Loading...Q. I have been on atenolol for blood pressure for a little over a year. I am having problems like extremely cold feet, dizziness, fatigue and trouble breathing.
My doctors say I have to take this medicine, but I am ready to throw it out and take my chances. Do you have any advice?
A. There was a time when beta-blockers like atenolol, metoprolol and propranolol were considered first-line treatments for high blood pressure. But this is now controversial. In fact, there is data to suggest that atenolol may not be “a suitable drug for hypertensive patients” (Lancet, Nov. 6-12, 2004).
Never stop a beta-blocker suddenly, since this could lead to dangerous consequences. Do discuss this with your doctor, as your symptoms could be side effects of the medication. We are sending you our Guide to Blood Pressure Treatment with more information about beta-blockers and other medicines as well as non-drug options that may improve your control.
HelpedToDeath
Tennessee
I am a 27 year old male who has been on 25mgs of Atenolol since I was 20 years old. My doctor, who was a family friend, told me I had hypertension and a mitral valve prolapse. T
he first few years I was just tired a lot, now in the last few and especially this past year, I have literally developed every single solitary side effect from this drug. I’ve had psoriasis for years after starting it, zero energy, complete apathy and loss of interest in everything, now my heart rate is dropping into the 30s and my blood pressure is higher than it was when I started!!!
I’m a server at a restaurant and on a VERY busy Saturday night I had to go outside and sit down, felt like I was gonna pass out. I took my BP and it was 163/110 with a HR of 39 plus my monitor detected an irregular heartbeat… and I had been running all over the place that night. I’m constantly blood red in my face and neck and literally drip with sweat from my face. The muscle cramps, supposed psoriatic arthritis and terrible joint pain, stiffness and now I’m afraid I’ve developed Reynauds! Hands and feet are usually white or blue and freezing, I have completely lost feeling in several of my toes. I run a low grade fever every day now with chills and sweating excessively. I haven’t had sex in over 3 years and I really don’t care, that would bother me if I could care. I go between stages of apathy, depression, and mania. My feet swelled up for the first time a few days ago bad enough that a customer said something. I can’t even mow my lawn or exercise. If I barely miss a dose my HR goes up in the 160s. The anxiety from my heart now having an irregular beat gives me panic attacks all the time.
I went back to my doctor about 3 weeks ago and didn’t see him but some younger doctor. He told me to wean off the Atenolol by taking half of one a day for a week and half of one every other day for a week. He prescribed me Losartan Potassium for my BP and Ciprofloxacin for the chronic prostatitis. I asked him two smart questions (because I haven’t been able to drink orange juice for 7 years because it cuts the Atenolols effectiveness in half) Are there any foods I should avoid, and is it okay to take all these together? Oh yes yes yes he says in a month you will feel like a new man!
Well he was right, over a month later I do feel like a new man, a much WORSE 250 year old man. I wasn’t told not to take potassium much or that if you take all three of those together the reaction they produce nearly KILLED me. I have IBS-D and thought I was just having a flare up the first week of half my dose. Then after 6 days of nothing but diarrhea I had to get Ensure because I couldn’t eat. I also took a multivitamin that day. Then a short while later I took all the drugs but the Atenolol because it was my first day doing it every other day. I should have died. BP went through the ROOF after I took the Ciprofloxacin and Losartan on top of Ensure containing potassium and a multivitamin! I felt so horrible and could tell it was high, so I decided to go ahead and take my half Atenolol. BIG mistake! I mean my BP was 200+ over 160 something and my heart was beating so irregular it was jumping from 160+ down to the 40s. High potassium, my whole body went numb and heavy tingling all over. The chest pain was unbearable, I broke out in a cold sweat and felt like I was on fire. I couldn’t even pick my head up or yell for help. Eventually I passed out. I’m now out of breath constantly and having to sit down at work or put my head between my legs to keep from passing out. I have hot flashes like a menopausal woman, the insomnia has gotten so bad I’m on day 3 almost of no sleep, last week it was 56 hours of no sleep. Constant pain, RLS, twitches and tics. And just tonight I developed a new one! Got up verrrrry slowly as I have to do with this junk, instantly felt my BP bottom out, and fell onto my bed. Great, postural hypotension BIG time. If I named all the overt symptoms I had from this medicine we would be here all night.
Suffice it to say this unnecessarily prescribed beta blocker has me so down and out right now, and from trying to slowly taper I feel worse than ever. Have not touched the Losartan or the Ciprofloxacin because it drop’s and raises my Bp horribly, so I still have a raging prostate infection I can’t get rid of after well over a month. After 7 years on Atenolol how he thought 2 weeks was okay to taper is beyond me. At the rate I’m going, I wont live to see 30. I want OFF this junk and I never want to experience ONE MORE adrenergic hypersensitivity or postural hypotension EVER AGAIN!!
