preventricular contractions, beta blockers and running

I am a 55 year old female... have been running for over 30 years. Had a bout with pvc's in my late 30's and learned I had mitral valve prolapse, so I went on a low dose beta blocker which I've been on since. Yes, it slowed me down, but at least I could lie down and sleep at night without feeling like each beat of my skippy heart would be the last. All calm for well over 15 years... then, in the past year, pvcs started again. I read something about magnesium a while back and started taking a daily multi-vitamin and the pvcs stopped almost immediately! But they've come back... with a vengence... and it seems they're worse right after I take the beta blocker (Zebeta). I will soon talk to my doc. In the meantime, I will cut out the caffeine and alcohol :( and see what happens. I always thought pvcs were harmless, though a little disconcerting, but now I'm a little more concerned.

I realize this is an old post but I am desperately looking for others in my position and it seems ICD man is my double (medically speaking). If you can respond to my email address I would be extremely interested in talking to you. I am a runner with many of the same issues you are now facing and I have not been able to get answers to some of the more serious questions and concerns I have about my ICD and my running.

Thank you, I hope you respond...

RB

I do not suffer from PVCs (high BP) but I take BBs, ACE inhibitors and a diuretic.

I ran a 2:35 marathon last spring, from a previous PR of 2:45 in 11/06.

I can say that (for me) running slower than LT pace is no problem. Shorter races are difficult because you never feel "relaxed". You are running as fast as you can the whole way, and then recover in 2 minutes afterwards. This is most likley due to the limited VO2 work I can do.

I am happy with the results, have tried other medications, and think this mix (small doses of several meds) provides the desired outcome.

And don't forget, the primary desired outcome is to stay alive.

Has anyone with garden variety high blood pressure used Cozaar? It's a angiotensin II receptor antagonist... I hear that the beta blockers affect a runner's ability to peform at max effort. Thoughts?

Sounds good guys/gals. I just found out about my PVCs, I have had a stress test and echo after dizziness at night and one faint, then a positive holter monitor for PVCs during an extreme run. Has anyone else done an extreme run on holter monitor? I have low BP (112/78), drink excessive caffeine, and am unaware of my PVCs. I am certainly willing to use BBs to avoid a heart attack. I'll report my results nxt wk on the blog. Doctor only told me I had "lots of extra beats" on the treadmill.

I will not tolerate any dopey doctor telling me to quit exercising, that already happened and i am waiting to resume running...

Sounds good guys/gals. I just found out about my PVCs, I have had a stress test and echo after dizziness at night and one faint, then a positive holter monitor for PVCs during an extreme run. Has anyone else done an extreme run on holter monitor? I have low BP (112/78), drink excessive caffeine, and am unaware of my PVCs. I am certainly willing to use BBs to avoid a heart attack. I'll report my results nxt wk on the blog. Doctor only told me I had "lots of extra beats" on the treadmill.

I will not tolerate any dopey doctor telling me to quit exercising, that already happened and i am waiting to resume running...

You cannot run at your former maximal level on beta blockers. I was in excellent shape and the day after I started the toprol-xl beta blockers I could not reach racing pace at all. I consulted my doctor and his response was, "of course, they work by lowering your heart rate" and he switched me to another drug (AZOR, a calcium blocker/ACE inhibitor combination) with no side effects.

You don't even have to be middle aged to get this stuff. I'm a 22 yr. old xc and track runner and get this stuff ALL the time. I didn't know the name until now though. They seem to run in my family. If I'm really stressed out, not sleeping enough, consume caffiene or (interestingly) dark chocolate, my heart skips all over the place. They only freaked me out at first, and even now if I get them during hard workouts they kind of scare me (especially since Ryan Shay). BUT, I second the guy who advised looking into a mineral supplement. I had seen a nutritionist to do a dietary analysis (our whole team does). My potassium and magnesium levels were rock bottom (I sweat A LOT, and don't consume too much of those things). Once I started paying more attention to those two, the issue decreased by about 90%. More of a nuisance than anything, but is very unsettling.

Bumping this thread.

I've been having PVCs on and off for a few months. Now that I'm starting to train more, I'm getting more of them. I have been taking Magnesium supplements and have a Nuun and banana everyday. I've cut out caffeine and I've been trying to get as much sleep as possible. Trying to stay hydrated as well

I've had a halter monitor and event monitor, both of which confirmed my PVCs as well as other testing and my PCP and Cardiologist have both given me the OK to continue activity as much as I want.

That all being said, these things are really annoying and I want to try to figure out how to reduce or ideally stop them all together. The doctors really don't have much else to say or to offer.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Welcome to my world! I have been having PVCs off and on for months. They are so annoying. I have tried everything (seen cardiologist- had ecko stress tests, etc) and everything comes out normal. I have read all of these old posts. I feel like it has totally impacted my running. I have a a race in a week and I'm terrified I'm going to drop dead. Logically I know this is a low probability but it is still a fear nonetheless.