Psoriasis seems to be flaring from taking atenolol

[Turquoise2075]

Hi, my first time posting here. Pustular psoriasis started on my little toe in 2010. It spread over my foot and to an area under my thigh. It has stayed in these areas over the years and is now more like plaque psoriasis in how it looks.

In May 2022 I was put on atenolol for blood pressure. In December my psoriasis flared badly. From research I read atenolol can make psoriasis worse but can take a few months before that starts to happen.

The doctor has given me methylprednisolone ointment but was only getting worse after a week. I stopped taking atenolol for a week and the methylprednisolone started to work well. But blood pressure went too high so went back on atenolol. Psoriasis worsened again with lesions spreading.

Does anyone else have this issue with beta blocker blood pressure meds and their psoriasis? If so, was there a blood pressure med that didn’t cause flares?

[Batty1]

Can you get a different blood pressure medication by explaining to doctor this current medication is causing my psoriasis to flare.

[Turquoise2075 in reply to Batty1]

Thanks Batty1

I tried explaining to the doctor today that the flare/inflammation completely died down when I was off the blood pressure med and re-flared badly when I went back on it. But he doesn’t believe it’s connected and said he’d never heard of atenolol flaring psoriasis. This contradicts info and research I’ve found on it. I’m going to another doctor next week for a second opinion. The flare at the moment looks fungal to him, which makes me wonder if somehow it’s a fungal infection on top of psoriasis. He gave me an antifungal cream to try. I’m giving it a go in case that’s the issue. Will see what happens. He wouldn’t trial a different blood pressure med. Will see what the other doctor thinks.

[Batty1 in reply to Turquoise2075]

Sorry but your doctor sounds more like a nutty professor then a doctor …. Doctors need to start listening to their patients and you probably should be seeing a dermatologist not a regular physician.

[Turquoise2075]

I did feel like he really wasn’t listening to me. The difference being on and off the atenolol made a big difference to the skin inflammation. The doctor I’m seeing next week has a special interest in skin health and may refer me to a dermatologist.

I’ve researched a lot myself. I have more than one autoimmune disease. To me, from what I’ve researched, a link between skin inflammation, autoimmunity and beta blockers seems the more likely issue.

I couldn’t agree with you more that doctors need to really listen to patients.

[EddieClaude]

ask your doc to review your meds. Perhaps a change to another beta blocker would work without causing the flare.

[Peterrabbits]

I read somewhere a study of the use of atenolol causing psoriasis .

[Turquoise2075 in reply to Peterrabbits]

Thank you. Yes, there is clinical evidence on it. I’ve managed to come off atenolol all together and keep my blood pressure in a good range. I probably never needed to be on it as I only had mild hypertension. Every time I stopped atenolol my skin improved, and every time I started it, it got worse again. So whatever was going on I’m doing better without it.

[Peterrabbits]

That’s good .

They put me on Atenolol 20 odd years ago for headaches / migraines. Turns out it was caused by muscle spasms in the neck shoulders cutting off the blood . Nothing to do with bp.

Developed psoriasis then PsA in my 50s

Makes me wonder .

[Turquoise2075 in reply to Peterrabbits]

Hi, yes, it’s hard to know for sure. The susceptibility for psoriasis might have been there and the med may have been one factor that activated it. I still don’t know 100% for sure if the two things are linked in my case, but happy to play it safe in case they are. I hope your migraines have improved now.

[Blackeye-susan]

yes, I had a severe flare of psoriasis on my lower back when I took a blood pressure medicine, Acebutolol. It was one of the worst breakouts I have ever had. I had painful deep red plaques on my lower back. I went to see my dermatologists who specializes in psoriasis, and he told me to immediately discontinue the acebutolol and go back to my cardiologist. I was then put on a different medicine. Luckily my dermatologist got it cleared up with some treatment where they use pressurized air to inject a powdered steroid (?) medicine into each red patch. It worked, seeing a dermatologist who is a specialist in psoriasis is critical. Plain old dermatologist just was not helpful to me.

[Turquoise2075 in reply to Blackeye-susan]

I’m really glad your dermatologist was able to clear up the breakout. It sounds like it was horrible. It’s great when you have a medical practitioner who is attuned to what’s going on. That sounds like a really interesting treatment. All the best!