I have been on Atenolol (100 mg daily) for a few years now. I have never REALLY felt great on it (mostly tired), but in the last two months, I have been having the following additional problems:
-Dizziness
-A Low grade fever (~99.5)
-Trouble sleeping (Vivid Dreams, Wake up every few hours)
-Chills
-Cold Hands and Feet
-Weakness in Hands
-Tingling in hands and feet
-Lack of appetite
-Fast/Slow heart rate (95 BPM to 54 BPM in short time frame)
-Blurred thinking
Is it possible to develop an intolerance to Atenolol after taking it for a few years? Has anyone experienced similar symptoms?
I spoke with my Doctor and he feels that the above may be caused by an infection. I have had about three courses of Antibiotics, which seem to help, but the symptoms return.
Dizziness
-A Low grade fever (~99.5)- Mine is usually 1 point to 1 1/2 below 98.6 on it.
-Trouble sleeping (Vivid Dreams, Wake up every few hours)- Yes.....
-Chills- Yes
-Cold Hands and Feet- Yes
-Weakness in Hands
-Tingling in hands and feet- At times
-Lack of appetite- Yes........because it causes me stomach problems some mornings, but yes lack of appetite
-Fast/Slow heart rate (95 BPM to 54 BPM in short time frame)- Slow heart rate in the low 50's
-Blurred thinking- Yes....
I totally messes with me and gives me GI problems as well after 1 year of taking it.....
Infection.... yeah riiiiight. All of my blood tests are fine as well. Maybe Atenolol is the problem........
I have ALWAYS have trouble eating/drinking certain foods (coffee especially) while on this medication, but never really linked the problem to it. I would wake up in the morning and have cramps/bloating the day after I drank it.
The other symptoms I am currently experiencing were vaguer, but seemed to intensify in the last few months.
I had a similar episode to this a few years back that did eventually subside, which was about 3 months from when I stated taking the medicine.
I want to stop taking it, but only with my Doctor's approval, as I am fearful of the negative consequences.
You sound exactly like me. It affects me the next morning..... I was so frustrated when people were saying that it was pasta or wine when I know that it is the Atenolol that is doing it. I have lived in my body for 34 years without cramping, GI Problems+. I know your body changes through time, but at 34 I shouldn't feel like 94 & it doesn't happen overnight or in the course of a year or so like it has with Atenolol.... I appreciate your honesty. I want my doctor's approval as well, but he is happy that I average 116/66, so he won't recommend weaning off of it even though I don't have any heart problems. 2 EKGS, CBC Panel, Metabolic Function, Chest Xray+ all perfect. Why am I on Atenolol? Anxiety is my main problem when it comes to HBP, so the Lotrel & the xanax are working fine. Why do I need the Atenolol..... to cause me side-effects that I don't need.
Yes this medicine is like poison to me the next day after eating certain foods & drinks.... combine that with depression, lethargy, feeling out of it & etc..... I completely agree with you. Coffee doesn't agree with me either with this med....... You are so right about the way you feel the next day. Keep me posted as to what you are going to do. I am going to try to wean off of it like Zuzu said.......
I didn't even eat anything for dinner and had no alcohol and I still have stomach cramps in the morning. My g/f says that it because my stomach had nothing to digest, but the side-effects of the Atenolol just get worse. She said that I sleep like junk, which started with the Atenolol & my stomach always feels that way on the med. when I toss & turn a lot. I'm only 34. This is ridiculous. Drinking coffee, just to feel better. It always goes away after 1-2 hours in the morning. Going to start weaning off next Monday. I really do think that it does more harm than good. It's just interesting to see more people having the same problems like me (stomach problems the next day in the morning, sleep diffuculty at times, lethargy, depression & etc.).... why is this drug on the market?
How many days a week does your stomach bother you the next day???? How many MGs are you taking a day? I am 5' 11 152 or so. I'm taking 100 MGS a day. How much do you weigh? I am so sick of Atenolol.
My stomach usually bothers me when I eat or drink certain things (coffee, Spaghetti with sauce), things that are really acidic. I don't drink at all so I try to avoid certain foods in the evening.
I am also on 100 mg per day, I am going to get a scale, file the medicine down a few mg a day until I feel more normal. I weigh ~170 and am 5'11. My BP is usally 110/70 and my Heart Rate fluctuates.
I heard that excising helps with the side effects, but it only helped me some.
I didn't even eat anything at all or drink any alcohol last night & my stomach still bothered me this morning..... acids from the med???? I am with you. I am weaning as well. I did have pasta for lunch yesterday with marinara, but I don't think that would upset my stomach 17 hours later. 110/70 is great.... I was 119/67 yesterday even after a big seminar. Woke up today & felt like junk. My g/f said I slept poorly as well.
