Taking Propranolol For Sinus Tachycardia. Feeling Of Having To Defecate. What's Going On?

Posted on Thu, 4 Apr 2013

Question: A couple of night a moth I wake up with the feeling of having to go number two or my stomach making noises. Once I stand or sit up my pulse shoots up and I can feel it instantly. It has gone up to 160. I try and sit or lay and just let it pass through within the next 10-20min it starts to slow down a little. I'm currently on propranolol 20mg twice a day for sinus tachycardia. Is that what I'm experiencing or is this completely something else? I'm just confused that every time I wake up like this I have to go number two.

Answered by Dr. Payman Hajiazim (53 minutes later)

Hi there, thanks for asking. Please let me know about your age and also weight. Please also clarify if you mean you want to go to washroom for defecation when you say "i wanted to go for number two".
However, it could be related to not ability of your vascular system to adjust the blood pressure and pulse when you want to stand up at night.
Fortunately, it is mostly a benign situation. Most of the time it is treated with drinking a little more water or any other fluid (except than tea or coffee) before sleeping.
You should also check your blood pressure during the day to see if it is in the normal range. Some people are very sensitive to this medication and find low blood pressure even with this dose. Let me know about the questions. I wish you a good health.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Payman Hajiazim (1 hour later)

I'm 25 years old I weigh 115, I
Don't smoke I don't drink and I eat pretty healthy. I only drink water and coconut water I stay pretty hydrated throughout the day. I do
Check my blood pressure through the day and it can get down to 95-45 and sometimes it gets as hight as 150-100. These hight pulses and high blood pressure are periodically they don't last all day eventually they slow down but I always get these episodes at night or just suddenly with no sudden change of what I'm doing. Sorry yes I mean the wash room. I've been having a lot of stomach issues where I have to go constantly and I have pain and nausea certain foods trigger it. I saw my doctor and the first thought Crohn's then ankylosing spondylitis they found inflammation on my spine but it's been a waiting game I haven't had a straight answer. Can that cause my fast heart beat, I've had the fast heart rate for about 4yrs and I get irregular heart beat throughout the day but I can never get an answer from my doctors why I get this.

Answered by Dr. Payman Hajiazim (3 hours later)

Hi there, thanks for asking. Although it (involvement of aortic valve) may happen in ankylosing spondylitis, the chance is pretty low. It can cause some similar symptoms but it is not clear if you have this disease fortunately.
It could be related to your blood pressure drop, so it is better to check with your doctor about the dose of medication, especially at night.
It should be said that propranolol is fat soluble. So for people with a weight like yours, it can cause higher plasma level than other people and it increase the chance of side effects. You may tell your doctor about it.
Best wishes.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Payman Hajiazim (23 minutes later)

Thank you for your respond, I did see my doctor today and got my prescription change to acebutolol 200mg twice a day so hopefully that will make thing better.

Answered by Dr. Payman Hajiazim (4 hours later)

Hi XXXXXXX,

Thank you very much for letting me know. This medication stimulates your brain and inhibit the drop in blood pressure thereby. I think this will work. Let me know about the progress. i wish you best of health.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar