Exercise while on beta blockers?

Medical Q&A [Moderated]
1

I’ve recently been prescribed ADHD medication (Concerta). It’s working well with the unfortunate side effect of an elevated heart rate, i’m averaging about 100BPM and doing something as simple as making coffee brings me up to 120BPM.

I was thinking about asking my doctor about beta blockers, but am concerned about exercise while on them, I compete in powerlifting and run a couple days per week. Your heart rate elevates for a reason, to send more oxygen to your muscles while they’re being used. If my heart rate gets capped on beta blockers at <100bpm or so, won’t I not be able to transport the required oxygen while exercising? And, will cardiovascular exercise have no benefit since my heartrate can’t increase enough to create a positive response?

Thank you.

2

I would probably talk to your treating physician about alternative AD/HD options instead of initiating this treatment cascade of treating the side effect of one medicine with another medicine.

To your question: beta blockers may impair your aerobic performance, but would certainly not completely obliterate the benefits of exercise.