# Antihypertensive drugs and maximum HR during exercise
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antihypertensive-drugs-and-maximum-hr-during-exercise/641592
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [November 20, 2012, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antihypertensive-drugs-and-maximum-hr-during-exercise/641592 "2012-11-20T06:56:56Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Norse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Norse)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2012, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antihypertensive-drugs-and-maximum-hr-during-exercise/641592/1 "2012-11-20T06:56:56Z")
I recently had to change my blood pressure medication from a simple [ARB](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angiotensin_II_receptor_antagonist)/diuretic combination to a [CCB](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium_channel_blocker)/ARB/diuretic combo.
After this change, I feel that I’m having more and more difficulties reaching my top heart rates during heavy aerobic exercise. This may be a coincidence, but I’m wondering if the new medication can have had an effect. Since my Google-fu is too weak to find anything relevant to my question, I’m turning to the DOPE for an answer to my question:
Can antihypertensive drugs affect maximum heart rate during excercise?
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### Author:  [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2012, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antihypertensive-drugs-and-maximum-hr-during-exercise/641592/2 "2012-11-20T07:45:27Z")
Not a doc, and not good with alphabet soup but I can say that one of my BP meds definitely holds my heart rate down. If I am late taking the meds my heart rate is noticably higher than normal until my dose can kick in. Since I take 4, I am not certain which one it is.
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### Author:  [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2012, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antihypertensive-drugs-and-maximum-hr-during-exercise/641592/3 "2012-11-20T11:55:24Z")
REal-life medical questions are best put in IMHO rather than General Questions.
MOved.
**samclem** , moderator
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### Author:  [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2012, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antihypertensive-drugs-and-maximum-hr-during-exercise/641592/4 "2012-11-20T15:30:50Z")
> [@Norse](#):
>
> I recently had to change my blood pressure medication from a simple [ARB](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angiotensin_II_receptor_antagonist)/diuretic combination to a [CCB](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium_channel_blocker)/ARB/diuretic combo.
>
> After this change, I feel that I’m having more and more difficulties reaching my top heart rates during heavy aerobic exercise. This may be a coincidence, but I’m wondering if the new medication can have had an effect. Since my Google-fu is too weak to find anything relevant to my question, I’m turning to the DOPE for an answer to my question:
>
> Can antihypertensive drugs affect maximum heart rate during excercise?
From your Wiki Link:
[QUOTE=Wikipedia]
Many calcium channel blockers also slow down the conduction of electrical activity within the heart, by blocking the calcium channel during the plateau phase of the action potential of the heart (see: cardiac action potential).\*\* This results in a negative chronotropic effect, or a lowering of heart rate. \*\*This can increase the potential for heart block.
[/QUOTE]
I realize that doesn’t explicitly say it lowers the \*Maximum \*heart rate, but it seems to support the idea.
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### Author:  [@Shmendrik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shmendrik)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2012, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antihypertensive-drugs-and-maximum-hr-during-exercise/641592/5 "2012-11-21T05:12:07Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](#):
>
> From your Wiki Link:
>
> I realize that doesn’t explicitly say it lowers the \*Maximum \*heart rate, but it seems to support the idea.
The wikipedia article also correctly says:
> [@](#):
>
> Only the non-dihydropyridine CCBs are considered to have negative inotropic and chronotropic effects. The dihydropyridine CCBs increase contractility and heart rate, therefore decreasing vascular resistance.
The OP is probably taking a dihydropiridine CCB such as amlodipine, which shouldn’t decrease heart rate.
Beta blockers are another class of anti-hypertensives which do decrease heart rate.
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### Author:  [@Norse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Norse)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2012, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antihypertensive-drugs-and-maximum-hr-during-exercise/641592/6 "2012-11-21T06:56:44Z")
> [@Shmendrik](#):
>
> The OP is probably taking a dihydropiridine CCB such as amlodipine
Correct. It’s amlopidine + valsartan + hydrochlorothiazide. No beta blockers, which I know decrease the general HR (it’s a popular medication among target shooters 🆒 ).