Topic: Beta-Blockers and Peyronie's (Read 14110 times)

John B · « **on:** January 13, 2013, 09:38:57 PM »

I've read Beta-Blockers can aid in the development of Peyronie's. I'm 33 and I've been on Beta-Blockers (Atenolol 50mg) for 5 years. I've read that Beta-Blockers, such as Atenolol can cause Peyronie's. If I have Peyronie's I'm mainly in the pain stage, as I've been in pain for 6 months.

Should I ask my doctor to take me off beta-blockers, and find an alternative treatment for hyper-tension and tachycardia?

And do you think stopping beta-blockers, as soon as possible, could aid in reversing the early development of Peyronie's?

John B · « **Reply #1 on:** January 14, 2013, 03:39:44 PM »

I made an appointment tomorrow to get on some different kind of medication for hyper-tension...

Norm · « **Reply #2 on:** January 14, 2013, 07:03:39 PM »

Beta blockers have definitely been linked to Peyronies Disease. if you look them up you will find Peyronies Disease listed as a possible side affect. I have been on Toprol for many years. I have Peyronies Disease. Thats enough for me. But they probably would not cause it by themselves if everything else was good. There are likely other factors at play. Heredity, high blood sugar, heavy drinking, unhealthy lifestyle, other fibrotic conditions, the list goes on and on. But, if you can eliminate one possible card stacked against you, I would do it.

John B · « **Reply #3 on:** January 14, 2013, 07:12:25 PM »

I don't drink, smoke, etc.. The only thing I can imagine is that I may have injured myself a bit, and the beta-blocker caused it to heal improperly. I've noticed since I've been on the beta-blockers cuts and scratches heal more slowly.

I'm going to stop the Atenolol within the next few weeks, as I have ween off them, so I don't kill myself, then I'm staying off the beta-blockers. I'm 33 and hope this issue will resolve by itself.

Norm · « **Reply #4 on:** January 14, 2013, 07:24:03 PM »

By stopping atenolol, I hope you mean with your docs consent. That is a drug you don't stop on your own w/o a suitable substitute. I agree with changing. Just do it under a docs care.

John B · « **Reply #5 on:** January 14, 2013, 07:37:38 PM »

Quote from: Norm on January 14, 2013, 07:24:03 PM

By stopping atenolol, I hope you mean with your docs consent. That is a drug you don't stop on your own w/o a suitable substitute. I agree with changing. Just do it under a docs care.

Yes. I'm going to try to see a doctor tomorrow and talk it over for him, to see if he can put my on something else, while I ween of Atenolol. I've only been taking 25mg for the most part. Sometimes I'll take 50mg if I know the next day will be stressful.

On most days, my blood pressure runs 120/80 on 25mg, heart rate about 65 to 70.

Norm · « **Reply #6 on:** January 14, 2013, 07:59:11 PM »

I ran out of Toprol once while on a trip to an isolated area. By the time I got out of there, my legs looked like Gumby! They looked upside down, bigger at the bottom than they were at the top.

Even after what I said earlier, I am still on Toprol. I figure the horse is out of the barn.

John B · « **Reply #7 on:** January 14, 2013, 08:15:45 PM »

I haven't had any real curvature. I'm just in really bad pain, so I'm hoping that getting off beta-blockers may prevent any future issues with Peyronie's. I think there's other medications that can help with rapid heart rate and blood pressure, as opposed to beta-blockers.

I'm wondering why the doctor didn't warn me of Peyronie's when he prescribed a beta-blocker 5 years ago. If I had known I surely would have opted for an alternative treatment.

