Atenolol and excessive facial sweating

[Mary Ann]

Has anyone out there experienced excessive head and facial sweating while taking atenolol? I have been on atenolol for over 15 years. I am experiencing increased episodes of head and facial sweating. A friend of mine had the same problem which stopped when taken off of atenolol.

Nothing I read about side effects of atenolol mention this problem. I'm very interested in knowing if anyone else has had the problem and if so did it stop when taken off the drug?

I hope to convince my cardiologist to switch me to another drug.

[Steven]

Mary Ann wrote:

Has anyone out there experienced excessive head and facial sweating while taking atenolol?

First I have a question for you: Are you diabetic? The reason I ask is that beta blockers as a class mask the signs of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). All of them that is except for sweating. This can be the only sign of low blood sugar that you will notice.

If you are diabetic you will understand this, if not then this doesn't necessarily apply to you.

[Mary Ann]

No I'm not diabetic.

[J Owens]

I had facial hyperhidrosis even before I went on Atenolol in 1994. It did not worsen my condition. Sorry to burst your bubble. If you don't like what one doctor tells you, get a 2nd opinion. Simple.

[Marion Stannard]

On being advised to take Atenolol I have developed sweating, all over but mainly from the waist up - especially claminess of the arms, head and face. These are like hot flushes but last up to 2 hours (sometimes longer. I am also on HRT patches. Could the Atenolol stop the patches working properly.

[Marion Stannard]

You can contact me on [e-mail]

[phyllis]

I was prediabetic. I too am sweating like a pig every time I do any exercise. Then I am really thirsty. It drives me nuts! I am wondering if anyone has tried another beta blocker that doesn't cause this problem.

[Fred]

I have been taking Atenolol for 5 years. When I play golf, I have to take three hats and two shirts even when the temperature is in the 80's. I switched to a diuretic but that caused a severe rash. Has anyone found a beta blocker that does not cause sweating?

[Neil]

I have been taking 100mg atenolol for 3 years and have really bad problems with facial and head sweating.
Untill recently I was unsure what was causing this but I am now reducing my meds and the problem is getting alot better.

[jamie]

I have been taking Atenolo 50mg once daily for about two months now and have experienced sweaty palms to the extent that I need to go to the bathroom and wash my hands more then usual and have else been sweating from my axilla far more than ever before. I'm glad to see that other people have experienced this and that i'm not just a sweaty person!!

Thanks.

[JKK]

I take 100 mg of atenolol daily. I am also having the severe sweating. It is so bad that the sweat drips off my ear lobes with very little activity. I am going to ask my doc about getting off this and trying a differnt med.

[TMA]

I have been taking 50 mg of Atenelol for SVT (heart condition) for the past 15 years. For about the past 2 years, I have experienced EXCESSIVE face and head sweating, as mentioned in the comment above. I've done some research regarding this, and I haven't found anything that specifically lists sweating as a side effect, however, I think it is directly related to the Atenelol.I am a 34 year old healthy female otherwise, and don't have any other reason for the sweating episodes. Has anyone else had this experience?

[JLL]

I was on Atenolol for almost 8 years and I abruptly stopped(bad idea I know) because I ran out and decided not to refill. I sweated like a pig as well which I never understood. Since I stopped it hasn't been as bad. But I think I'm gonna go back on it because my heart rate has increased and I don't feel comfortable with that. I've only been off of it for about 3 weeks now so I hope I don't have to experience the side effects.

[Caren]

I can't believe it! I feel like I am going nuts or that something horrible is happening to me! I take this drug 50mg per day and the sweating is driving me crazy... I sweat at the nape of my neck (it gets soaken wet) and my face drips of sweat... Between living in the desert and this is awful! I am going to my doctor and discuss this with him especially after finding this website, its nice to know that I am not alone!

[Lisa]

I was prescribed 50mg of Atenolol once a day and started sweating excessively. It was so severe my makeup would not stay on and when I blow dry my hair it would be soaking wet in the back with sweat once I finished drying all over. My doctor told me it was not the Atenolol but once I stopped taking it the sweating stopped immediately. I am thrilled to find this website so I can print the comments and show it to him.

[cindy]

Lisa wrote:

I was prescribed 50mg of Atenolol once a day and started sweating excessively. It was so severe my makeup would not stay on and when I blow dry my hair it would be soaking wet in the back with sweat once I finished drying all over. My doctor told me it was not the Atenolol but once I stopped taking it the sweating stopped immediately. I am thrilled to find this website so I can print the comments and show it to him.

I to have really bad head and face sweating I have to carry a towel around with me because all a sudden I will just start sweating really bad I don't like going anywhere any more because of it. should I talk to my doctor about changing my meds?

[NWR]

I have had "head sweating" for about nine years. I have taken beta-blockers for 30 years. I used to be on Lopressor; I do not remember "head sweating" when I was on that. But, I have severe head sweating, and I am on 75-100 mg of Atenolol twice daily. I was not diabetic when I started atenolol (no relationship to my diabetes). There has been no increase or decrease in excessive sweating since becoming diabetic. I am curious whether Atenolol is the culprit for my "head sweating"?

[Scholastica]

I also had taking this medicine for 10 years. facial sweating side effect from altenolol is true. I dont understand why i am sweating even though i'm sitting without doing anything. My office is very cold of aircond but yet i still need extra fan coz i'm heavy sweating especially in the morning. i have been taking 50mg for 10 years and after 10 years my blood pressure goes high, now i have to take 100mg after reading reach to 180/120 and also need to take extra of adalat too.

[Diane]

Mary Ann wrote:

Has anyone out there experienced excessive head and facial sweating while taking atenolol? I have been on atenolol for over 15 years. I am experiencing increased episodes of head and facial sweating. A friend of mine had the same problem which stopped when taken off of atenolol.
Nothing I read about side effects of atenolol mention this problem. I'm very interested in knowing if anyone else has had the problem and if so did it stop when taken off the drug?
I hope to convince my cardiologist to switch me to another drug.

May i say that after reading your comments i came off atenolol after suffering severe head sweats for at least 10 years and now the sweats have stopped. Many many thanks. I feel so much better.

[JAMES]

Diane wrote:

<quoted text>May i say that after reading your comments i came off atenolol after suffering severe head sweats for at least 10 years and now the sweats have stopped.Many many thanks. I feel so much better.

Thanks for all the info. I thought I was alone. Arrhythmia resulted after a triple bypass 9 years ago. Since then I have taken atenolol to reduce heart rate.I have suffered severe sweating ever since. Does anyone know an alternative drug without extreme side effects.