Atenelol Since 14 - High & Low Blood Pressure Message Board

MARKLONDON · 04-18-2005, 06:13 AM

Hi first post here for me

I have been on ATENELOL since the age of 14 - am now 36 -and am currently on 200mg!!!! yes 200mg a day! My blood pressure this week was 142/90 the doctors but as usual no concern was shown - I was told to try and cut down the ATENELOL to 150mg a day

sometimes my blood pressure is 100/70 and then other times 160/60 a few months ago it went to 192/112 but seems to settle at 130/80

When I have been to hospital for various tests and things most of the staff seem shocked I am on 200mg per day

Could this amount over 20 years be causing so many of my weird (too many to mention!) symptoms? and could atenelol be doing me more harm than good now?

I am at a loss as what to do - when I have tried to come off atenelol in the past have felt terrible

thanks

Mark

mgraylorn · 04-18-2005, 10:26 AM

If you don't have one, get a home monitor and take your bp readings 3 or 4 times a day for a few weeks to get a picture of what your at home, resting bp is.

High numbers only in the doctor's office could indicate that you have "white coat syndrome" - meaning you get nervous at the doctor's and that pushes up your bp, but at home you are fine.

If your at home, resting numbers are high, then you may need an additional drug, or to change to a different drug. Why isn't your doctor concerned? You need to ask questions.

Atenolol is a beta blocker and they must be weaned off of. If you are on 200mg per day and need to cut down, then try reducing the amount by 25 mg and staying at 175mg for a couple weeks before reducing it any farther. Don't lower the amount if you feel bad.

Lenin · 04-18-2005, 11:37 AM

Your post makes me weak in the knees.

I'm at a loss for words.

First, you must find someone who can diagnose the cause, not merely write out prescriptions.

Something BIZAARE is operating here.

Follow mgraylorn's advice and see what
you get at home over a month.

Random2 · 04-18-2005, 11:51 AM

After seeing all of these people wean off of Atenolol and feel so much better, it makes me wonder why doctors prescribe this drug to people without heart problems. It seems to cause more side-effects than help with BP at all.

zuzu8 · 04-18-2005, 01:41 PM

Marklondon,

When you were 14 and presented with high blood pressure, may I ask what tests were done to rule out underlying causes? I hope they were more than just a blood test and urinalysis.

It is incredibly rare to see primary hypertension at puberty, let alone in adolescence. At that age there is usually a secondary cause. Have these been ruled out?

You mention lots of "weird symptoms" and I'm wondering if they may be due to something other than the Atenolol, even though Atenolol comes with it's own set of side effects.

zuzu xx