George999 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 14, 2013, 08:28:45 PM »

When it comes to controlling blood pressure, there are MUCH better choices than beta blockers. ACE inhibitors and ARBs have far fewer side effects and more importantly, fewer serious ones. They are far cleaner and sufficiently effective. And there are top hypertension experts who have expressed that opinion. One of the nasty side effects of beta blockers is that they induce insulin resistance, and that is a serious long term health hazard. In my case they caused plantar fasciitis. Nothing helped it, nothing. And then I demanded the doctor take me off the beta blocker and the plantar fasciitis cleared up immediately. And of course that period on the beta blocker also caused my Peyronie's problem. But once I recognized that the beta blocker was taking me down hill fast, I certainly did not want to continue it. The real problem with beta blockers comes with other heart problems like heart failure or heart rhythm issues. In my case the metoprolol was prescribed for arrhythmia. And there are few if any other choices to treat arrhythmia. But in my case when I pinned the doctor on it, it was clear that the arrhythmia was not life threatening and that is the big factor that made me want off the beta blocker immediately. The other thing to keep in mind is that there are herbal remedies that can help in the case of heart failure and arrhythmias. I got rid of my arrhythmia completely and permanently with herbal treatment. And I now have an MD on tap if necessary who uses herbal treatments and believes in getting patients off of more dangerous meds like beta blockers. And that is the ONLY solution if you have a life threatening problem that is causing you to be stuck with a beta blocker. In other words, sometimes the only way out is to change doctors. Naturopaths, A4M MDs and Functional Medicine MDs can and will all help one get off of dangerous prescription drugs.

So ... first question for the doc is "is my tachycardia life threatening". If it is not then you can live without a beta blocker and simply use an ACE inhibitor or and ARB instead. IF that is the case the second question is "why won't you take me off the beta blocker". If the doc still refuses are gets cranky as many do, its time to find another doc.

John B · « **Reply #9 on:** January 14, 2013, 08:41:05 PM »

Yeah, I'm going to be clear that I want off them. The tachycardia is the only thing that scares me about getting of Atenolol. I remember my heart would start beating fast and flip around in my chest. I'll talk to him about it, but I'll insist on another type of medication. Again, I'm hoping the Peyronie's will resolve by itself if I can ween off Atenolol within the next 2 or 3 weeks.

MattFoley · « **Reply #10 on:** January 14, 2013, 08:47:03 PM »

I have high Cholesterol which my doctor thinks could have been as a result of the lowered testosterone but he tried to prescribe a statin drug to "fix" the problem. Two side effects of those kinds of drugs are muscle problems and sexual dysfunction so I got the prescription filled and promptly threw the bottle in my desk drawer. I would rather use exercise and herbal remedies before I put myself through anymore such medicines.

Norm · « **Reply #11 on:** January 14, 2013, 08:53:00 PM »

Oh crap! Statins too? I have been on pravastatin for years. My chief medical complaint is that my legs and hips feel like I have weights on my feet. And here I am with Peyronies Disease. Oh boy, I am starting to wonder just how much my doctor has really been helping me?

George999 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 14, 2013, 08:57:42 PM »

John, I can tell you it is highly UNLIKELY that getting off the beta blocker will resolve your Peyronie's. Once Peyronie's kicks in, any significant degree of resolution takes years. And I have first hand experience with beta blockers and Peyronie's. And if your heartbeat problem is serious, your only hope of getting off the beta blockers SAFELY is to go to another doctor who makes use of innovative treatments, but they also expect their patients to make MAJOR lifestyle changes as well.

MattFoley · « **Reply #13 on:** January 14, 2013, 08:58:57 PM »

Norm, I don't know if statins can cause anything related to Peyronie's but reading the side effects of the statin he prescribed for me disturbed me enough to never wanna use it. I stay away from any drug that says one of the side effects is "sexual dysfunction" or "impotence" or "lowered testosterone" or anything that's gonna mess with my sexual function.

This is a choice that I have made for myself so please do not take this as advice to abandon your medicines.

John B · « **Reply #14 on:** January 14, 2013, 09:02:28 PM »

I'd rather just get off the beta-blockers, then risk a recurrence of Peyronie's. I don't really have any curvature right now, just pain, so I'm hoping getting off beta-blockers may speed up the healing process. It seems beta-blockers slows down the healing process of wounds considerably.

