Need to donate blood + Propranolol question

[Tommy Wall]

I need to donate blood (0,55 L/L) but I tried twice but they wouldn´t let in due to sky high BP. At home I have normal BP and I´m on Losartan. I read that one way to go is to take some propanolol before donating so the blood pressure will not be that high.

My question is how much Propranol can I take without risking that my BP goes to low? Even though I take daily 100mg Losartan it doesn´t help when messuaring the BP at a doc appoinment. (white coate syndrom).

I have 40mg Propranolol at home.

Please any suggestions?

 

[Vince Carter]

I know what you're after, I get what is sometimes called White Coat Syndrome...you say take my BP and it and my pulse, go sky. Last time I donated I used 50mg of Metoprolol XR (a beta blocker) and passed the screening without a problem. I'm not sure Propanolol but that dosing info should be freely avail on google somewhere.

 

[hva]

You really should consult a dr for this. I wouldn't be messing around with beta blockers.

 

[Tommy Wall]

Even it was sometime ago I remember that my doc prescribed me this medication for anxiety and stage fright but I never used it. My doc told me that I could take 2x40mg if needed before a public speach etc... but I don´t remember what BP medication I used at that time. I really have to pass the screening or reduce my dosage to a minimum or quit for a while.

 

[hva]

Even it was sometime ago I remember that my doc prescribed me this medication for anxiety and stage fright but I never used it. My doc told me that I could take 2x40mg if needed before a public speach etc... but I don´t remember what BP medication I used at that time. I really have to pass the screening or reduce my dosage to a minimum or quit for a while.

Do you have a BP monitor and keep regular tabs on your resting heart rate? I take 12.5mg of Atenolol (also beta blocker) every day to keep my diastolic BP in check. Just 12.5mg will lower my resting HR from 90ish to 75 and also lowers my diastolic pressure from 90 to around 70. It's very potent. It also has a calming effect but I notice this less now that I'm on TRT and just feel calmer all the time anyway. I also take Amlodipine to control my systolic BP. So what I'm saying is if your Losartan is controlling your BP then adding a beta blocker could potentially lower your BP and HR too much, so I would consult a doctor about that.

 

[Vince Carter]

A beta simply blunts the adrenaline response and thus keeps those two things down. That's how the negative sexual side effects emerge with use of Beta's and why I don't take them except situationally, like when I need to donate and they dont like my pulse at 101. You really can't harm yourself with these given you educate and read as I stated the freely available dosing information.