side effects b blockers

[Giorgos1973]

Happy New Year, the problem I face with these pills is a feeling of fainting and a sense of disaster and a feeling of death, I started them four years ago first bisoprolol 2.5 then nebivolol 2.5 and now atenolol 25, I have experienced various side effects such as sleep disorder insomnia dreams sometimes anxiety and a nervousness that I did not have before, I even talked to two doctors and they told me that these pills only make fatigue and sleep disturbance, but the terrible thing for me is this feeling of fainting and despair along with pessimism, there is an alternative any way to deal with these side effects thank you

[Hidden]

Hi Giorgos1973,

So sorry to hear that Giorgos. It's very unsettling isn't it and I get that faint feeling sometimes too. It tends to be as a result of the heart's slowing suddenly after a period of more rapid and erratic beating, which in one way is reassuring, as it shows the medication is doing its work in slowing the heart. But doesn't feel good I know. The important thing is communication with your doctor so they know that you are worried and not feeling well. Doctors deal so much with heart arrhythmias like AF that they can forget how scary feeling so unwell can be.

Obviously I don't know any of your medical history so this may not be suitable for you, but some people get over it by going onto a 'pill in pocket' medication regime so that you don't take a beta blocker except when you actively have heart arrhythmia, or instead you could discuss the possibility of surgical intervention by ablation.

[JoyV]

Sorry you're feeling so bad Giorgos, I had bisoprolol for a few days only and felt terrible, lowered my BP too much, felt faint and 'not with it' a sort of detached feeling, also started with swelling in finger joints which cleared up when I stopped taking them. Now just have one on me in case, I can take one or two without side effects, GP thought I had paroxysmal AF but not found on monitor. Haven't needed any in over a year. Hope you find a successful solution.

[KopEnd]

Hi Happy New Year to you too. Really suprised you are having the side effects you are having with betablockers especially with Atenolol which is the one you are currently on. I started taking Atenolol when I was 30 to treat mild hypertension but it helped me a lot with anxiety too. Been taking them ever since one 50mg tablet a day up until last year that the dosage was increased to 75mg. I take the 25mg one in the evening. It was increased due to the development of benign ectopic beats . The cardiolgist this would be a better than starting me on anti arrymithnic tablets. It worked great really I wouldnt swap atenolol for any other beta blocker. Guess only side effect I do experience now and again is a lack of libido and again at times general tiredness but then again I prefer this than high BP or irregular heart beats. Really strange you are having the kind of side effects you explain but still what works for one may not work for another. Have you spoken to your GP about this ?

[Giorgos1973]

thanks for the answers I have answered each of you but for some reason the messages do not appear but I do not have health problems, it all started after health problems in my family, and I was more bothered by my brother's heart attack at the age of 48, since then I think I will suffer the slightest pain,