I am currently taking 3.75 mgms of bisoporol beta blocker daily.
Obviously HR is now decreased which has affected my training intensity and endurance capabilities. I have also gained weight, which I now find hard to drop. I do know that some older meds can reduce metabolic rate and cause weight gain.
Just wondered if anyone has experienced similar issues and have any recomendations to improve the situation.
Thanks
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I’m on 2,5mg bisoporol for nearly a year now, following a case of atrial fibrillation. I only take them when there is a need to calm down so prior to any high intensity intervals i just don’t take them like 24h before.
I surprised that I can still train aerobically (up to about threshold) without any significant side effects except a lower heart rate. Usually 10-15 beats lower than expected. I have not seen any decline in FTP, surprisingly but anaerobic capacity seem to be capped. I read somewhere that the heart can compensate the lowered heart rate by increasing stroke volume. To a point it seems to align with my experience.
I have a solid base so lately I have just done sustained power build for a couple of loops, followed by more SST-centric ( various Antelope and Spruce) training. I have also done some shorter anaerobic (1-2 min intervals). On longer anaerobic intervals lactate seem to build quicker than before.
Here is a link to my calendar if you like to now what my training been like this spring. I think it’s public.
I have very treatment resistant hypertension and was on a beta blocker briefly. It was great at lowering my BP, but the training impacts were horrible. It was like a governor that capped my HR in the low Z2 range. After a couple weeks, I went back to the DR and told him it wasn’t going to work. Took a few months, but we found a different medication combo that controls the BP with no training impacts. In a nutshell, maintenance medication has to treat the condition and provide for the quality of life you’re looking for to be completely effective. If it’s not doing both of those, I’d suggest talking with you DR about alternatives.
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I have been on 5mg bisoprolol for the last 7 years. Aside from my MaxHR now at 131bpm (60 years old and previous MaxHR of 168bpm) i have no issues at all in riding long endurance rides, vo2max intervals and threshold workouts. My current ftp is 212w which is actually the highest its been since i started structured riding and using a power meter around 8 years ago.
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I’ve had the same issues. 2.5mg/ day bisoprolol for mild atrial and ventricular dilation. I’ve been taking this dose for >12mths. My resting HR has always been low and now gets down around 37-41 consistently. BP is also low thanks to meds.
Intensity appears to be primary limitation, as my HR will not go past 165bpm now. I’ve kept my HR Zones as they were pre diagnosis and my Z2 HR tops out at 143bpm so Z3 tempo HR is pretty limited to new max HR.
Pre-meds I could easily train at tempo HR and above for duration without any issues and HR up to 195 bpm.
I find my endurance at tempo is terrible now compared to my pre medicated levels. I struggle to maintain tempo for more than about 10-15mins.
But that may also be related to restrictions in how i was training in the first 12mths to remodel my heart and lack of general tempo HR training in past 18mths.
VO2 sessions are a sh!t show. Just can’t get the HR where it needs to be and makes any race stimulated sessions near on impossible.
I’ve not experienced significant weight gain issues and have put any weight gain i have experienced down to my downshift in training for the 12-18mths.
I haven’t seen much info on how best to adjust HR zones to account for the down shift in HR top end. My cardiologist hasn’t been much help either and has not provided any meaningful insights. Ill be looking to find a new specialist who can look into options.
I’m interested to know what info is out there regarding more effective training with these medication restrictions. At this stage its a case of trying out TR sessions, see where they take me, and trying to slowly build endurance at tempo / upper tempo slowly over time.
Why wouldn’t you realign your training zones with your “new” MaxHR? Just use the standard zone percentages for your current MaxHR.
Personally I just train to power and more or less disregard HR. From experience my heart rate seems to be 10 to 15 beats below my previous upper limit at z2, so instead of 130 beats I just train at 115.
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Fair suggestion but, Im not convinced this would be accurate.
Previous Max HR = >195bpm
Post meds Max HR = ~165bpm
Delta of ~30bpm
If i reduce my Z2 by 30bpm, I’ll be looking at a Z2 range of around 90-110bpm which will result in rolling around at snail pace with limited to no training benefit..
Training to power may be the better option but need to look at a better way to work out new zone ranges.
Cheers Nick.