beta blockers and weight

My dr and pharmacist both said atenolol does not cause weight gain or slow metabolism, but talking to others on it and an article I found on Mayo's website make me think I'm not alone and it's not my imagination. I exercise hard 5 days a week and am very active. I am religious about tracking my food, I eat a net 1200-1300 calories a day. I eat mostly lean meat, fruits and veggies, nuts, very little grains/sugar/processed foods. And I cannot lose the extra 15# around my waist! My blood work, specifically thyroid levels, are normal. As soon as I slack off, I gain weight.

Does anyone (Inga?) know if some of the newer beta blockers are less likely to affect metabolism?

here's one of the articles
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/beta-blockers/AN01409

8 Comments

Weigt Gain

by belle - 2013-09-06 03:09:44

don't let anyone kid you all the meds I take DEF slow down my metabolism. I dieted like a manic eating good foods, no snacks, I was so proud of myself until I stepped on the scale and guess what I lost 0 zilce nada pounds. All the meds slow down your medication,

belle

BB slow the HR

by rnff2 - 2013-09-06 06:09:46

Beta blockers slow the heart rate, therefore they slow down your metabolism. They make it harder to increase your HR with exercise to an optimal weight loss rate. You just need to be vigilant and contiune what you are doing and continue adjust your diet and exercise...which it sounds like you are doing. It's not easy. I need to loose about 20 lbs and can't seem to get anywhere even with lifestyle diet changes and exercise.
Good Luck!!!

rnff2

by Tracey_E - 2013-09-06 09:09:24

I get my rate up pretty well with exercise, usually 150's. I have SVT and my atria would take off faster than the pm could pace (175), that's why I'm on the bb's. I don't really feel I have more adjustments to make, but maybe there's something I'm missing. I go all out when I exercise for at least 45 min, 5 days a week (Crossfit). Then I come home from class and walk each of my 3 dogs at least half a mile most days.

I have tried fewer calories and found I actually gained. I used to do 1200, now I track my exercise and add those calories (usually 400 or so) so it's a net 1200. I've found a routine and maintained for 2 years now. Every time I go on vacation and pig out for a week or two, I gain a good 5# and it takes months to get it off again. And most of our vacations are active, we don't sit around.

I was kind of hoping there was a magic new bb that wouldn't mess with my metabolism :oP If you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear it! I keep thinking there is a piece of the puzzle I'm missing. I've tried Weight Watchers, South Beach, Paleo. I paid a nutritionist to go over my food logs. I think my next step is a naturopath to evaluate adrenals.

Hi Tracey

by Moner - 2013-09-06 11:09:14

I hope Inga will weigh in on this, she always has sound advice.

Checking in with a naturopath sounds like a good idea, I use one myself, she has done wonders for me.

Reducing calories is not a good idea, it will just slow down your metabalism more,because it thinks it going into starvation mode.

With your active lifestyle it really dosen't make sense, it's good you had your thyroid levels check.

I have Hoshimoto's disease, but my TSH3 and TSH4 always show up normal.

I'm just curious, did you have any blood work for Hoshimoto's, it might be something to consider.


Moner
>^..^<

thanks, Inga

by Tracey_E - 2013-09-07 03:09:05

Thank you!! I'm going to send this and the Mayo article to my cardiologist and ask if he'll let me try Nebivolol or one of the other new ones.

Age or Hormones?

by ohiolaura - 2013-09-07 08:09:49

Tracey,I feel your pain!
Im no longer on BB's,or anything luckily,I too workout religiously and watch my food intake,although I do admit that I am no saint,and fall off the wagon,and eat some bad things,but small amounts of bad things.
After falling off the wagon,I do work out,and somehow justify the eating by working out.
I have stayed at the same weight pretty much,I work out atleast 5 days a week,and am maintaining it all.
I am maybe pre menopausal,maybe,and feel the hormone's and maybe turning 50 this year,are more my ememy.
I am going to get back on the wagon,now that my lil one is back in college,so my meals can be smaller and not so descript.
I bet too, you have a lot of muscle,which we know weights more than fat,and with working out doing crossfit (which Id love to try),youre really fit,and maybe some of your pounds are solid,sorry but Im trying to help you feel better!!!!!
I could see the BB being somewhat of an issue,I do know when I was on it,it was more difficult to get my HR up,and get me into a higher level while working out,I can totally see it being a hurdle to get over.I hope you get the answer youre searching for.
Laura

Moner

by Tracey_E - 2013-09-07 09:09:38

I have not been tested for Hoshimoto's that I know of, but my thyroid levels were closer to hyper than hypo, which is more than frustrating because the first symptom of hyperthyroidism is unexplained weight loss. Oh how I wish! If I was borderline hypo, my gp was going to put me on thyroid meds short term until I took the weight off, she was scratching her head when she saw the numbers.

I have absolutely zero symptoms and I never get sick. It's been more than 10 yrs since I've seen a dr for anything other than check ups or cardiac. I'm truly in the best shape of my life, it drives me nuts that I can't get rid of this tire around my waist. I really think it's the atenolol. Without it, I can't exercise so not taking it isn't an option.

Not uncommon

by golden_snitch - 2013-09-07 11:09:38

Hi Tracey!

I don't think I have ever gained weight while being on a betablocker, but I definitely have heard a lot of people complaining about weight gain after having been put on a betablocker.

I read the article you mentioned, and it states that Atenolol and Metoprolol are known for weight gain, and that newer betablockers don't have this side effect. Since Nebivolol is one of the newer blockers, I'd give it a try. I don't think there's any other way to find out than trying a different betablocker.

Although, generally speaking, a slower heart beat leads to a slower metabolism, I would think is that there is something else in some betablockers that slows down metabolism. There is an interesting abstract about this at:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20067434
In that abstract they speak of vasodilating betablockers and non-vasodilating. Nebivolol is one of the vasodilating betablockers, Atenolol and Metoprolol are non-vasodilating. Apparently, the vasodilating do not slow the lipid and glucose metabolism down as much as the non-vasodilating betablockers.

Best wishes

Inga

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