I wasn’t told there were excruciating withdraws!! I simply don’t know what to do because my autonomic nervous system is 500% out of whack, I haven’t been able to get out of bed today! Nothing but muscle twitching, jerking, and burning pain all over from being so tensed up. This is embarrassing, but I just had to urinate in a bottle in my room because I can’t even stand up!!!!!
I am 27 and this is ridiculous. I feel like these beta blocker’s are just gonna kill me, and if this is quality of my life from here on out then who would want to live like this? I am always leaning on something to try and breath and not pass out. I feel miserable 24/7 and that’s not even half the symptoms. I tried Lisinopril, absolutely did nothing for me, and the Losartan doesn’t do squat either. With everything I’m on I can’t have high doses of Vitamin C, grapefruit juice, or certain antibiotics! Not that the doctors I saw told me that!!! Now my prostate infection is raging uncontrolled (peeing maybe once to twice a day with an almost constant urge ,pelvic pain, and incontinence) and I refuse to go back to the doctors there. I am only 27 and standing up is the hardest part of my day, showering is nearly impossible now before I almost pass out, and working at the restaurant I do as much business as we get has become impossible some days. I can’t lose this job, because then I can’t afford to pay off the debt I owe the doctors who messed me up!
It won’t matter soon, now I’m also starting to get very disoriented and confused at times, slurring my words or not being able to find something right in front of my face. People at work think I just party constantly when in reality, if I’m not at work I am home in bed. With the confusion, spots in my eyes, and now daily postural hypotension, I honestly do believe after 7 years on it I will die soon. What in the world am I going to do? Obviously I plan on spending a month weaning myself off it by reducing the amount I take by 25% every week until hopefully after 30-40 days I can be off it completely. I’m just worried I was on it so long some of these side effects will stay with me forever. Plus not only can beta blocker withdrawal kill you if not done right, I will still be having symptoms of withdrawal for a month or more after I’m finally off it! Its a conundrum, does anyone have any advice or suggestions? I would appreciate any.
Jennifer
CALIFORNIA
Dear Helpedtodeath,
I read your post because I take atenolol too. I hope and pray your health has been restored…your experience is heartbreaking
Paul Surgent
United States
Atenolol was keeping my pressure down , but the bad dreams were terrible and I started the palpitations .so I switched to lisinapril and the pressure went up and then my heart went crazy on me so I went to the emergency room and stayed for four days. All the test came back OK,brain scan, echo-cardiagram, all the blood tests,and they put me on digoxin in the hospital,3 big injections and sent me home. When I got home and read up on the digoxin I said no way and never started the pills.The Atenolol was my problem and I know that now, the Drs’ still do not recognize this, doing all the natural steps right now to get heart strong,will let you all know how that goes,I’m 61, 170lbs ,no smoker. I feel like I need a pacemaker or ablation right now, one week out of the hospital. Hopefully that will go away the longer the Atenolol is out of my system. All those drugs are bad, that is my conclusion, that digoxin was the worst , that would have been a new batch of nightmares if I stared up on that one, but you can say no and I did.
Smilie
United States
My 15 year old daughter was put on Atenol for what the cardiologist thinks is vasovagal. Basically she passes out for no reason. The beta blocker was helping at 25mg. She slept and slept in the beginning. She has only been on it around 4 months. When school started she started passing out more. She took the full 50mg dose. She always feels tired, dizzy, heavy in her chest and out of breath.
The specialist told us she can either take it or not take it. She can grow out of the passing out. If she doesn’t she can live with it or the medicine.
So she complained of feeling sad in the beginning. They wanted her to keep taking it because it takes at least a month to adjust. Now it has been 4 months and after a simple teenage argument and taking her phone away she grabbed a knife and put it to her chest. She was completely irrational. She told us how worthless she was and how no one would miss her. This is a straight A student in everything, teachers wanting her tested to see her IQ, a boyfriend who loves her ect.
We took her to the hospital. I knew these were possible side effects. I mentioned them over and over and if she should be off of it. They told me to continue to have her take it. Since she missed her doses in the hospital, she has missed 3 pills of 50mg. She already says she is feeling better. I’m taking her else where for alternative medicine. I won’t have my child take her life from it. She doesn’t have a heart problem and already tends to have a lower bp. On the beta blocker her bp gets dangerously low. Her school nurse was keeping a daily log of it. Just crazy. If you feel like this, STOP TAKING IT! Wean yourself off. If someone you love is complaining about feeling like this, it’s no joke. We went to specialists to help her from passing out, not to lose her forever. So very grateful she’s ok and now we have the long process of counseling and recovery for how she feels.
Sam
“In 2006 my average bp was 120/74 when I started this regime. In 2007 it was 121/71, in 2008 116/68 and in 2009 it is averaging 110/60.”
