Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. I can only speak to my own experience and hope that gives you some insight into what POTS is and how it can affect you or the people around you.
I am going to outline some common medications that are used for POTS in this post. Like all medications the effectiveness will vary person to person. Always consult your doctor when starting a new medication.
Florinef and Midodrine
The top 2 medications for POTS are Florinef and Midodrine. They tend to work together. Midodrine works to contract the blood vessels to bring up blood pressure. Florinef is used to control blood pressure as well, it does this by controlling the sodium levels and fluid in your blood.
Beta Blockers
Beta blockers work to control your heart rate and your nervous system. There are different types of beta blockers so you might need to try a few before finding one that works best for you.
Pyridostigmine
Pyridostigmine is a meditation that can help to improve nerve signals, this can be used for neuropathy, nerve pain and also helps with fatigue and muscle weakness.
Ivabradine
Ivabradine is designed to target your heart’s rhythm, specifically your natural pacemaker. It should help to lower your heart rate, helping to get rid of heart palpitations.
SSRIs
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors or SSRIs are a specific class of depression and anxiety medications that also target your nerves. If you are having symptoms of depression or anxiety choosing to go with an SSRI vs other medication could be a two for one as it could help with your nerve pain as well.
Final Thoughts
Your doctor will know of any new medications that are on the market but they can also get stumped so do your own research and approach them with new medications that you want to try. They will know more about the medications so they might say no but it also might be a great idea. Try to give each medication 6 weeks before deciding if it works or not, this will be long enough for it to hit your bloodstream and to take full effect in your body. I would also suggest that if you get diagnosed young and find the pills ineffective to try again later in life. The effectiveness of medication can change after puberty or even as you gain weight.
Further Reading
“Beta blockers.” Mayo Clinic, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/in-depth/beta-blockers/art-20044522. Accessed 22 June 2023.
“Fludrocortisone (Florinef): Uses & Side Effects.” Cleveland Clinic, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/19623-fludrocortisone-tablets. Accessed 22 June 2023.
“Ivabradine.” MedlinePlus, 15 June 2019, https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a615027.html. Accessed 22 June 2023.
“Midodrine.” MedlinePlus, 15 February 2021, https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a616030.html. Accessed 22 June 2023.
“Pyridostigmine (Mestinon): Uses & Side Effects.” Cleveland Clinic, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/18042-pyridostigmine-tablets-regular-release. Accessed 22 June 2023.
“Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).” Mayo Clinic, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-depth/ssris/art-20044825. Accessed 22 June 2023.