After five months I have given up Atenolol having too many side effects. The first few months were okay but then all hell broke loose. Besides being constantly tired, I felt like I was dazed all the time, memory gone, eyes working poorly, constant heartburn/gas, facial pain and body aches. Is that enough? Anyway, Dr prescribed Tarka - a combo pill of ACE and Channel Blockers. Has anyone had experience with this medication? I was told I'd have an easier time with this pill. So far I've taken it once, today. So scary!
OK.... now all of the people are coming out & saying that it causes GI Problems..... I guess that I wasn't so wrong...... It has nothing to do with what you eat or drink. It's the medication. It has a lot of side-effects. I wish that I would have known this when I started a year ago along with the fact that you have to wean off of it. Yes Lolasmom.... I have all of the same things & more. It seems to cause more acid in one's system for some reason, especially at higher doses. It is the medication. Pretty obvious.
Are you or have you tapered off the Atenolol? You should wean off beta blockers rather than quit them cold turkey. You can start your new med during the weaning process.
I was first put on Tropil but then after three nights of no sleep switched to Atenolol. Now after 5 more nights of NO SLEEP the doctor told me to just stop taking it completely. I have only taken it for one week so I am hoping the withdrawal will be manageable. I was put on it in the first place because of a rapid at rest heart rate (120 bpm). I was also put on Lexapro a month ago for anxiety and IBS. I was told to stop taking that also. So, tonight will be my first night testing to see if I will be getting any sleep. I realize it may take a few nights to get out of my system though, but I'm sure hoping that this is the solution. My doctor had never heard of insomnia being a side effect to Atnenoll so it was reassuring to read that others have also experienced it.
1) Nightmares and sleep problems are a side-effect of Atenolol. The doctor should do the research. Recent studies have shown that it doesn't even make that much of a difference in B/P control.
Graylorn, with an average B/P of 116/66, yes I will wean off of the Atenolol that seems to cause all of these people GI Problems, sleep problems, lethargy, depression+. I don't know why I need to be on another B/P drug once I wean off of it. I have no heart problems. I am only 34 5' 11" 152, taking 100 MGS of a very powerful drug with strong side-effect. Why do I need to go on another med if Lotrel & Xanax at 2 mgs can do a good job. My problem is anxiety that causes that the High Blood Pressure. I am not going on any more B/P meds. Not at 34 & not with perfect blood tests. No way. I will stick with the lotrel & the anxiety meds. Hopefully I will get off of the Lotrel within the next few months. Like my pharmacist said.... Atenolol is mainly for people with heart problems. Your #'s are great. Wean off of it. My doctor is scared, because he is playing CYA. My pharmacist who is also a doctor said the less meds. the better. I will take his advice. Why would I possibly want to go on another med. when the meds. have ruined my lifestyle and have made me feel much worse than ever before. I would rather have 140/80 & no side-effects than 116/66 and a ton of side-effects. I work a very busy schedule between a high stress job & my national band. These meds. don't work for me. No way I am going on another med. & being a guinea pig. Like my pharmacist said.... the less meds. the better. No more meds. for me. I will taper off of the Atenolol & stick on the Lotrel for a few months & the anxiety medication. My medication for tonight may be a couple of beers after we play a big concert. Why would I put myself through this again? I agree with Midi & the others..... Take this med. so it can ruin your lifestyle. I felt much better before the meds & was much more happy go lucky. No way am I starting another drug.... absolutely no way.
Last edited by Lillians Axe; 03-18-2005 at 06:07 AM.
Reason: Add More
The same thing has happened to me. My G/F thinks that the sleep problems (I am asleep, but loudly & keep her up) are the cause of the stomach issues. I think that the med. causes the stomach issues, sleep problems & the mood changes that I go through. I wasn't like this before...... At 100 MGS of Atenolol it is a lot.....
Quote:
Originally Posted by midi77
Thanks for the reply Axe...
I have ALWAYS have trouble eating/drinking certain foods (coffee especially) while on this medication, but never really linked the problem to it. I would wake up in the morning and have cramps/bloating the day after I drank it.
The other symptoms I am currently experiencing were vaguer, but seemed to intensify in the last few months.
I had a similar episode to this a few years back that did eventually subside, which was about 3 months from when I stated taking the medicine.
I want to stop taking it, but only with my Doctor's approval, as I am fearful of the negative consequences.
It is really funny how some meds can affect everyone so differently.
I never had a problem with Atenolol as far as sleep or dreams. For that matter I slept even better with the Atenolol than without. No depression or anything. And I have used it on and off for about 4 years.
The only problem I had with it was that it lowered my pulse from about 60-65 BPM to as low as 40 BPM. And that was with only 25 Mg. dose!
Lowered my BP nicely as well.
It was the least offensive as far as headaches but over time I would develop sometimes a very small one.
But on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the best I pesonally gave it a 7. Other ones only give me headaches after awhile but work good.
Today is a 10. I just think that the Atenolol affects my sleep & when I have lousy sleep, it affects my stomach the next day.... just a concept. It seems like a lot of people have problems with the drug. I really am going to try to wean off of it. It just doesn't agree with me and I don't have heart problems......
Atenolol Side Effects... 
