Weaning off atenolol... Need little help

ryan3 · 10-09-2006, 08:59 PM

I've been on 50 mg of atenolol for 5 yrs. Currently weaning off, took 25 mg for 7 days and now am on 12.5 for the last 2 days. I'm going to try to skip my dose tonight. I have been having high anxiety and periods of high heart rate even at rest ranging between 90-116. BP has been getting a little elevated 140/86. From what I have read this is normal. But when will it all go away? I can't stand the feeling of my pounding heart!!!With activity I can get to the 120-130's. Please any info from past atenolol users needed. Thanks. Have already started taking dyazide but that has offered little help with BP seeing that it usually takes diaretics a few weeks to be theraputic. Right?

CASSIEBEL · 10-09-2006, 09:19 PM

I can certainly feel your pain. I was in your shoes this time last year after being on atenolol for 17 yrs. It took me a lot longer to get off. I went from 50 to 25 to 12.5 in about 3 months then started trying to go without any for 24 hours but I would get so nervous I would just break off little pieces to get through the day. I finally got down to crumbs. My first 24 hours was the hardest and then it got easier each day. I think it might have been esiser for me because I switched from atenolol to diltiazem (a calcium channel blocker) which also calms the heart a bit you on the other hand are taking a diuretic which (in my experence) makes the heart beat faster. You may have shortnes of breath, palpatations, dizzziness, weakness, and some anxiety. I don't mention these things to scare you, just so you will know what you may expect.
I'm sure you'll be fine it just takes a week or two and then it will get better and you will feel so much more alive.
Cass

Lenin · 10-10-2006, 09:07 AM

ryan,

Some people take a lot longer to get off atenolol especially after 5 years of taking it daily. A couple months of weaning isn't completely out of the ordinary.
Why not stay with the 12.5 mg. dose for a week or two more, especially if you are feeling high anxiety and a pounding heart with that dose. Going to zero tonight might be more than you want to bear.

After long dosing some people have had to go a month or more on half dose and then the same on a quarter dose. Basically the approach should be to stay with a certain dose until it begins to feel normal and then drop it lower.

ryan3 · 10-10-2006, 02:09 PM

Thanks guys, I had to take my dose lastnight I couldn't stand it, I feel like a drugie or something

Anyway I think that makes sense Lenin, and I will stick with 12.5 mg for about another week or so untill I feel somewhat normal. Actually, I feel a lot more energetic being off of the 50mg, it's not untill it's almost time for my next dose of 12.5 that I start getting anxious and racing heart rate. Thanks for all the info. It just helps to know that others have gone through this and are fine now.

violet312s · 10-11-2006, 11:38 PM

Had the same experience with weaning off Toprol. Worked with my doc who wanted a weekly change and moved to a 2 week change. Wow the huge anxiety issues and heart ups and downs were horrible. With a longer interval of change, it gives your body a chance to adjust. At least it did for me. Gradual tapering is so important.

But yeah, I loved the renewed sense of energy after my body adjusted. I no longer felt like I was operating in a fog. So stick with it...it will get better!