Why are you trying to lower a healthy, NORMAL blood pressure??
LF
So glad I found this discussion! My father is in his 80s. He enjoys great health.
He was put on Atenolol several years ago, even tho he tends to have LOW blood pressure and slow heart rate. He has a pacemaker.
The last year, he’s been having extreme dizzy spells every few months. Now they’re happening weekly and daily. I suspect it’s the Atenolol — he takes 1/2 of a 50MG tablet daily. He also has cold hands.
His cardiologist is in Colorado where he lives, but he’s visiting Austin right now. I’m concerned for him.
Would love to get your experience and any recs on a doc here that can help him.
A.H
I was on atenolol 50mg for about 20 years. Always cold, cold feet, all my hair came out. I am very mad, I had beautiful head of hair. I kept complaining to my doctor about all the side effects I was having from atenolol, including legs burning, low heart rate, no energy, feeling drugged all the time, tired, not feeling like during nothing but staying in bed. I kept complaining to my doctor but he would not do anything about it. I complained so much he finally reduced the dose to 25mg twice per day. It’s no better. I am looking for some natural way to control my blood pressure.
People’s Pharmacy response: Atenolol is no longer considered the first choice for blood pressure treatment: https://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2013/12/23/post-14/
For natural approaches, consider the DASH diet. It has been shown effective in many trials. https://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2013/05/16/managing-blood-pressure-without-drugs/
Jean
HI, Just want to say, I was on Cozaar 50mg and Norvasc 10mg for about 3 years. These two medications are so expensive, and I had no insurance at the time so I asked my doctor to switch. He then put me on Atenolol of 50mg twice a day. I did great on it for the first 5 years I was on it.
Then found I had two blocked arteries and have had two stents put in. In order to keep my heart rate down, I was put on 100mg twice a day of the atenolol. Was fine for a while, however after a period of time my body crashes on it. Wasn’t feeling well and went to the hospital only to find out that my heart rate was running between 40 and 44. Not good!!!
So this doctor decreased the Atenolol to 50mgs twice a day and added another pill of isosorbide. Anyways, needless to say, I was good for a while until my body crashed on it again, with me then lowering my dosage to 25mg twice a day.
After about three months of taking the 25mgs twice a day, I began feeling fatigue, like I was going to fall, and maybe even pass out. At this point, I had enough!! I called my doctor (whom I had been telling these symptoms to) and he switched me to Norvasc 5mg.. oh my…. what I had ins tore for me. I got worse!!
I immediately called the doctor back and told him I was not taking this. In the last at least three weeks, I haven’t even been able to function. I am 49 years old and raising my 9 year old granddaughter and use to being very active. I got to where I couldn’t even stand for two minutes to do anything, I was so afraid I was going to pass out or fall and back to bed I went.
Since I have now stopped taking these and insisted my doctor put me on a regular BP pill, he gave me Diovan 160 mg. I can tell you I am not back to normal yet, but I FEEL better then I have felt in months. Although I have another issue. With being on the beta blockers, my heart rate stayed between 57 and 61 with a blood pressure of 165/90… again not good!! So, now that I am on the BP medicine, my BP is 129/73 but now a heart rate of 95 to 97. This too isn’t good.
So now I am forgetting the doctor and monitoring myself and increasing or decreasing my meds. I have actually now cut one med completely out!! And plan to cut some others out as well. I need to be able to function with everyday life.
This message is for Dorothy; Beth
Dorothy: I have a skin condition known as Lichen planus. It is terribly itchy and comes out primarily at night. I went to all kinds of specialists for it, Finally, a Dermatologist did a skin biopsy and it came back as LP. I am on Atarax to help with the itching. I have found that diet restrictions help. Pasta, Crackers. Anything made from white or wheat flour seem to make it worse.
Dee
Hi Lenny,
Do you have any update? My mother is going through with same condition.
Thanks,
Dee
Hi Jenny,
Can you please give your update?
Thanks
Adnan
Hi Jenny,
Can you please give your update?
Thanks,
Adnan
Michelle
I was put on atenol 25mg for heart palpatation/tachycardia
This dose cause insomnia and feeling tired all day. Just a week ago I started 12.5 to see how I did. My heart palpatation and tachycardia has went away but still feeling tired through out the day. I’m hoping to get off of this
And have no symptoms.
Andy
I am 55, weigh 180 pounds and have been taking atenolol for 2 years. My GP advised instead of taking 25mg once a day to take 1/2 of the pill in the morning and 1/2 at night. This tanked my BP to 110/60 and made me feel dizzy, short of breath, weak, heavy chested, just miserable. He told me to slowly taper up to a dose that would get my BP in a good range, 130/80ish for starters.
