Atenolol Side Effects? - High & Low Blood Pressure Message Board

adam2000 · 04-10-2005, 04:34 PM

Ive been on atenolol for about 13 years. I take 50 mg 2x a day and lotrel 5/20 once a day for HBP.

Ive been hearing there are side effects to atenolol? Any specifice? I also have within the last years began being treated for Anxiety with paxil. Just had a recurrance of attacks this weekend...

Adam

Random2 · 04-11-2005, 07:12 AM

You are pretty much on the same meds. that I am on. I think that Atenolol is the worst. It gives me stomach problems, usually the next day, especially when I don't eat anything the night before. I used to be able to go for the majority of the day without eating, but with the Atenolol I need to eat at night or my stomach will churn & my stomach will feel really acidic. It also makes me feel lethargic & out of it at times. I am going to try to wean off of the Atenolol. I never felt like this in the mornings until the Atenolol. I went 2 weeks with no stomach problems, but last night I had nothing & I feel like junk. I know the pattern. It will pass & I will feel fine for a couple of days. The lethargy doesn't pass. I wanted to quit caffeine, but it is impossible. I have had to quit alcohol altogether, because of these meds. I am not a fan of Atenolol and it has altered my lifestyle and the way that I look at things at times. In the afternoon, I need a cup of coffee & a caffeinated soda or I will feel exhausted. It brings my pulse down to 53. On this combo, I have been getting readings of 110/65 & 108/61 lately. It is time to wean....

adam2000 · 04-11-2005, 10:34 AM

I have the lethargy at times as well. I have been taking my readings lately and have found them to be 116/68 and such. My resting pulse has been down around 55 at times too. Is that too low? I just came home from work for a quick lunch and took it...it was 120/84 with a pulse of 64 and thats with me moving around. i notice it drop off alot before bed, and my body temp is all out of whack too...i see my doc today, ill see what he thinks...i always get the nerves goin at the drs office, so i hope it doesnt end up being high...

Can it affect body temperature and things like that? Ive had a low grade temp in the evenings of like 99.3ish for a long time. CBC's shows all was fine. I wonder if this med does it to me....

THanks for the input!

Adam

mgraylorn · 04-11-2005, 11:07 AM

Feeling cold, especially in the hands and feet is a common side effect of beta blockers, as is lowered pulse rate. I believe feeling tired is also a side effect.

A pulse of 55 is not too low. Some athletes have pulses much lower than that.

Random2 · 04-11-2005, 11:31 AM

I disagree. My pulse was just 55. I feel lethargic when it is that low. My B/P has been 110/65, 110/65 & 107/61 over the past couple of weeks. I am also on Atenolol & 5/20 of Lotrel. It causes my body temp. to be a little bit lower like 97.4 & etc. For athletes, fine, but for younger people (I am only 34) Atenolol is old way to treat HBP. It is terrible to be in a job where I have to be alert & look great at all times & feel lethargic, or have stomach problems or just feel spacey. It's not right. I am weaning off of Atenolol. I have no heart problems (2 EKGS & a chest xray in the past 2 years).... Why am I on so many meds. when my problem is anxiety... not high blood pressure. I am saying later to Atenolol. It doesn't do much to blood pressure anyway. I would rather be 140/80 naturally, which I would be then have to be on meds. that ruin my lifestyle.