George999 · « **Reply #15 on:** January 14, 2013, 09:09:23 PM »

Statins are a huge problem because they markedly lower the body's production of CoQ10. Supplemental CoQ10 has been shown to help stop the progression of Peyronie's. Connect the dots. And the only really effective way to get serum lipids down AND testosterone up is to deal with blood sugar issues. The real problem facing modern people is that we are consuming way too much refined carbs which causes INSULIN to shoot up LONG BEFORE actual blood sugar levels rise. Elevated insulin levels cause hypertension and much, much more. To really get a complete picture of how all this plays out, I suggest you read "The Blood Sugar Solution" by Mark Hyman MD. Dr Hyman is one of President Clinton's physicians. The book sets forth the plan to attack chronic health problems at their roots rather than simply attempting to treat the symptoms.

MattFoley · « **Reply #16 on:** January 14, 2013, 09:18:07 PM »

George999, wow, I didn't know that about statins and lowered CoQ10. I think Norm just fainted!!

As for the blood sugar issues and testosterone, yeah, right on, I've been a proponent about that for a while. I eat a very low carb diet but high in protein and moderate amounts of fat. I have more energy and feel better than I ever did. I would love to see more people explore that as an option. That option worked for me.

Thank you for your insight.

George999 · « **Reply #17 on:** January 14, 2013, 09:27:03 PM »

It IS possible to get OFF these meds, BUT it is NOT safe to do it on your own. It has to be done under the supervision of a medical professional. Additionally, a trend toward diabetes CAN BE REVERSED. Most doctors will insist otherwise, but innovative physicians ARE having success at actually CURING people of type 2 adult onset diabetes. And it is being accomplished by radical lifestyle changes along with clean diabetes meds and other oral treatments. MOST diabetes drugs are bad news because, while lowering blood sugar, they also raise insulin which causes problems just as severe or perhaps even worse than the elevated blood sugar itself.

skunkworks · « **Reply #18 on:** January 15, 2013, 12:53:49 AM »

John: 33 seems very young to be on those sorts of medications... What is your diet like?

George: I assume you've read the studies about statins increasing the incidence of type 2 diabetes?

John B · « **Reply #19 on:** January 15, 2013, 01:13:31 AM »

Skunk, I could have a better diet, but even when thin I get rapid heart rate and palpitations frequently.

George999 · « **Reply #20 on:** January 15, 2013, 11:13:11 AM »

John: Weight loss diets in general are destructive to good health. What is most important is a HEALTHY diet, NOT a weight loss diet. There is a HUGE difference. That is why I recommend working from books like "You on a Diet" by Oz and Roizen and "Blood Sugar Solution" by Hyman. It is VERY possible to get to a point of being skinny as a rail and still having elevated serum insulin and/or serum glucose, either of which can cause havoc for the body.

Skunkworks: Certainly I am indeed aware of the insulin resistance effects of statin drugs. It is scary. But something must be done to control serum lipid levels and that something is stopping elevated triglycerides at the top end by eliminating refined carbs which goes far beyond just controlling sugar intake.

John B · « **Reply #21 on:** January 15, 2013, 04:20:39 PM »

I went to the family doctor today, that put me on Beta-Blockers, and explained my situation. He said to stop the beta-blockers right away, and put me on an ACE Inhibitor and called me in Pentox.

Hope this helps...

james1947 · « **Reply #22 on:** January 15, 2013, 05:53:30 PM »

John B

I don't know if the Beta-Blockers made you Peyronies. Myself experienced Erectile Dysfunction problems when taking them in the past, before Peyronies.
Have good chance that Pentox will help, it helps me and many others.

