I have a particular loathing for Beta Blocker drugs. In 2006 my doctor told me the drugs were safe, 'well-tolerated'. I refused to take them, even though, at the time, I was having regular heart palpitations.
Now (13th February 2020) MIMS has announced that a new report (on Propanolol) has found that the toxicity of this 'commonly prescribed' beta blocker "needs better recognition across the NHS to prevent deaths from overdoses", and that these 'over-doses' had increased by 33% between 2012 and 2017. Further, the report states that "patients with migraine ... may be at an increased risk". I was experiencing migraines at the time.
So was I lucky to have refused them? Well, not lucky. I was seeking homeopathic treatment, and had no intention of taking any pharmaceutical drug. And I also looked into the known side effects of beta blockers at the time, so refused them on the basis of good information - information my doctor did not tell me about, and attempted to gloss over.
Having read the MIMS article I looked up the known side effects of Propanolol again at Drugs.com. In the 14 years since I was offered Beta Blockers, the 'known' side effects have risen, and got more serious. Even so, doctors continue to prescribe them, at the same time, no doubt, reassuring patients that they are "safe, and well tolerated"!
Anyone who is currently taking Beta Blocker drugs should look at this Drugs.com webpage. If you did not know about these serious side effects your decision to take them was not an 'informed' decision. Your doctor probably told you the same as mine told me - "Beta Blockers are safe, well tolerated"! Quite clearly they are not - quite clearly they are dangerous drugs. I have listed some of the known side effects below.
But don't stop taking them 'abruptly' as now, there is even a boxed warning about 'discontinuing' the drug abruptly - it can cause angina - and myocardial infarction.
This is the kind of fix that patients get into once they put their trust in conventional medicine, and begin taking pharmaceutical drugs.
Back in 2006 it took me 11 months of fighting the NHS to get my homeopathic treatment. The outcome was that I have not had another heart palpitation for 12 years. And the same remedy also stopped my migraines. And all this without having to suffer from the side effects of Beta Blocker drugs. So, in this sense, I am very lucky indeed.
Beta Blockers - some of the known side effects (taken from Drug.com)
Now (13th February 2020) MIMS has announced that a new report (on Propanolol) has found that the toxicity of this 'commonly prescribed' beta blocker "needs better recognition across the NHS to prevent deaths from overdoses", and that these 'over-doses' had increased by 33% between 2012 and 2017. Further, the report states that "patients with migraine ... may be at an increased risk". I was experiencing migraines at the time.
So was I lucky to have refused them? Well, not lucky. I was seeking homeopathic treatment, and had no intention of taking any pharmaceutical drug. And I also looked into the known side effects of beta blockers at the time, so refused them on the basis of good information - information my doctor did not tell me about, and attempted to gloss over.
Having read the MIMS article I looked up the known side effects of Propanolol again at Drugs.com. In the 14 years since I was offered Beta Blockers, the 'known' side effects have risen, and got more serious. Even so, doctors continue to prescribe them, at the same time, no doubt, reassuring patients that they are "safe, and well tolerated"!
Anyone who is currently taking Beta Blocker drugs should look at this Drugs.com webpage. If you did not know about these serious side effects your decision to take them was not an 'informed' decision. Your doctor probably told you the same as mine told me - "Beta Blockers are safe, well tolerated"! Quite clearly they are not - quite clearly they are dangerous drugs. I have listed some of the known side effects below.
But don't stop taking them 'abruptly' as now, there is even a boxed warning about 'discontinuing' the drug abruptly - it can cause angina - and myocardial infarction.
This is the kind of fix that patients get into once they put their trust in conventional medicine, and begin taking pharmaceutical drugs.
Back in 2006 it took me 11 months of fighting the NHS to get my homeopathic treatment. The outcome was that I have not had another heart palpitation for 12 years. And the same remedy also stopped my migraines. And all this without having to suffer from the side effects of Beta Blocker drugs. So, in this sense, I am very lucky indeed.
Beta Blockers - some of the known side effects (taken from Drug.com)
- Abdominal or stomach pain and tenderness
- black, tarry stools
- blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
- blood in the urine
- bloody nose
- bloody stools
- blurred or loss of vision
- body aches or pain
- burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
- chest pain or discomfort
- confusion about identity, place, and time
- congestion
- constipation
- cough
- cracks in the skin
- crying
- decreased awareness or responsiveness
- decreased urine output
- depersonalization
- diarrhea
- difficulty with swallowing
- dilated neck veins
- disturbed color perception
- dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
- double vision
- dryness or soreness of the throat
- dysphoria
- euphoria
- extreme fatigue
- fast, pounding, slow, or irregular heartbeat
- fever and chills
- general feeling of discomfort, illness, or weakness
- hair loss
- halos around lights
- headaches
- heavier menstrual periods
- hoarseness
- irregular breathing
- lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
- loss of heat from the body
- mental depression
- mimicry of speech or movements
- muscle or joint pain
- mutism
- nausea
- negativism
- night blindness
- noisy breathing
- overbright appearance of lights
- paleness or cold feeling in the fingertips and toes
- paranoia
- peculiar postures or movements, mannerisms, or grimacing
- pinpoint red or purple spots on the skin
- puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
- quick to react or overreact emotionally
- rapidly changing moods
- rectal bleeding
- red skin lesions, often with a purple center
- red, irritated eyes
- red, swollen skin
- reddening of the skin, especially around the ears
- runny nose
- scaly skin
- seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
- severe sleepiness
- short-term memory loss
- skin irritation or rash, including rash that looks like psoriasis
- skin rash, hives, or itching
- sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips
- sweating
- swelling of the eyes, face, fingers, feet, or lower legs
- swollen glands
- tender, swollen glands in the neck
- tightness in the chest
- tingling or pain in fingers or toes when exposed to cold
- tunnel vision
- unusual bleeding or bruising
- unusual tiredness or weakness
- voice changes
- vomiting
- weight gain
A safe, well-tolerated drug?