I began taking 1/4 of a 25mg pill a day in the morning. After 2 weeks I took 1/4 in the AM and another 1/4 in the PM. My BP slowly began to settle in the 125-140/75-86 range. I’ve taken as much as 1/2 in the morning and another 1/4 in the evening and my BP settles in the 117/60 range. I can tell you that low range makes me fill the worst, dizzy, tired, and heavy chested.
The anxiety and panic experienced during those dizzy and heavy chested periods cranks the BP and heart rate way above my usual numbers. I also experience cold hands and fingers and have to dress warmer in an already warm environment. I’ll skip a dose for a day and my numbers bump up to 140-145/85, but the difference in well being is amazing.
We’re told atenolol builds up in our system and that is what I noticed happens. I can go weeks at 3/4 pill a day and then have to cut back to 1/4 a day for a few days until I feel ‘normal’.
I’ve read here and elsewhere of people having trouble staying in the less than 120/60-70 ‘healthy zone’ (healthy for the MD’s that is). I’m starting to believe that is just not practical for many of us. My BP has been decreasing as I have slowly started to lose weight and increased exercising. My GP told me he would take me off the atenolol if I could get my BP in the 130/80ish range as I taper off. Even if that is not 100% possible if I only need a ‘crumb’ of a 25mg pill per day it’s a heck of a lot better than the way things are now.
After significant lifestyle improvements we should be able to settle in a range where we feel healthy and can enjoy a normal life.
Jerry
I have been on atenolol for approximately 60 days. I’m tired, depressed, no sex drive and generally feel awful. BP is highest in the morning (around 145/80) but by lunch is 130/70 and even lower later in the day. I have never had a problem with irregular heart beats, rapid heart beats or low heart beats. Dr. said he wants to increase the Atenolol but is “afraid to do it, because I might hurt you.” Great.
Current dosage is 25mg morning and night. Over the last two weeks I have had odd spells where I feel confused and terribly weak. Have been tracking my BP and it has only come down slightly and now a new problem. Have been occasionally getting pulse rates of between 41 and 46. An Echo has been ordered. Am also on Lisinopril HCTZ, Lisinopril, and Nifedipine. Will wait for the Echo results to see if there is something structurally or electrically wrong.
Either way, I think it’s time to get away from my primary care Dr. He doesn’t seem to know what is going on and in the last year he has never once even listed to my heart. For those experiencing the same thing…. you are not alone.
Jenny
I have just recently been having the same situation to happen to me. My dr told me yesterday to start taking it every other day and see what happens. I did this and life was good for the day time but as night came on my heart palps started back up pretty strong. I haven’t been able to speak with the dr again but will hopefully on Monday. You’re right it is very scary.
Karey
I have been taking atenolol in varying doses for fifteen years or more. Currently my dosage is 25mg per day. I’m 55 years old. I started watching my salt intake and exercising regularly and two days ago my blood pressure dropped down to 90/60. I felt weak, faint and could barely keep my eyes open. I didn’t take any atenolol yesterday, took my pressure every hour or so and it never got above 130/70, and that was the reading I got in the evening when I was nervous about not taking my atenolol all day. My pressure is 117/80 this morning. Right now I am waiting for my Doctor to call back and tell me if I should continue to take the atenolol in a reduced dose or maybe not take it at all. I would love to be off the medication, but worry about stopping it after so many years. Having my blood pressure go so low was very scary. Anyone else have a similar situation?
Jenny
I am amazed with what I have just read pertaining to atenolol. I have been taking 1/2 of a 25 mg tablet for approx 8 years, have spent numerous hours in doctors offices as well as days hospitalized for symptoms that no one could figure out what was going on.
Everything from strange sensations, itching and hives to the back of my head to extreme dizziness and feeling as though my chest would explode with my heart palps as I gasp for air after simply climbing up the stairs to my home, cold feet and hands. I also have a thyroid issue and was told for years that was the problem however time and time again these same symptoms would occur and my endocrinologist said simply “NO, the thyroid is not the issue”.
I just returned from world renown Cleveland Clinic and they did everything they could to find a thyroid issue that may be causing these issues to no avail. And as recently as today I was at the drs office with pain in my chest, feeling as if I cannot breath and as if someone is sitting on my chest and heart palps. My regular dr was not is so I saw an associate who said my bp was 100/60 and told me she thought it was due to the atenolol and suggested I stop taking it at least every other day. Now I see everything everyone else has written and I feel like this has been the issue all along. I will update and let you know how it goes if anyone is interested. Thanks so much for all of your post I may have just found the real problem in my life.