James

John B · « **Reply #23 on:** January 15, 2013, 09:30:17 PM »

I'm pretty confident I wouldn't have Peyronie's if it weren't for the Atenolol (beta-blocker). I'm almost certain the beta-blocker is to blame... Wish I was told it was a possible side effect. I would have never taken it.

George999 · « **Reply #24 on:** January 16, 2013, 11:17:23 AM »

Doctors almost NEVER discuss potential side effects with patients before prescribing drugs. They just don't. So ... the ONLY way to know these things is to thoroughly READ THE DISCLOSURE that comes with the medication or read up on it via the Internet before taking it. RESEARCH demonstrates that patients who do THEIR OWN medical research INDEPENDENT of their doctors have much better outcomes that those who RELY COMPLETELY on their doctors. That is the unfortunate reality, at least in the US. Having said that, there are a number of factors in the development of Peyronie's and specific drugs is a minor one. Diabetes is KNOWN to be ASSOCIATED with Peyronie's and I would wager that pre-diabetes is in the same bag and pre-diabetes is not even easily detected. By the time one has diabetes, the diabetic process has been screwing up their metabolism for years already. So getting rid of toxic drugs is a good start, but diet, exercise and overall lifestyle are crucial to optimal recovery. - George

John B · « **Reply #25 on:** January 16, 2013, 03:21:29 PM »

My doctor told me to take the Ace Inhibitor and stop the Beta-Blocker abruptly. He said if I get any rebound effects, like rapid heart rate, then take 1/4th of the Atenolol. So far no rebound effects...

skunkworks · « **Reply #26 on:** January 16, 2013, 06:25:25 PM »

More than happy to help you with your diet if you want. It would almost certainly be possible to get you to the point where you don't need to take anything like that at all.

james1947 · « **Reply #27 on:** January 17, 2013, 01:20:36 AM »

George

Your post three below mine worth gold.

I wish I have done it many years ago and not just in the last few years.

James

panther · « **Reply #28 on:** February 09, 2013, 10:42:52 AM »

This is so true. Just like when I went they told me that they had never heard of side effects of anti-seizure medicine causing pyronies. I think to this day that the reason I have this is because of Dilantin. But I can't stop taking it because I will end up having a seizure. So what do you do?

james1947 · « **Reply #29 on:** February 09, 2013, 05:04:04 PM »

Panther

I know people taking Dilantin for years. You have to talk to your doctor what can replace it.
I am not sure this will directly correct your Peyronies, but I suppose he will not be anymore a progression factor.

James

steamer · « **Reply #30 on:** February 16, 2013, 06:32:37 PM »

after my recent bouts with heart surgery i've been put on a beta blocker, statin, thinner, and med to regulate and slow down my heart.
the typical stuff. i've noticed that i'm getting more night time erections but it seems i've bent a little more and have lost more size. i also don't have the pain i'd had so i was wondering if this is due to the meds. i'm getting more circulation since the blockages have been cleared which may account for the more frequent erections. i haven't been able to use my VED so that may have some affect on losing size. or it could be the meds. to me it's hard to say but if there is evidence on the beta blocker affect it may well be just that.

steamer

Jimmy123 · « **Reply #31 on:** January 22, 2022, 06:17:35 AM »

Tiny dose of the beta blocker Propranonol (10mg three times over two days). A week after the third dose the pain started. It is always possible to question the causal link but I have very little doubt. My case is like that described by John B (lots of flaccid pain).
Seems that there may be more than one subtype of Peyronies Disease. I’m amazed that there hasn’t been more research…

I appreciate there may need to be more than one contributory factor but how many middle aged men will not have some damage to the tunica?

I would hope that there would be a risk analysis and better communication from the prescriber. I.e. “How severe is your anxiety? I can prescribe this (which actually often isn’t very good for anxiety) but there is a risk of potentially irreversible side effects that may last for the rest of your life and which will eclipse your anxiety. We don’t actually know what the risk is because in many cases the patient doesn’t make the connection or the issues are not reported. Still want the medicine?”

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