something else to worry about. My blood pressure is tremendously sensitive to a drug I was taking for my trigeminal neuralgia - Tegretol and its derivative, Trileptal. My BP just skyrocketed.

Drugs interact so much it is scary.

I got off a bunch of stuff after I had my ablation for the Atrial Fibrillation.

[edp773]

My mistake as I mixed my two blood pressure meds up. Atenolol is generic for Tinormin which is a Beta Blocker. Enalapril is generic for Norvasc, which is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor.

HOW SO have I adjusted my riding?
The biggest difference is in my cadence. Before I would use the highest gear possible. Now I use lower gears and keep my cadence between 85 to 95 within reason. This works best for me personally and lets my heart recover within ten minutes.

What have I been reading?
Here is one article from the Mayo Clinic on beta blockers and heart rate training:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/beta-blockers/AN01224

A google search will produce similar results from many reputable websites. Like Isaid, I use the HRM anyway.