people on beta-blocker BP meds

[dmjones4]

My husband is on blood pressure medication and he checked with the pharmacist today and they are both beta-blockers. Dr. Atkins states that beta-blockers can inhibit or stop weight loss. My husband takes Lotrel and Diovan. Is there anyone that takes these B.P. medications, or other beta-blockers, that has been successful with losing weight?

[nonstickpam107]

Yes, I was on beta blockers. I was able to wean off of them within three months of starting Atkins (now, this means that your DH's doctor will have to be a "partner" to him and this way of eating....this cannot and should not be done by your DH alone).

Let me clarify that I was on the beta blockers because of extremely high BP and Hashimoto's (heart palps), there are different reasons for being on beta blockers. Dr. Atkins also says that people on blood pressure meds lose so fast, that your doctor should monitor the tapering off of meds.

Now, I'm on thyroid meds, and HRT (49 yrs. old, only 5'1", and post-meno) and Dr. Atkins also said that HRT will slow you down.....but the MOST IMPORTANT bit of advice is this: DO NOT yo-yo back and forth from lowcarb to high carb. When you are lowcarbing, eating plenty of fat your body eliminates that fat in a different metabolic way (because you are putting NO sugar/starch with it). So....on the other hand, if you go OFF and eat starch/sugar, than that fat is going to be a detriment to you (or your DH, I should say). It's important that people on meds understand that this is a way of life, not a "diet".

Good luck to your DH!! My endocrinologist is the person who assisted me in losing my weight, regaining my health, and we both made it possible for me to not only stop having to take BP meds (took them for over 13 years), but to also be able to wean off of glucophage too.

Pam

[jezzie]

I was on a high dosage of a beta-blocker for about six months of Atkins (TOPROL XL). I had no difficulty losing weight. Now I'm on two other types of BP meds ... still no problem.

Go well.
~jezzie

[nobimbo]

I posted about this a couple of months ago. I was on Atenolol, which is a beta blocker, for many years. A few months ago I read info about beta blockers worsening insulin resistance and diabetes (I am diabetic), as well as causing metabolic resistance, so I went to my doc armed with several research articles about it and he agreed to switch me to an ace inhibitor. Here is some info about it:

http://www.drmirkin.com/heart/7642.html

BETA BLOCKERS SIDE EFFECTS

Gabe Mirkin, M.D.

Recent research shows that beta blockers and diuretics, the drugs prescribed most often for high blood pressure, cause high blood sugar levels, weight gain, tiredness and impotence.

Most people with high blood pressure have high blood insulin levels that increase their chances of suffering heart attacks, constant hunger and weight gain. Beta blockers, such as atenolol and propranolol, and diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide, reduce the body's ability to respond to insulin, causing high blood insulin levels that increase risk for heart attacks, diabetes and weight gain. Because of this, drug companies have developed newer beta blockers such as dilevalol, carvedilol and celiprolol that do not raise insulin levels and therefore do not increase a person's chances of suffering heart attacks, diabetes and weight gain.

Most other drugs used to treat high blood pressure, such as angiotensin converting enzyme or ACE inhibitors, have no impact on or even improve insulin resistance and help to prevent heart attacks and control diabetes. In the near future, most cases of high blood pressure will be treated with the newer beta blockers or other drugs in place of the older beta blockers and diuretics.

Here is a discussion board thread about it:

http://forum.lowcarber.org/archive/index.php/t-127429

And here is a blurb from the Atkins site about it:

http://216.239.37.104/search?q=cache...art=1&ie=UTF-8

Linda

[BeeDott]

Just please don't stop the beta blocker without your doctor's guidance. You can have rebound hypertension if you stop it suddenly. My mother had a stroke arise from this (mild one thank goodness), since she just decided since she was feeling great, that she didn't need to take it anymore.

[nobimbo]

BeeDott is right. You have to taper off of beta blockers slowly (I took a half a pill every day for a week, then a fourth a pill for several days, as suggested by my doc). I have read that going off of them abruptly can actually cause a heart attack.

