Beta blockers with Asthma
Hi everyone, I’ve been on metoprolol Succinate ER for 8 year 25 mg no problems. So recently my blood pressure went up super high so they doubled my metoprolol to 50mg . It brought down my blood pressure but then my asthma started acting up. At first I thought it was a coincidence because I always get sick at this time of the year but now 1 1/2 after the other issue am sick again. So now I am beginning to think that maybe the Dr. needs to change my BP medicine to a calcium channel blocker. Has anyone experienced this type of problem and if so did it help you with your asthma ? Hope everybody is doing well , Happy Holidays.
Hi
- I wanted to jump on and leave a link that may help. I personally do not use metoprolol (anymore) and/or calcium channel blockers but thought some information in articles could help until others chime in. From what I understand higher levels of metoprolol worsen asthma attacks. And calcium channel blockers are a bit safer to use when asthma is in the mix of health concerns.
https://asthma.net/triggers/medication-related-triggers
Sending you thoughts of better health. I do hope others log on and help you out. Rebecca (Team member)Thanks for responding. And sorry about the link. Sometimes it pops up highlighted blue and you can click on the link. This time it did not - if you copy and paste it in the address bar the information will load on screen. Wishing you well. https://asthma.net/triggers/medication-related-triggers Cheers for the holidays! Rebecca (team member) - see this time it is underlined and you just need to click on it. The site is quirky. Rebecca
Hi.
Happy Holidays to you. I see you received a response from my colleague Rebecca above, and I have to say I agree with her insights. I’d like to add my own perspective as well. I’m glad to hear you did so well on metoprolol for so many years. However, as Rebecca mentioned, higher doses of beta-blockers like metoprolol can sometimes cause bronchospasm and trigger asthma flare-ups. It’s definitely worth discussing this with your doctor. They may decide to switch you to another type of blood pressure medication, such as a calcium channel blocker, which can be a better option for individuals with asthma.
Personally, I take an ACE inhibitor called lisinopril for blood pressure, but I’ve also heard that calcium channel blockers are asthma-friendly and work well. What do you think? Let us know how it goes! John. community moderator.
Hi sorry it took me so long to respond. I had appts. With my pulmonologist and cardiologist and they both agreed that the increase in metoprolol could be attributing to my increase in asthma. They have recommended to wean down on the metropolol and add Diltiazem . I am hoping that I won’t experience too many side effects. The other option was to come down on metoprolol and add another BP medicine to keep my BP in a normal range. Am keeping my fingers crossed that this change will benefit me now and later . Thank you. Thank you for the update. And no problem with the late reply, as here I am 8 days after your update lol. I'm usually prompt to respond, but have been working crazy hours lately. It sounds like your doctors are on the same page how to best help you, and that's a good thing. Good luck with the change to diltiazem. I hope it works well for you. Since it's been 8 days since you posted, have you experienced any side effects since the change? Is it working well for you? John. community moderator.
OMG...I am also on a beta blocker ... I have been on it for years.I keep asking my Pharmacist to review my medication as I also take Ibuprofen 3 times a day and both Paramedics and ER consultants constantly question why someone with my severe asthma was still on this
The pharmacist who works with my GP keeps saying that it's ok to take. What is the difference between Bronchospasmans stopping breathing. Why would I be asked if I have sleep apnea in ER following a lifethreatening asthma attack. Iam 55 kg and don't fall into the risk groups. I am finding so much out from this forum. Thankyou all x
Hi there! We are so glad to hear that you are learning from this community. You ask some very insightful questions. For some, beta-blockers work just fine with someone who has asthma. As the original poster mentioned she did fine with a lower dose. Have you recently experienced an uptick in issues?
Bronchospasms are with the muscles in the lining of main airway to the lungs tighten which can lead to difficulty breathing. Symptoms of broncospams include wheezing, coughing and chest tightness.
Have you had a chance to discuss your valid concerns with your GP? Just curious.
Wishing you all the best, Lauren (team member)Hey there! These are good questions. As Lauren expanded on beta blockers and asthma as well as bronchospasms, I wanted to touch on the question about being asked if you have sleep apnea following a life-threatening asthma attack. From what I understand - sleep apnea is a huge risk factor for those with asthma as it exacerbates it. Here's a link to an article on our site that explains it quite well. https://asthma.net/living/is-there-a-relationship-between-asthma-and-sleep-apnea-or-snoring Another short explanation is at this link. Hope it helps you understand. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2637171/ Sending holiday cheer your way. Warmly - Rebecca (team member)