Leny
I was diagnosed Febuary 12th of 2013 with Hypertension and LVH, I was put on 50mg of Atenolol. I told the doctor 5 days later that it was making me very tired and depressed. The doctor then prescribed Norvasc and had me stop the Atenolol. A few days into the Norvasc I had problems breathing and my mouth and lungs felt dry all the time and I was gasping for air at night, I then stopped the Norvasc and 2 days later ended up in the hospital with rapid heart rate 140+ and a blood pressure 150/110. The hospital did piles of tests and determined I was dehydrated so they loaded me up with saline.
The next day the same thing happened but this time at the hospital the symptoms passed with time. Another doctor had me go back on the Atenolol 12.5 mg being the lesser of 2 evils, since Atenolol only comes in 25mg I split the pills and have noticed that when I take a bigger piece in the morning I sleep better that night but I still wake up every morning with a rapid heart rate and elevated bp.
That brings me to the last 2 days. Yesterday I felt lousy and after exercising I was wiped. I woke up at 4 in the morning with a rapid heart rate and elevate bp so I took 25mg and went back to bed, Most of the day I was feeling ok but when I got home my BP started to rise just sitting at my desk. If I stand up or move around it goes up to 150/100 but my heart rate is in the 70’s. If I lay down my BP drops to 124/78. so here I am stuck on the sofa thinking that 2 months ago I was not on any drugs and was feeling fine…sigh
Patty
Didn’t realize atenolol had these side effects been on this med several years. Been to doctor for last two weeks with shortness of breath and tiredness thinking I might have clogged arteries. That test was negative. Ct scan today. All my symptoms seems like side effects of atenolol. Can’t sleep.
glen
hello.. I’m going absolutely out of my friken mind! I was prescribed atenolol mid december of 2012.I was diagnosed with atrial fribulation after a haulter monitor for a month. Also I was put on aspirin 1 a day. I have experienced hives and itching mostly my back and head.. it’s been ridiculous to say the least… so then my doc changed me over to verapimil… stopping atenolol and just switching to it and still I’m getting this reaction.
So last thursday he took me off all of it together and its been a full week on nothing and I’m still getting itchy hive episodes… went to emergency room sunday morning ofter thursday and they gave me prednisone and itch meds and here I am still reacting to this… how frikin long is this going to last? I’m starting to think maybe something else is wrong with me… is the med still in my system Aalso have had swelling on my feet as well …errr…plz help?
Pauline V.
Took my first ran ramipril about four hours ago and feel sick, dizzy. Don’t trust myself to drive. Are there any natural remedies instead ? Thanks, Pauline
sdr
Let me say, that I see some people on here with what I would be ECSTATIC to get my blood pressure level down to… I am 46 and have been an athlete all my life; played football in college, was also a distance runner before that… ran events ranging from 800 meters (1:59 as a junior in high school) to half-marathons (1:20 as a sophomore in HS).
As an adult, after college, I began power lifting… every time I would go to the doctor for a check up, the nurse would ignore my request that they use the large cuff… consequently, they could never get an accurate reading… when someone finally did get an accurate reading I was almost 40; my BP was 225/190. Yep; you read that right; 225/190. As the doctor and I discussed it, there was little I could do naturally to help with this; I don’t smoke, am not overweight, eat VERY little sodium and don’t eat a lot of fats, exercise regularly. So we tried several medications. Diovan HCT 320/25 was what we settled on after trying a couple that gave me the really bad cough side effect.
This dose got my BP “down” to about 170/100 but that is still on the dangerous side. When my Primary Care doctor’s Physicians Assistant thought my kidney numbers looked bad (based on my muscle mass, my creatinine levels are higher than others), she sent my to the kidney specialist and he ran a creatinine clearance test. While I was doing that, he switched me to Atenolol (25mg). I liked that I didn’t have to hit the restroom 25 times a day (the water pill KILLS me). Nonetheless, like many, atenolol, as a beta blocker, made me feel exhausted by the end of the day.
After I went back on the Diovan, my BP stayed in that 170/100 range… I spoke with my doctor and told him why I did not like Atenolol. He suggested I take it at night in addition to the Diovan in the AM. I did so and it got my BP down to 150/90… but I still need it lower… so this month we upped the atenolol to 50 MG at night along with the 320/25 diovan in the AM… and, for me, this has finally gotten me into a BP range I feel is worth the frustration… last night I was at 119/78… the FIRST time I have been that low in probably 10 years.
So, while I understand the frustrations with the effects of atenolol… I have found taking it after work has been a much more effective method for me. I am unfortunate, no amount of vitamins, exercise or food changes were going to get me into a healthy BP range; me genetics have favored me in many ways… except blood pressure… my genetic weakness… medication was about my only option. This has worked for me… but mine is an aberration in blood pressure tales… most can make significant changes to their lives and get better BP… I could not.
As to the generic versus name brand drug debate… generic drugs are required, by law, to have the same active ingredients as the original formula. The main reason generics begin to exist is that patent laws expire. While there may be some bad generics out there, I have had good luck with the meds I have to take.
