I've been on 50 mg of atenolol for 5 yrs. Currently weaning off, took 25 mg for 7 days and now am on 12.5 for the last 2 days. I'm going to try to skip my dose tonight. I have been having high anxiety and periods of high heart rate even at rest ranging between 90-116. BP has been getting a little elevated 140/86. From what I have read this is normal. But when will it all go away? I can't stand the feeling of my pounding heart!!!With activity I can get to the 120-130's. Please any info from past atenolol users needed. Thanks. Have already started taking dyazide but that has offered little help with BP seeing that it usually takes diaretics a few weeks to be theraputic. Right?

I can certainly feel your pain. I was in your shoes this time last year after being on atenolol for 17 yrs. It took me a lot longer to get off. I went from 50 to 25 to 12.5 in about 3 months then started trying to go without any for 24 hours but I would get so nervous I would just break off little pieces to get through the day. I finally got down to crumbs. My first 24 hours was the hardest and then it got easier each day. I think it might have been esiser for me because I switched from atenolol to diltiazem (a calcium channel blocker) which also calms the heart a bit you on the other hand are taking a diuretic which (in my experence) makes the heart beat faster. You may have shortnes of breath, palpatations, dizzziness, weakness, and some anxiety. I don't mention these things to scare you, just so you will know what you may expect.
I'm sure you'll be fine it just takes a week or two and then it will get better and you will feel so much more alive.
Cass

ryan,

Some people take a lot longer to get off atenolol especially after 5 years of taking it daily. A couple months of weaning isn't completely out of the ordinary.
Why not stay with the 12.5 mg. dose for a week or two more, especially if you are feeling high anxiety and a pounding heart with that dose. Going to zero tonight might be more than you want to bear.

After long dosing some people have had to go a month or more on half dose and then the same on a quarter dose. Basically the approach should be to stay with a certain dose until it begins to feel normal and then drop it lower.

Thanks guys, I had to take my dose lastnight I couldn't stand it, I feel like a drugie or something :) Anyway I think that makes sense Lenin, and I will stick with 12.5 mg for about another week or so untill I feel somewhat normal. Actually, I feel a lot more energetic being off of the 50mg, it's not untill it's almost time for my next dose of 12.5 that I start getting anxious and racing heart rate. Thanks for all the info. It just helps to know that others have gone through this and are fine now.

Had the same experience with weaning off Toprol. Worked with my doc who wanted a weekly change and moved to a 2 week change. Wow the huge anxiety issues and heart ups and downs were horrible. With a longer interval of change, it gives your body a chance to adjust. At least it did for me. Gradual tapering is so important.

But yeah, I loved the renewed sense of energy after my body adjusted. I no longer felt like I was operating in a fog. So stick with it...it will get better!