Linda

[dmjones4]

When my DH loses the weight he is usually able to come off his B.P. meds. He is just not wanting to restrict his carbs calories or anything else if he has no chance of losing while on these meds. I can't say that I blame him, it is hard enough when we lose weight. It sounds like some of the responses reported losing weight while on the beta-blockers and others did not lose weight. I guess he will just have to try and see.

[Batmyte]

Thanks NoBimbo for the info on Atenolol. I'm taking 75mg 1 x day as well as BC pills. I've been following induction to the letter and the first 2 weeks lost 6 lbs then gained it back while still on induction.

I've been 7 weeks on induction and the scale just moves down a few then up a few no matter what I do. I also go to Curves 3 x a week.

I hate to "blame" it on the meds - but the info you posted seems to point me in that direction. I'll talk to my Doc about switching to one of the more modern beta blockers or Ace Inhibitors.

Really appreciate your post!

[nonstickpam107]

Perhaps I should have also said that I was on Lopressor AND estradiol/progesterone, AND steroids, AND NO thyroid meds yet and lost 62 pounds in the first three and a half months on Atkins....then things got a bit easier as I was weaned off the Lopressor (beta blocker) and the steroids (although I'm back on them for the past three months, and will remain on them for the next three while I'm currently taking Xolair injection therapy) and I lost down to the stats you see here.

It's always better to lose the weight....and I never thought of being "deprived" of the carbs I gave up mainly because I've always settled on this being my new way of eating lifestyle (for the rest of my life) rather than just a diet. It never entered my mind to not try even though I was told by two doc's and Atkins books that losing weight while taking all the meds I need would make it "more difficult" to lose the weight.

Guess I'll just serve as an example to those that must take meds to control diseases....that they CAN be healthier and lose the weight while having to take them. Good luck to your DH.

Pam

[dmjones4]

Are you thinking that the "newer beta-blockers" referred to in Dr. Mirkin's article may not inhibit weight loss? I searched for a list of beta-blockers on the internet and my DH's meds did not come up on any list. He asked the pharmacist and he told him they are beta-blockers. He did not give any info on what type beta-blocker.
Do you think it will make a difference?

[dmjones4]

Pam,
You certainly are an example to those taking meds and wanting to obtain weight loss. Thank you for sharing your story with us. My DH was just wanting a little hope that it could still be done, you have proven that!

[nobimbo]

I was able to lose over 100 pounds on Weight Watchers while taking Atenolol. However, my weight loss came to a halt, and I was stalled for months. I started low carbing along with the WW points plan, and it helped somewhat for a little while, then I stalled really bad again. After I got my doc to switch my bp meds, I was able to start losing again and have continued to lose at a steady, but slow, rate. I believe a person can lose weight while taking these types of meds; however if there are alternatives that can make it less of a struggle, I think they should be explored.

Dmjones, what is the name of your husband's beta blocker?

Linda

[dmjones4]

My husband is taking Lotrel and Diovan.
The pharmacist told him that both are beta-blockers.

Thanks

[nobimbo]

dm,

First of all, sorry I hadn't paid attention to names of the drugs that you listed in your first post.

Good news!

Diovan is not a beta blocker. It is in a class of drugs called angiotensive blockers which work somewhat like ace inhibitors. The word "blocker" may have been part of the confusion. This class of drugs is not one that will worsen insulin resistance, and may actually help improve it. I was on it many years ago. It is one of the bp drugs with the fewest side effects, btw.

Lotrel is a combination drug. It contains both a calcium channel blocker and an ace inhibitor. (I have been on a calcium channel blocker, Isoptin, for 18 years). Neither of these classes of drugs should cause any problems in terms of weight loss or insulin resistance.

Here is a link for more info about Lotrel:

http://www.lotrel.com/hcp/about/efficacy.jsp

Here is a link for more info about Diovan:

http://www.diovan.com/index.jsp

So tell your DH he's got no excuses now

Linda

[magnolia_petals]

you have rec'd some excellent responses thus far... excellent research nobimbo....

just wanted to add that dh is on a beta blocker, calcium channel blocker, and an ace inhibitor...he lost his 20 lbs the first month of low carbing and has been maintaining ever since.....even though he cheats like crazy, but he knows he has to step on the scales and is allowed a 4-lb leeway, and then his carbs are counted again until he loses the extra 4...