Nebivolol (Nebilet - beta blocker)

gh1979

Currently, I am on the 2.5mg of nebivolol for my supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). SVT is abnormal electric connections in the upper ventricular that causes dramatic racing of the heart. However, it is not a worrying condition. Once, I was told that I would continue training in the gym. I find that nebivolol is very strong beta blocker and gives fewer side effects than other beta blockers (propranolol, atenolol and bisoprolol) I had taken in the past. Before diagnosing with SVT, I had a history of migraine, I was on propranolol for two days but unfortunately it worsened my migraine. Then, I stayed in hospital for five days until doctor found a better beta blocker called atenolol for my migraine. I had been used atenolol for six years until my doctor changed my beta blocker to nebivolol, which gave me fewer side effects. It caused me tiredness, but fortunately it eventually cured my migraine! I took nebivolol for migraine for about six months! I would have to say that I truly admire nebivolol, because it is widely and effectively used in any tolerabilities and gives me almost no side effects. Nebivolol contains nitric oxide that is good for workout, precisely because it helps widening the blood vessel. Other than that, I am curious to see if nebivolol has any benefits for cardio health and exercise.

According to one research on the effects of beta blockers - nebivolol versus carvedilol - on exercise performance at high altitude on pubmed.gov, as below:-

Effects of Beta-Blockade on Exercise Performance at High Altitude: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial Comparing the Efficacy of Nebivolol versus Carvedilol in Healthy Subjects.

Abstract
Aims: Exposure to high altitude (HA) hypoxia decreases exercise performance in healthy subjects. Although β-blockers are known to affect exercise capacity in normoxia, no data are available comparing selective and nonselective β-adrenergic blockade on exercise performance in healthy subjects acutely exposed to HA hypoxia. We compared the impact of nebivolol and carvedilol on exercise capacity in healthy subjects acutely exposed to HA hypobaric hypoxia. Methods: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 27 healthy untrained sea-level (SL) residents (15 males, age 38.3 ± 12.8 years) were randomized to placebo (n = 9), carvedilol 25 mg b.i.d. (n = 9), or nebivolol 5 mg o.d. (n = 9). Primary endpoints were measures of exercise performance evaluated by cardiopulmonary exercise testing at sea level without treatment, and after at least 3 weeks of treatment, both at SL and shortly after arrival at HA (4559 m). Results: HA hypoxia significantly decreased resting and peak oxygen saturation, peak workload, VO(2) , and heart rate (HR) (P < 0.01). Changes from SL (no treatment) differed among treatments: (1) peak VO(2) was better preserved with nebivolol (-22.5%) than with carvedilol (-37.6%) (P < 0.01); (2) peak HR decreased with carvedilol (-43.9 ± 11.9 beats/min) more than with nebivolol (-24.8 ± 13.6 beats/min) (P < 0.05); (3) peak minute ventilation (VE) decreased with carvedilol (-9.3%) and increased with nebivolol (+15.2%) (P= 0.053). Only peak VE changes independently predicted changes in peak VO(2) at multivariate analysis (R= 0.62, P < 0.01). Conclusions: Exercise performance is better preserved with nebivolol than with carvedilol under acute exposure to HA hypoxia in healthy subjects.

RobFowl

B-Blockers as a class are generally thought to be a negative effect on performance. Certainly they prevent HR from rising to the maximum or near max so will limit sports with a strong aerobic component.
They are on the banned list for ceretain sports but this is largely due to their effect in "relaxing" or reducing shakes/tremor. Snooker, shooting (where they shoot in the gap between heartbeats) and darts being the ones that spring to mind.

gh1979

RobFowl wrote: »

B-Blockers as a class are generally thought to be a negative effect on performance. Certainly they prevent HR from rising to the maximum or near max so will limit sports with a strong aerobic component.
They are on the banned list for ceretain sports but this is largely due to their effect in "relaxing" or reducing shakes/tremor. Snooker, shooting (where they shoot in the gap between heartbeats) and darts being the ones that spring to mind.

Indeed, I understand your concern on the effects of beta blockers on athlete's performance, apart from professional snooker player, shooting and archery which can be helpful to perform well and manage their anxiety easier. They would make them feel sluggish and puny. Also, their metabolic rate can be affected. Therefore, they do prevent the maximum of Training Heart Rate without a doubt. I remember struggling for my anaerobic and aerobic performance in the gym while I was on atenolol, which caused me deep tiredness that forced me going to bed. Also, I could not able to concentrate to study.

There is some good news that nebivolol is newer and safer than any older beta blockers, because it is well-studied and well-research to ensure that the well-known side effects are reduced as much as possible. It is said that some athletes are satisfied with nebivolol, because it contains nitric oxide. Propranolol (Inderal) is usually used for professional snooker players to enhance their performance, but its side effects is the most worst I have ever experienced.