Switch From Atenolol To Cardizem

[loveachild]

I went to my doctor to have my bp checked.. like many i suffer terribly from "white coat syndrom" .. i was all hyped up and told myself not to get all hyper and stressed out.. As usual i did.. but, i always bring my bp machine with me and it stores that last 12 readings so the doctor doesn't think i'm a total nut job!.... I have gained 8 pounds since being on the Atenolol which is making me more stressed.. so we switch to Cardizem, thinking great.. but she took me of the At. cold turkey and i started having that pounding heartbeat off and on.. It scared me and i called and she said to stop the cardizem, and take 1 atenolol for 2 days... and 1/2 for four then start the cardizem... Has anyone experienced that type of problem.. I would imagine its from the switch... any help would be appreciated!!!

[cartner]

Listen, I'm not sure but I will tell you what's happening with me. I was on Ziac which is a Beta-Blocker and a diuretic, when I told my doctor that I want stop taking it he said that I have to gradually stop it so I took half of the tablet, the Beta-Blocker without the diuretic is called Zebeta, and now I take half the half and I should stop it completely after 2 weeks. I do that even if I was on other BP Meds that I have tried like Cozaar and Atacand which are from a different drug class, called ARB, so no problem.

Atenolol is a Beta-Blocker and should be stopped gradually, any doctor knows that. Anyway, why she told you to stop Cardizem?? it's a calcium channel blocker. I mean I think that you can take it while gradually taking off Atenolol, anyway I'm not a doctor so maybe in the case of Cardizem it's different but I'm sure that you have to gradually take off Atenolol.

I hope that someone else help you more than I did because I'm not sure that it's save to take Cardizem while taking off Atenolol or not.
Good Luck,
Michael

[loveachild]

thanks for the input... my mother also said the same thing as you... i think she made a huge mistake by having me stop the atenolol that quick.. talk about a horrible feeling, i will call her today and question her on this.. she's usually on the ball, not sure why she did it that way.. leave it to me, to have bad luck.. *lol*

[cartner]

I don't remember but there is people here that took off Atenolol in 3 months . I'm trying to take my Med off in 1 month or so.
Good Luck,
Michael

[cartner]

also ask her if it's save to grudually take off Atenolol while you are on Cardizem. please tell me what she said ok?
Thanks,
Michael