Atenolol side affects

[Auntkk]

Currently on Atenolol. Side affects are fatigue, feeling low, heaviness in chest. Taking to lower bp and heart rate. 25 mg at night to reduce side affects. Just don’t feel good. It’s been 4 weeks. Will this pass? I’m 65 and in good health. Walk up to an average 4 miles a day. Eat well. Is there a beta blocker that has the least side affects? I think my system is very sensitive to drugs. Any comments please. Thank you

[meadfoot]

I have been on the same dose of atenolol as you since 2009. Initially i felt exhausted on it as though i was wading through treacle. However that settled down after a few weeks and i have found it a good drug once my body acclimatised to it. I must say i had a lot of hair loss initially which never grew back, i was sadly disappointed at that,

[Auntkk in reply to meadfoot]

Thank you for your comment. May I ask if you felt any lowness. Depression like feelings? I am trying to be patient so as not to jump to another beta blocker prematurely. I want to feel like me again! Thank you for your reply.

[meadfoot in reply to Auntkk]

Yes i felt very low but it think it was more to do with being down at having a heart condition and life long medication as it was such a shock hitherto having been so healthy. Hope you feel better soon. If atenolol doesnt suit you there are alternatives. Good luck.

[Auntkk in reply to meadfoot]

Thank you and part of me believes it could be sadness from the same. I prided myself on being very healthy and then suddenly I have this lifelong condition and you almost grieve for your old life back. It was comforting to hear you being able to relate. Thank you again 💜

[Spud12345 in reply to Auntkk]

Ask your doctor to cut in half

[Spud12345 in reply to Spud12345]

I cut mine in half and take 12.5mg every evening.

[meadfoot in reply to Auntkk]

Yes i get that. It is a grieving situation. You will adjust to it, never quite the same but you will get used to it and cope.

[irene75359 in reply to Auntkk]

You can see you are not alone; I also went through a grieving process at 65, remembering the days when I felt rather proud (probably smug!) that I needed no medication whatsoever. The diagnosis is such a shock particularly if one leads a very heathy lifestyle. Things do get better and believe or or not AFib can often take a back seat once you start getting your medication sorted out and your AFib under control. And you have found the right place to come to for solace at any time.

[Auntkk in reply to irene75359]

Thank you Irene💜

[Auntkk in reply to Auntkk]

And Irene I have to admit I was smug about my physical well being as well haha. Still not a grandma but hoping to be strong and full of life for them as I was with my children. Thanking you again for your kind words💜

[Tyffica]

Hi KK, It will pass. I remember feeling that same way when I was first put on it. It took awhile for it to pass. I remember thinking "am I just use to it" or am I over it. That was 35 years ago. I was on it for years and then put on Metoporal XL. Then finally got my Ablation in 2017.

Has your heart calmed down?

[Auntkk in reply to Tyffica]

Thank you for your reply. I guess I’m impatient but scared at the same time. I’ve accepted having to be on a drug now but not feeling well on it is too much. I pick myself up and try to be positive. I’m happy I’ve found this group. It’s comforting to know I’m not alone. My heart supposedly is strong. But did go into Afib once which is very scary and tend to worry over every little flutter. I’m ending my first year. You’ve been 35 years? I hope you are in a better place health wise by now 🙏

[Tyffica in reply to Auntkk]

I am in a much better place health wise from my Ablation. I wish I had had it much sooner. My quality of life is so much better. I was originally put on heart meds in my early 30's. I got my Ablation at 57

[Ppiman]

From what I've read, the issues you describe are more likely to be related to the effects of the beta-blocker on the heart itself, rather than be a side effect, so maybe a lower dosage might help? When I was taking bisoprolol, I had exactly the same feelings you describe, no matter what the dosage, but far less on 1.25mg than on 10mg. My GP was reluctant to switch me to a different beta-blocker as he said that they were all essentially similar. Nowadays I only need to take 2.5mg as and when needed if I have a problem such as tachycardia, and I don't notice any side effects at all.

Steve

[PT123]

It was the same for me, I’ve been on them for nearly a year now. For the first month I felt similar side effects. It lifted for me, but I have always had a slight difference in how I was before I started taking them. They are often given to people who suffer from anxiety, to help them relax. Try to think they are chilling you out and go with it, hopefully they’ll work well for you. They are very good at keeping your rate down.

[Lbeat796]

I have been on Atenolol 25 mg for about 20 years with no side effects part from some hair loss. My episodes of arrythmia are not nearly as severe thanks to it although does not cut down amount of episodes. I would be afraid to cut down dosage Linda

[reinaway]

I know how you feel so well. I was so active and strong until 75 but since then things have just gone down hill. PAF has gradually got worse and I have got to take more drastic steps of some kind. I do grieve to be the same as I used to but thank goodness that I can still admire and be part of this beautiful planet.

[betsea]

I cut my Atenolol in half. Now I take 12 1/2 mg's. Much better. A whole one will knock me out just about.

[Auntkk in reply to betsea]

Wow see everyone’s chemical makeup is different. Will approach my cardiologist to see if it’s an option for me. Thank you for sharing😊

[betsea]

The manufacturer of Atenolol changed a year or two ago. The new manufacturer made it much stronger.