Side effects of Atenolol

[Gail]

Yes I agree, I have been through alot over the past 4 months I have had to go through two different procedures to correct this problems with my heart rate. I have WPW syndrome. I ended up having Three additional accessory pathways in my heart that had to be ablated. the dr told me I also have inappropriate sinus tachacardia thats why he put me on atenolol, but i dont really think I need it. I think that I still have something wrong with my heart but maybe still the WPW Syndrome. I cant even get back to work because of this. Im getting tired of trying to get it fixed because it takes so long,but i feel so bad still, my heart is constantly fitting my body all day long. I dont even drive the car because i get so weak at times, and cant walk far without getting dizzy. I have another appointment in september and I hope he has some more answers.

[Kathie]

After reading some information, I am convinced that Atenolol (50 MG) is affecting my reading vision. Even with reading glasses on I'm having difficulty.
Is anyone else experiencing this and if so, did you go off the medication? Did your vision improve?
Did you wean off Atenolol?

[John_D]

Gail,
My wife had similar experience of constant weekeness and feeling poorly. After an angiogram it was discovered that although her eart was beating fast (sometime VERY fast) it wasn't really pumping the blood around. Hence poor oxygen circulating in her system. The Doc put her on digoxen and this has greatly improved hr sotuation, although she still takes 25 mgrams of atenolol.

[Sara]

I have 27 years old and have been on atenolol for 3 years now for HBP and rapid heart rate.
Since starting atenolol I have been diagnosed with hoshimotos, rhuemitory arthritis and lupus.
Last week my dose was increased from 25mg to 50mg. Mostly because I was at the doctor before I had taken my medicine in the morning and of course my heart rate was up. since upping the dose I feel dizzy and even more tired. They tell me to excersise but how can I when I have NO energy? Anyways, I just wanted to vent that I was fine for the last 3 years on 25mg and now feel horrible on 50mg. Im so frustrated because i want to know WHATS CAUSING the problem and why nobody wants to look for a cause to fix the problem rather than masking symtoms.
Anyways, I am going to take a half a pill today (25mg) and see how I feel.
Oh and in response to the people trying to lose weight. I tried EVERYTHING and what finally worked for me was weight watchers. stick to it though! I lost 10 pounds in the first week and 25 over the last 6 months and maintaining it perfectly now. give it a shot.

[John_D]

Sara,
I have read on various websites, that anything over 40mgrams is just wasted! It doesn't do any good. Anyway, good luck with losing weight, you are really progressing.

[meli]

can i take atenolol 100mgs and a sleeping pill 2 hrs apart

[nails]

I just found this site and read a lot of years of effects. i've been on atenolol for 11 years now. Started right after an MI at age 50.Before the MI I had a lot of fibrilation for a few months and the cardio docs sayeth not to worry; I was in good shape. don't be fooled, your body tells you things. I can't remember first taking it but at the time I was blown away by the MI; had panic attacks; feared going to sleep at night; felt everthing in my body and thought it was the heart. Cardio docs never heard of the panic. poorly trained. finally found a book that described the panic as a symptom of a sudden MI; mind blowing. I had friends experience it too and I was there to help. atenolol ruined my libido but when off it my heart rate goes up. No headaches; no real fatigue now but I do aerobic stuff 2 days a week and weight train. Its hard to get the rate up more than about 120 bpm but if i forget to take it and exercise it runs up to 150 easily; not good. I don't know life w/o it. The doc says to stay on it but its not good for the wife and me for me to lack interest. Fear should be related to your heart problem and not the med. Normally I beat 60 bpm and I guess that works OK. Libido is important but your heart comes first I recon. Its a depressing catch 22.

[John_D]

NAILS.
I also have a pulse rate of 60 but stopped taking Atenolol after it really affected my leg muscles. So much so that I couldn't walk even 100 yards without pain. Still now after 2 years although the pain has eased I cannot walk too far. I also worked out in the gym 5 days a week, and Atenolol stopped my heart from reaching 140; that was one of the several reason my Dr took me off it. Reference libido, well, have you tried taking testosterone steroids? I took Ananvar when I was body-building and believe me that did the trick as well as building up solid mnuscle.
BTW, a friend who attends a Health Center for her heart problems says that the Drs there refuse to offer Atenolol at all!

[Marie]

This may be to old a post to respond to, but I am wondering if Laura had her ablation and how it turned out???

[tinshield]

I had ablation done two years ago at John Hopkins Hospital in Maryland and it has been the best thing since sliced bread. I had heart palpation's for approximately fifteen years sometimes my heart would race above 180 beats per minutes I was hospitalized on several occasions for it. After my wife passed away after 25 years of a wonderful marriage, I found another special lady who happened to work at Hopkins and she told me about the procedure and the rest is history I thank God everyday for his grace and sending her into my life she is now my wife if you have any questions I can try to answer them for you my e-mail address is [e-mail]

[Gail]

Just an update for you guys..I have completely come off atenolol and I feel so much better....the Dr found out I had an underactive thyroid, im guessing the meds had an effect on that since it would cause my heart to drop way to low when on it and made me feel ten times worse....im slowly starting to feel better..I would suggest anyone who is on the meds if you are having problems please consider other options and make sure its the right med for you.

[nails]

What is ablation?

[tinshield]

nails wrote:

What is ablation?

More than two million Americans suffer from atrial fibrillation, a condition in which the upper chambers of the heart (the atria) begin to quiver instead of beating rhythmically. This can cause blood to remain in the atria, where it may form clots. If these clots go to the brain, a stroke results. Therefore, it is important to correct atrial fibrillation. The most common methods to rectify this include drugs to slow the heart, electrical shocks to restore normal rhythm, atrial pacemakers to maintain normal rhythm, and ablation surgery to destroy tissues that stimulate abnormal rhythm. Ablation surgery has become one of the most effective methods in treating atrial fibrillation, especially in patients who do not respond to drug treatment. That is why most doctors put people on "atenolol" so that it slows down the heart.