Krissy
I am a twenty three year old who had my bloodpressure spike to 220/135 last year. I was put on 50mg of atenolol, and 10mg of lisinopril.
After passing out and having my heart rate be super low, they reduced it to 25mg of atenolol. I’ve been having horrible nightmares ever since (in the wake up sobbing, don’t want to go to sleep until passing out , often times CAN’T sleep more than 2 hours sort of way), crippling anxiety spikes (I already have anxiety, and it’s made it worse). A ton of weight gain, and difficulty breathing. It feels like an unhappy toddler is on my chest, kicking my heart when it happens.
From everything I’ve gathered, I’m a classic case of ‘Atenolol is bad for you’. Going to my doctor on March 20. I want to sleep again.
gk
I have developed a dark coloring on my face cheeks, forehead and neck. It varies as to its darkness sometimes lighter. If I rub my face you can see this darkened skin tone that does not go away with applied pressure to face. It looks like it is under my skin. I have seen a chiropractor and he said what is wrong with your face. I hadn’t seen him in a year and he noticed it right away.
I am wondering if it can be a adverse affect from my HB medication. I have been on atenolol for many years. I had a complete hysterectomy about ten years ago and also wonder if it could be caused by hormone depletion.
Next doctor will be a dermatologist. Any suggestions?
Hazel G.
I have been taking atenolol for many years about 9 I feel ghastly in the morning so I have just been taken off it.
I am trying ramipril.
RM
Why can’t you stop the medication?
PEOPLE’S PHARMACY RESPONSE: SOME PEOPLE WHO STOP SUDDENLY SUFFER FROM CHEST PAIN OR A HEART ATTACK.
Patricia O S
Oh my gosh I have been suffering for several years with this rash that itches so bad it drives me crazy. I keep asking the doctors if this could be caused by any of my medications (also on atenolol) the only response is I don’t think so. Well now I think I finally got the answer. Thanks so much.
tt
I’ve found this site very helpful, after reading many comments on hear I’ve come to believe my breathing problems are contributed to atenolol 50 mgs. a day as when I fall to sleep my breathing slows down to a point of stopping, VERY SCARY. At this point I will be making a change. Thanks ya all, Tom T. Syracuse N.Y.
dora k.
what is the generic for diovan?
dora k.
please expand; what is q10, resq 1250 and resperate? thank you
SW
I, too, have just been through over 2 months of intense itching with horrible red bumps/rash. The medicines I was taking were Diovan, Atenolol, HCTZ, and Armour thyroid. After finally consulting an allergy specialist, because my family practice physician could not determine the cause, I was advised to discontinue each medicine one by one to determine which was causing the awful symptoms.
After discontinuing both the Diovan and HCTZ, I am finally beginning to return to normal. My experience has been a real nightmare. It’s very possible that your reaction is due to an interaction between your meds, or even an allergic reaction to one of them.
DA
Do not take generics, pay the full price of authentic medications. They are not the same and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. I am a nurse tech working in a cardiac unit.
EDM
Yes, I’ve been taking atenolol for about 4 years, increased weight gain over the years without the benefit of overeating junk food. I wasn’t aware of the mental side effects since it was prescribed for HBP until I weaned off the first pill abut a month ago. Woke up in the middle of the night and ran around the living room in “sleep walking mode” briefly realizing in my sleep as to what was happening and fully aware in the morning when I fully awoke.
So, yes the medication has anxiety affective. Wish I never was prescribed this medication!
EDM
Help! Every since I started taking Atenolol four years ago I’ve gained so much weight. I eat extremely well and exercise all the time. I have rashes, memory problems, fatigue, burning in my legs, and now shortness of breath. Every thing I eat has an adverse effect on me every since I started taking these pills. I lowered my intake to 1-25mg pill per day successfully (dropped 10 lbs. immediately). Possibly weaned off the 2nd pill too soon, felt like I was going to have a heart attack so I started back on the one 25mg atenolol, along with pure coq10 and literally saw/felt my chest swell within hours.
Daily regimen:
Lemon,cayenne and honey
Kelp and turmeric
Hawthorn
Garlic cloves with an apple
4 celery sticks
This was working well before weaning completely off atenolol and adding coq10. Unfortunately returning to the above regimen is no longer working. I want off these pills, they’re slowly ruining my life. But afraid I could die if I stop completely taking them altogether. I don’t enjoy being overweight especially without the benefit of eating fattening food, gone from size 12 to 18/20 (weight is in my upper body). Its not my thyroid! Laid off, no longer have health insurance. Need a natural cure! Please help!
TSB
The post that stated “I started with Q10, B6, B12, Folic Acid, Resq1250 and 2 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil per day” created interest in me as to how much of each did you use. I have been on atenolol for 10 years or so and can relate to many of the symptoms described. I am looking for natural alternatives and would appreciate any suggestions.
