Joggers/runners on Verapamil

TrailRunner61
TrailRunner61 Posts: 2,505 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Are any of you running/jogging while taking Verapamil?

It's a blood pressure medication that I'm maxed out on. I've lost 40lbs and I'm jogging up to 45 minutes straight now. If I read correctly, Verapamil causes your coronary arteries to relax and then not make your heart beat with as much force & that lowers your blood pressure. Does this affect YOUR running?
I think it's from being in better shape now, but it takes longer to get my heart rate up. 40lbs ago it would take 2 minutes to shoot up to 170bpm on a walk and now it takes 20 minutes of walking 3.5mph-4mph to get it to 120. Is this normal? Is it the Verapamil?

I have noticed that on days when I work out, about every other day, and get really sweaty, I have to eat more foods with potassium, plus take a magnesium supplement or I have palpitations. I have no other symptoms. It isn't just a few, it is all day long, probably 6 per minute. I have already been to the Dr. and had a full cardiac 'workup', including a stress test and echocardiogram. Everything was fine. So all is good there and she said not to worry. I'm not worried so to speak but it's annoying and stressful to feel it and I can't just get used to it.
Would you see a different Dr.? Would you just keep taking the supplements? My neurologist had originally suggested the magnesium due to migraines/cluster headaches and I've been in the ER due to low potassium/palpitations before, so I know to eat more food to raise it. It always works, but then on my heavy workout day, it starts all over again!
Also, I think it's from being in better shape now, but it takes longer to get my heart rate up. 40lbs ago it would take 2 minutes to shoot up to 170 on a walk and now it takes 20 minutes of walking fast to get it to 120. Is this normal as you get fit or is it from the Verapamil?
If any of you deal with this issue, will you please share your story with me? Thank you!

Replies

  • TrailRunner61
    TrailRunner61 Posts: 2,505 Member
    anyone?
  • tigerblue
    tigerblue Posts: 1,526 Member
    I had to reply when I saw your username! It made me laugh!! Thanks.

    I do not take the drug you mentioned, but after nearly 3 years on this journey, I have to say that as my fitness level improves, I continue to have to increase my exercise intensity to get my HR up. So this part of your question is normal!

    Hope you get answers to the rest.
  • AZKristi
    AZKristi Posts: 1,801 Member
    What is your sodium intake like? I would try to reduce this to 1200 - 1500 mg per day - check out DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stopping Hypertension). Has your doctor or pharmacist recommended the potassium supplements? They aren't bad for you per say - the ratio of potassium to sodium is very important for blood pressure and heart health. At the same time, I wouldn't recommend self diagnosing and altering your electrolyte levels without medical supervision. Getting those levels messed up can have serious consequences.

    To answer your question, as your aerobic fitness increases you have to do a lot more work (either run faster or up a steeper hill, etc) to get your heart rate to the same level as when you first started.
  • AnnaSAF
    AnnaSAF Posts: 7
    I was just put on verapamil and I've noticed the opposite! I was able to run 20 mins with minimal problem but now my heart rate soars after running a minute. I'm not too thrilled with this medication but it has lowered my BP significantly (I walked into the office with a bp of 210/123 on June 25th and on July 2nd it was already down to 140/86) I don't understand why this is happening to me. As I've read everywhere else it should lower my heart rate. Go figure

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