Zuzu... Atenolol - High & Low Blood Pressure Message Board

Random2 · 05-27-2004, 02:44 PM

Saw your post on it from a while ago...

PS I developed diarrhea on both Atenolol and Altace plus cough as well on the Altace. THAT was fun!
No side effects whatsoever on Diovan. With well controlled BP

Altace did the same thing to me. Atenolol is inconsistent with me. It does it to me way too often.

Just want your advice on what to do. Just taking atenolol right now. Read my previous post on my new doc. & you'll get a better picture.

zuzu8 · 05-29-2004, 11:11 AM

Axe-

I have IBS ( over twenty, count'em ladies and germs, 20 years now).

Atenolol, as you know from my older post, exacerbated it big time. Told my doc that the diarrhea I was experiencing w/Atenolol was much much worse than my "normal".

He was really reluctant to take me off the Atenolol. Said that the worsening IBS was just a coincidence. (my arse). Pardon the pun.

Our little "discussion" continued the rest of my office visit when I finally said I want off meds entirely for a week or two to see what happens to my gut.
To which he agreed.
Diarrhea subsided back to my old "norm". (Nyah nyah told ya so!) BP was climbing again though.

So we then went to Altace. Got more diarrhea plus cough.

He FINALLY put me on Diovan. And all is well now.

My advice would be to call your doctor before July and simply say that you cannot live with these stomach problems...that you never had them before the Atenolol, and could you please try a trial with an ARB.

It would not make any sense for her not to respond to a plea from you on the phone. And one so reasonable, specific and finite.

zuzu xxx

Random2 · 06-01-2004, 10:18 AM

I tried that. They said to cut it in half & take it with food.

zuzu8 · 06-01-2004, 10:31 AM

Gee Axe, if taking a half dose with food hasn't helped, (although hasn't it only been a few days?) then... dare I say it...maybe it's time for yet another doctor who will listen to you and work WITH you.

I absolutely do not understand the agenda this new one is pushing.

zuzu xxx

Random2 · 06-01-2004, 12:14 PM

I don't either. I'm not going in for the July appointment. I just had a full physical & blood tests, CBC, Metabolic Panel++++, thryoid, everything is fine. Switching to a much better job & will be without insurance for 3 months. Trying to decide whether to Cobra but I feel fine. I'm in great shape right now. The doc's agenda...

Take B/P at the office every couple of months

Re-evaluate glucose in 6 months, even though it was only 103.

There is nothing else that needs to be tested that didn't turn out alright.

I just want to be on a B/P med with no side-effects, if I even need one...