Deborah
I stopped taking atenolol 50 mg about 12 days ago by my doctor’s order because my heart rate was in the 40’s. I was put on the atenolol for HBP about 7 years. I now have fast heart beats and anxiety since I stopped taking the atenolol. My doctor put me on Lisinopril 20mg. My BP reading has been ok 122/84. But the anxiety and fast heart beats come and go. Especially at night I wake up with fast heart beats. Would someone please tell me if this is a withdrawal symptom from the atenolol?
Ash
I have not stopped taking atenolol.. not yet anyway. At my last visit my doctor doubled my dose from 25mg daily to 50mg daily. I still have palpitations. I go back in December, hopefully he will refer me to a cardiologist.
barbara
I have been on atenolol (100 mg) for at least 20 years and 6 months ago I started losing a lot of hair–has anyone else had this experience? I am very upset. Has this happened to anyone else-is this a side effect? Kindly answer
liliana d.
How did you stop the atenolol? I’m on 6 mg. daily and have trouble stopping.
Ash
I have been taking Atenolol for just over a month for premature heartbeats/Tachycardia. I have experienced many side effects and my palpitations continue. My BP is normal, I’m 130 lbs, and I’m only 27! I have no other health problems. I’m going back to my Dr to see if the med is more trouble than it’s worth!
NMD
My blood pressure skyrocketed at the end of 2008, and my doctor, a naturopath, put me on a diuretic. Within hours I developed what I called “fuzzy brain”, couldn’t put two words together to make a thought, forgot words I commonly use and just felt, well, fuzzy all the time. I told her I wasn’t going to continue taking it so she put me on Atenolol, which has worked, more or less, though my sistolic is usually in the 130’s to 140’s, while the diastolic is in the mid 60’s. Still, at my annual checkup last week she told me she’d discovered that Atenolol is not considered a good thing for high BP, and that she’s going to find something else to put me on. I told her, just be sure it’s not a diuretic!!
MEW
Was put on Metoprolol for high blood pressure. Developed a burn like rash on my face. Very red and then peeling for a couple days. Then the cycle started over. The Dr. took me off the Metroprolol and put me on Bystolic.
This morning my face is very red with bumps appearing. Skin burns.
PEOPLE’S PHARMACY RESPONSE: PLEASE LET YOUR DOCTOR KNOW RIGHT AWAY. IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH YOU MAY NEED SOME OTHER KIND OF BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICINE BESIDES A BETA-BLOCKER.
Diane
I took metatoprol for 4 days and developed an itchy rash. By the fourth day it was so bad that my Dr. took me off the metatoprol, and it started going away. I have had no problems since. Perhaps your mother is allergic to the metatoprol.
MTB
No weaning-straight change. Was on Diovan HCT 80/12.5 for 5 years then switched per doctor to the generic brand and am doing even better on that.
Plus it is $10.00 at Target for a 3 month supply!
I did feel begin to later feel some heart palpitations w/ Diovan but they are gone now with the generic-go figure :-)
JP
I have been on numerous blood pressure medications, but none seemed to stabilize my blood pressure. One such med was Norvasc, my blood pressure would spike to extremely high numbers and I would cough all day and night and was exhausted. I have been on numerous medications without success. Benicar and Antelol seem to stabilize my blood pressure more so than the others, but not completely.
I have been taking 1 Benicar 40 mg and Atenolol 50 mg daily for about 3 years and still have spikes now and then, but less frequently. I am very dizzy, extremely tired, extremely cold all the time, and have gain an excessive amount of weight since taking Benicar and Atenolol. I have to use an inhaler several times a week and sometime a pulmo aide treatment, but rarely.
Peg
Mtb. Did your doctor wean you off the atenolo? how did you get off of it. I tried cutting it down and experienced palpitations, rapid heartbeat and feeling horrible.
Peg
LLR How did you get off the Atenolol?
Lyle H.
I had infarctions in 1979, bypasses in 1980, felt good, returned to employment in 1984, severely injured in 1985, now were fentanyl patch for pain last 8 yrs., again bypass 4-way surgery in 2001, everything fine until 2005, began Avapro and carvidol, now on avilide, but having extreme BPM of 120 and feel ill at all times.
Also wear pacemaker. Can’t control BPM, any suggestions appreciated. My Cardiologist only adjusts pacemaker to no avail.
eddie
I was put on atenolol for high blood pressure and it made me feel weak and dizzy and also depressed and suicidal. I was also on ramipril but I decided to wean myself off of the drugs and follow a healthy lifestyle. I now monitor my blood pressure and exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet and after 3 years off the drugs I feel great.
