Atenolol and exhaustion

[mariogreymist]

I've been taking Atenolol (50mg) along with Benicar (20Mg) and HCT(12.5) for a little over a month. I have previously taken the Benicar, and the HCT seems to be pretty benign from all descriptions. I have been really run down since taking the Atenolol. For a while, I thought it might be related to the pain meds I've been taking on and off, but it seems unrelated. On some days I am so run-down that I go to bed an hour after getting home from work. I can't make it through a day off without a nap, and I even have caught myself half-asleep at work a couple of times.

Anyone else get that from Atenolol? (On the bright side, my BP is normal since being on it.)

[Teacupforme]

Yes that's exactly how I used to feel. I was on 100mg plus an ARB in the am, and around 6 pm I would take another 100mg with my ARB. I was always severy fatigued,washed out and had trouble sleeping though I was exhausted.

I was finally advised that the Beta Blocker is not a medicine to take in a high dose as it has these side-effects. Oddly enough when I was so fatigued, I'd have to fight to stay awake and alert at work, that stress actually increased the BP.

What I did was cut back on the BB to 50mg in the morning and 50 mg taken at about 3:30-4:00 pm. I also slightly increased my ARB.

This eleviated the total exhaustion and by taken the dose earlier, I also was able to get back into my sleep routine.

[mariogreymist]

I'll ask the doc about taking half in the AM, half in the PM. I appreciate the importance of keeping the BP down, but I am liable to get a crappy review at work if I start snoring at my desk.

[Lenin]

mario,


Yes, that bone through fatigue is a common side-effect with atenolol...and most beta-blockers.
They block adrenaline and adrenaline is one of the hormones that gives us oomph (sometimes too MUCH! )

[bethsheba]

Originally Posted by mariogreymist

I've been taking Atenolol (50mg) along with Benicar (20Mg) and HCT(12.5) for a little over a month. I have previously taken the Benicar, and the HCT seems to be pretty benign from all descriptions. I have been really run down since taking the Atenolol. For a while, I thought it might be related to the pain meds I've been taking on and off, but it seems unrelated. On some days I am so run-down that I go to bed an hour after getting home from work. I can't make it through a day off without a nap, and I even have caught myself half-asleep at work a couple of times.

Anyone else get that from Atenolol? (On the bright side, my BP is normal since being on it.)

Mario,

I've been on all three meds and had the severest fatigue with hydrochlorothiazide...I'm not saying that it is causing your exhaustion but I do want to make you aware that is is not a benign med because in addition to exhaustion (I slept 12-20 hours a day on it), it can cause excruciating side and back pain, brain fog, sleep disturbances, breathing problems, gout, elevated blood sugars, etc.

Having been on atenonol, I would like you to be aware of possible falls...although I was fatigued on that med, I didn't seem to have the energy to lift my legs and as a result I experienced 4 very nasty falls inside my own home, and no, I've never fallen before. Another serious side effect someone may experience with atenolol is a loss of interest in things that one enjoys, mood disturbances, and suicidal tendencies...so you might want to find out BEFOREHAND what to do if you should experience these side effects as some meds (atenolol is one) should not be stopped cold turkey.

Take care, and beware...

Bethsheba