Trying to get my head around a consultant's advice to reduce atenolol from 50mg to 25mg (had reduced from 100mg in December) I went back into persistent arrythmia 3 weeks ago after ablation and cardioversion last year. Had ECG done at local surgery so they could send to Arrythmia Nurse. GP called me back in next day for another ECG as he felt there were some changes that needed looking at, and ended up sending me to local hospital for fast track assessment. Sounds dramatic but it wasn't really. After tests, the consultant (don't know if he was even a cardio man) said I seemed to have AFlutter. Told him I was in contact with Arrythmia Nurse who would review everything, and he discharged me saying I should reduce the Atenolol dose. I will wait for further advice from ANurse before doing so as not sure what it would achieve. BP is 125 /70 resting, HR usually 50ish but up to 70 now in flutter. Lowering meds when in arrythmia seems counter intuitive to me. What does the Brains Trust think?
Change in medication dose: Trying to... - Atrial Fibrillati...
Change in medication dose
Slowing down the heart to such a low level as 50 can be just as bad a letting it run over 100. There may be wisdom in the idea. Atenalol is not an anti-arrhythmic drug but a beta blocker to slow the heart.
Atenolol is (I find a tricky) drug. I ran into heart block just first stage a few years back. Reduced Atenolol from 50mg to 25.Originally on it for migraine. Was OK for a while then over two years getting spells Arrhythmia. Several ecgs and none the wiser.
Was worried getting AF,( incidentally this group was very helpful) Eventually got Dr who did another ecg and actually told me " you don't have AF" Huge relief. It's Ectopic beats. I recently discovered that Citalopram which I'm on can cause problems with Atenolol.Am now almost off Citalopram and yes improvement in Ectopic beats. Hopefully I will reduce Atenolol further, I was supposed to stop it completely but effect on heart very unpleasant. Apologies for long post hope of some help to someone.
(It was not through Dr that I found out interactions between Atenolol and Citalopram (antidepressant) Yes Atenolol slows the heart and sometimes maybe too much but we are all so different with health issues and reactions to meds.
Arrythmia Nurse has confirmed I should reduce Atenolol dose. Sounds like a plan, will be interesting to see how it pans out.
sorry I have no advice as different meds seem to work for different people. I am on 25 mg Atenolol. Does not stop arrythmias but they are not as fast or strong with the meds. I have no side effects. My gp suspected I had low blood which could contribute to my ectopics so put me on ferrous fumerate for 3 months. It worked. Now take a quarter pill a day. Also I take magnesium every day. Good luck. Linda
Change of meds
Tablet change to Ambulatory Care
AF doesn't just affect the over seventies
