UPDATE: Now on ATENOLOL= Aches

Amy_Cable

Hi Anna, my name is Amy. I have a few things to ask you if you wouldnt mind trying to answer them for me? I'm on atenolol for my heart murmur, I'm also taking the 50 mg a day. I was woundering if your legs hurt so bad that you didnt think that you could take another step, can't go to sleep cause of the pain. It seems like every day is a challenge for me, cause of my legs. One more thing is did you have any places come out on your legs that look like veins or stretch marks. I have been on this med. for almost 4 years and last year when i went for my yearly check up my doctor doubled my doseage. 4 to 5 months later i started having problems out of my legs, and then these places came out on my legs. I hope that hear from you soon !
-Amy-

Lenin

Beta blockers knock the heck out of my energy and my thighs, being the largest muscles, suffer the worse. A weakness that isn't EXACTLY pain but close to it makes this drug class pretty close to impossible to bear (so I don't anymore.)

Atenolol disturbed my sleep pattern too, too, TOO much!

Palamedes

These are both fantastic numbers. What were your "home numbers" before the atenolol? Atenolol should be only used as a last resort; this is prescribed way too frequently. An ACEI or ARB is a much more logical addition. Atenolol would only make sense if you also have a high pulse rate that also needs to be controlled.

Pal

Random2

I was put on Toprol 50 MGS initially 20 months ago. Switched to Atenolol, because it was supposed to cause less side-effects. I am currently on 100 MGS of Atenolol & 5/20 of Lotrel. My only real vice is smoking. I went 3 hours on Friday without a cigarette. My B/P dropped to 110/63 & my pulse rate was 50. I feel that I have whie-coat as well. I will be going to a specialist early next year & hopefully I can wean off of the Atenolol. It doesn't work for me at all. I don't know why I was put on a beta-blocker. All of my EKG's came out normal. Played tennis is 85 degree weather on Saturday & felt slightly dizzy in the 1st set. The 2nd set was fine. Atenolol shouldn't be the 1st choice when it comes to prescribing imo, but I'm trying to do things the right way. I have white-coat & anxiety & the Atenolol & the Lotrel will not control my b/p at the doc. It is controlled everywhere else. The side-effects that I have had from Atenolol are loss of focus, depression, dizziness at times, G/I problems at times. At 34, I don't know why I am on this med., even during my panic attack when I was put on it my heart rate was 100 after a 4 day drinking binge. I don't do that anymore. When I drink, which I still do from time to time, I feel like junk. Personally, I don't think that Atenolol should be one of the 1st choices from personal experience, as well as most beta-blockers.

Uff-Da!

Do you have an accurate blood pressure monitor at home? If so, take regular readings, record them as to date, time, other (include anything here that might have influenced reading, such as unusual stress, etc.) Take the record with you to the doctor. That should show him if white coat syndrome was a factor.

If you disagree with a recommendation a doctor gives regarding prescriptions, remember it is YOUR body, not his. YOU are in charge, not him. And YOU are the one who has to live with the side effects and cost, as well as any positive results. Just do your research first.

Uff-Da!

I know this example deals with cholesterol medication, not BP meds, but it gives an example of a time I decided to "take charge."

My doctor tried to get me to go on cholesterol-lowering meds in 2001. (Though my total was bad, the ratios were so-so and I knew I'd been careless about diet.) I refused and said I'd try diet first. By 2003 when I still didn't have numbers down to ideal, she again suggested Lipitor, and I said I'd get more serious about dietary improvements, plus I started taking Niacin. (She had never recommended Niacin, and she cautioned about the dangers of OTC Niacin.) But (heehee) after the last time I saw her, she asked me for the address where I order my OTC Niacin, as she was so impressed with the results of my blood tests that she wanted to recommend it to some of her other patients.

Random2

Wait until some of the other side-effects kick in from Atenolol. It isn't fun. Maybe you will be lucky & not experience them like I have...

AnnaM

Sorry about delay in posting back, have been on a short break! To Amy, I don't get pains as such in my legs, I have had an ache in the hip and legs area. They feel like a dead weight, my BP as beena as high as 192/100 at the docs What other side effects can be had with this medication?
Also, how long do side effects kick in?
If anyone wants to post to discuss more please do!!
Anna

Random2

They kicked in for me in April or so & haven't stopped since. It really matters the day. Some days I feel lethargic, my stomach hurts some days in the morning, I feel depressed at times on the meds, dizzy (just a little) & etc. My B/P has been running really well, but the side-effects do continue. I have just had to find a way to combat them. Around 3 everyday, I drink a soda with caffeine. It helps with the lethargy. I still haven't found a solution for the mornings.