JW
I have had moderately high BP for several months. I take 160mg Diovan and started with 25mg Atenolol. I cut the Atenolol to 12.5mg because I was dizzy and my heart rate was very low. I stopped taking Atenolol completely 5 days ago (with my doctors OK). My BP has been going up a little each day and today it was 145 / 90 with my heart rate at 95. I have been light headed all day. I just took 12.5 mg of Atenolol about 2 hours ago and am hopeing for some positive results. My doctor is a GP and I think that I am ready to see a Cardiologist. This is scary.
MTB
No side effects although occasional (slight) dizziness pops up. No hair loss-the opposite actually, and now there is a generic that my doctor says is just like Diovan HCT. And it falls under Walmart’s $4.00 prescription plan.
NR
Since taking the new bp medication Diovan HCT are you having any side effects? Any hair loss?
JJ
It is very possible that the rash is caused by her blood pressure medication. My mother had the same problem–the itching was horrible. When she got off the med and returned to brand name norvasc the problem disappeared. it seems like your mom does not need more meds–she needs less and the right stuff. I am sorry she is suffering.
JJ
I have taken Norvasc for 20 years. My doc switched me to generic amlodipine and my blood pressure sky rocketed and I was nauseous and jittery. I have had to go back to the very expensive Norvasc. I do not believe generics are the same and the proof is in my response to the generic vs. brand name. We should not be lied to about this medication.
mtb
I was on Atenolol (25 mg) for two years after my doctor said that I had “hypertension.”
No cold feet but I was literally exhausted and felt “drugged” all the time. The side effects don’t happen instantly…they creep up on you until you realize that something just isn’t right. My doctor then prescribed Diovan HCT 120/12.5-another low dose blood pressure medication but a diuretic, and like the previous commenter, it was like I had regained a new life. The exhaustion was gone, my energy level tripled and I have never looked back!
I cannot imagine what I would have felt like on a larger dose of Atenolol!
LLR
I was on atenolol for 18 months and developed increasing depression (I had never been depressed before). My cardiologist determined that beta blockers are not for me. After stopping atenolol, it was like a dark grey curtain lifting — and I haven’t had that problem since. Drug side effects can be mental as well as physical. Don’t overlook these problems in relation to medications.
bill
I tried atenolol which caused leg “burning” . I went to lisonipril which caused coughing. Now on losartan and it makes me dizzy. HCTZ caused urge urinate but no urine. I also have issues with any of the statins. course I am old as dirt….bill
PK Campos
I was put on half dose of atenolol after tests proved I did not have heart problems causing my shortness of breath, and my problems with breathing have been greatly improved. I am now cutting the lisinipril dose in half as well and will see how my blood pressure responds. I have been on CoQ10 for the last 2 months as well. Thanks for alerting me that atenolol could be causing this problem.
sheri
I was experiencing shortness of breath and felt like I was having a heart attack every time I did the slightest exercise. After 4 yrs of being on Atenol, I asked my doctor to change me to something else. I am now on Bisopr/HCTZ and it completely eliminated the problem.
Dorothy
My mother has been suffering with a terrible itchy rash for about a year now. We have been to several dermatologists and allergy DRS.
Every prescription cream they have given her only makes her itch more.
She now only takes Zytrec and her 2 prescription meds – avilide and metoprolol.
I also started her on Borage Oil 2 X a day on a suggestion of GNC for itchy skin.
The rash intensifies at night. Eucerin cream also helps but the rash doesn’t go away.
Any suggestions would be helpful.
Rol
I was on atenolol 50mg, I had your same reactions except no cold feet, so the doctor changed the mg. to 25 mg but he also gave me cozaar 50mg. To me there was no change but the doctor tells me that is what I have to take..What else can I do?? Every pill I take seems to have a reaction to another pill but I ask the doctor to change and he insists that what I`m taking is what I need…
Is there something I should do to get rid of all those different reactions??? Please Help??
I changed doctor and the other one was not any better, so I`m back with my same doctor..
My dr. is a pulmonary dr., should a pulmonary dr. be a gp???
steve
I was on beta blockers for several years and did not like the way I felt when taking them. I also learned they effected my cholesterol levels negatively.
I was put on lisinopril and for the past 2 years have been working on eliminating bp meds.
I am 56 years old, generally in good health and committed to doing all I can to not use drugs. I started with Q10, B6, B12, Folic Acid, Resq1250 and 2 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil per day. I also added Resperate. In 2006 my average bp was 120/74 when I started this regime. In 2007 it was 121/71, in 2008 116/68 and in 2009 it is averaging 110/60.
In addition to above I manage issue with insulin resistance which also effects bp. I am an avid backpacker and can traverse AT trails at 25 miles per day.
Now, I am on a half does of lisinopril and will soon eliminate it completely.
It takes some work but it sure beats the med alternative