Cycling/Triathlon whilst on beta blockers

Simonb256

Ok, so I started Triathlon about 4 years ago now, and finished my first Ironman the end of June this year in just over 12hrs (which I'm really not happy about, but heat stroke destroyed my marathon). I can ride a 5hr century and run a 3hr30 marathon. That's just to put where I am in terms of fitness level.

However I've recently started getting really bad migraines and my doctor has decided that putting my on noncardiospecific beta blockers would be the way forward. However he wont do this until my migraines start lasting 24hr or longer.

My question is can I still participate in long distance events and even train for them effectively if I am on beta blockers? I know the Cardio-Specific ones effectively slow the heart and reduce maxHR, but I do not know or can find much info about the noncardiospecific ones.

Does anyone have any insight, points of reference or even an opinion on my predicament.

I think the reason my GP has gone down the beta blocker route is because he thinks its caused by 'stress'. It is feasible as a) I do tend to get stressed easily and b) I have a stupid amount of stuff on my plate at the moment that's getting me down.

OverTheHillAt21

I've been 'offered' traditional beta blockers for a heart problem but forewarned by years on running forums refused to take them and eventually they gave me something else instead. TBH I'd not heard of the non-cardioselective until you mentioned them so I would urge you to do a lot of reading up especially the science journals (try Google scholar) and also I would recommend cardiacathletes.com which is run by a cardiac physio called Lars who is very up on these sort of things and I bet he can advise you - he changed some of the site to paying a while back but I think you can still join a general forum and say hello and ask a question - if not let me know and I can post the question for you.

http://www.cardiacathletes.com/

SBezza

Check what the GP will prescribe with the lists on the WADA or UKAD website. I would have thought some beta blockers might be banned, but you really would need to check.

OverTheHillAt21

SBezza wrote:

Check what the GP will prescribe with the lists on the WADA or UKAD website. I would have thought some beta blockers might be banned, but you really would need to check.

Well, I'm on Ramipril (an ACE inhibitor), according to the leaflet it makes my blood vessels relax and widen and makes it easier for my heart to pump blood around my body, but its not on the banned list. On the other hand the diuretics I used to be on had no effect on my heart at all but are banned (potential use for masking). :?

The best known bbs like atenolol are banned but only for specific sports like shooting etc. I doubt anyone doing aerobic sports would pick bbs to cheat so probably not worth putting them down for cycling.

johncp

Is your GP aware that you take part in endurance events? There may be problems caused by beta blockers (non-cardio specific means that they WILL affect the heart as well as some aspects of lung function - more good news :roll: ) as well as possible doping violations.
On the other hand there are many other drugs that can be used to prevent recurrent migraines and it may be well worth a chat with the GP to see if he would be happy to try something else, if you do eventually need something.
Presumably you're not getting any benefit from triptans?

dennisn

I'm 65 and am on a beta blocker for blood pressure. I don't race but do ride a lot and don't have any problems. I have noticed that they SEEM to have improved my mood somewhat. i don't get shook up, nervous, or bothered by much of anything these days. I have heard that they are banned in just about all billiards competions due to the fact that they tend to keep you calmer.

stannie

I suddenly started getting severe migraines over 2 years ago. They were accompanied by an "aura" that meant part of my body became paralysed for 5-10 minutes with each attack, which I was having almost daily and the headache pain was almost unbearable.
The neurologist put me on a fairly high dose of Beta blockers (propanalol) and the migraines quickly subsided.
I found out that my ability to do any endurance cycling was very limited and I struggled to get up any decent hills or do any endurance events. I struggled to get my heart rate over 120bpm and very quickly ran out of energy. So I guess propanalol might be cardio specific. I think you need to check with your doctor what the exact effects would be on your heart rate etc.
After 6-8 months I decided I could not cope with the Beta Blockers because I could not cycle whilst using them and decided to try another medication he prescribed ( an anti-epileptic drug) but the side effects were awful and the migraines returned. I went back on the Beta blockers.
Eventually the migraines virtually stopped and he suggested I slowly came off the beta blockers to see how things were. I did, and I havent had a migraine now in 6 months.
Apparently the Beta Blockers can sometimes have some sort of permanent effect which means you do not always need to stay on them.
Beta Blockers were definitely better than having severe migraines, but I am glad I did not have to stay on them permanently. It is very difficult to do do endurance events whilst on them.
Good luck with your triathlon events, and I hope the migraines are sorted soon. Fingers crossed you manage to find a solution that means you can continue with your sport.

Mad_Malx

As far as I recall clinically useful beta blockers are either cardiospecific or non-specific - ie heart PLUS other stuff.
Propranolol is non-specific, and can precipitate asthma in sensitive individuals, because it stops the natural bronchodilation stimulated by your own adrenaline.

They will impair your ability to exercise hard, because your heart won't get up to speed. On the plus side, your shooting, darts, archery and snooker should improve, because they will reduce nervous tremor & heart racing, as mentioned above. That's why they are on the WADA list for these (well, archery & shooting anyway). I think bowls has now had the exemption lifted because it was stopping a lot of the best competitors from taking part. Some people take them to deal with things like terror of public speaking.

Side effects can include peripheral coldness (hands, feet), lucid dreams, and problems getting it up, but not everyone gets these.

I'm not aware of actions lasting beyond taking them, but anything's possible.
[I'm not a clinician, but do know the science, honest].

Edit - there is also a problem with impairing the body sensing hypogycaemia (low blood sugar), so you need to make sure you keep fuelled.