Atenolol - High & Low Blood Pressure Message Board

bshookie · 10-25-2008, 09:11 PM

since taking atenolol, have gained some weight and feel chubby and uncomfortable all the time. Do exercise as always and watch what I eat and doesn't seem to help since I'm on this.

marantz1935 · 10-26-2008, 02:21 AM

Hi,

I was taking Atenolol for a time and had a very bad experience on it (see my posts). If you are noticing side effects then it might be advisable to ask your GP to change to something else. I was on Micardis for a while and found it more bearable. Don't stop taking Atenolol abruptly. There's lots of different medication on the market and I'm sure you'll eventually find one that suits.

Marantz.

bshookie · 10-26-2008, 08:44 AM

Hi, I am so discouraged and frustrated. Atenolol is the seventh medicine I have tried so far. I've been on ace inhibitors, angiotension receptor blockers, calcium channel blockers and now a beta blocker. I try to stick them out even with the side effects, but some of them are just too much. I'm at the point I don't know what to do and my Dr. is trying so hard, too to find the right one for me. I'm just so tired of it all. It does help reading other people's stories.

flowergirl2day · 10-26-2008, 12:14 PM

bshookie,

How high is your blood pressure? Has your doctor tried a combination of two drugs in small doses, instead of a large dose of a single drug? This practice usually results in a good blood pressure control and minimal side effects. When changing medication, is the initial dose always low? The dose should always be increased gradually. It usually takes several weeks to see the full benefit. I guess what I am asking is whether you wait long enough before deciding that any particular drug is not right for you. Unfortunately, all drugs have side effects.

It seems you've tried all classes of antihypertensives. There is a new one, Tekturna, a direct renin inhibitor. Perhaps you should ask you doctor about it. There have been some very positive comments about Tekturna on this board. You might have to spend some time comparing the adverse effects of these drugs on your quality of life. The chances are there is one drug among them with side effects you will be able to live with. Good luck with that!

flowergirl

bshookie · 10-26-2008, 12:34 PM

When I was first diagnosed with High Blood Pressure in April, it was at the 180to 200 mark. My Doctor said it was probably due to getting older {I'm 53} and my Dad had High Blood Pressure, too so could be hereditery. A few of the ace ones I was given, it was hard to breathe. I can take some side effects, but not where it's hard to catch your breath. The calcium ones I was on for a few months and I had such pain in the calves of my legs. I couldn't hardly walk. I was also given diuretics along with some and they make me so tired, I don't want to do anything and it's even hard to exercise. With the atenolol, I feel weighty and not myself at all and I've never felt this way. Most of the ones I've tried I have been on a month or more and try to stick it out. I do need to lose some weight, but not seeing a difference even from watching what I eat and exercising. Am tired all the time. I hope I see a light at the end of the tunnel one of these days.