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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Atenolol - a Selectiv Beta 1 blocker
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Atenolol - a Selectiv Beta 1 blocker
by Cappy Walls, Nov 21, 1999 12:00AM
Untreated bp around 160/90 with additional problem that bp escalates rapidly when excercising. Also, results of "stress/echo" indicated heart muscle was not relaxing rapidly enough after each beat. AND there is a premature heart-beat - I think in the right ventricle - whatever it is, it is not of a life threatening nature.
My doctor took me off of Prinival and initially put me on 50 mgs of Atenolol. After a week of this I asked him if we could reduce it to 25 because my left leg, which has a badly damaged valve from a blood clot, was swelling badly. This side effect was almost immediate!! With his permission, I stopped the drug, doubled up on my diuretic for two days, and then started with just 25 mgs Atenolol and just one diuretic. This seemed to do the trick, but only for about 4 days. Then the leg showed signs of swelling until by the 6th day, my ankle was GONE. In each case the weight gain from retained fluids pushed 4#.
Anyway, I want to know if a different Beta Blocker would be better. The effect of the Atenolol on my heart was very good, bringing my heart rate into the 60's and my bp down to about 110 over 65. A far superior reaction than to the Prinival.
Sorry this is so long. Needed to get the history out. Thanks for any response - -
My doctor took me off of Prinival and initially put me on 50 mgs of Atenolol. After a week of this I asked him if we could reduce it to 25 because my left leg, which has a badly damaged valve from a blood clot, was swelling badly. This side effect was almost immediate!! With his permission, I stopped the drug, doubled up on my diuretic for two days, and then started with just 25 mgs Atenolol and just one diuretic. This seemed to do the trick, but only for about 4 days. Then the leg showed signs of swelling until by the 6th day, my ankle was GONE. In each case the weight gain from retained fluids pushed 4#.
Anyway, I want to know if a different Beta Blocker would be better. The effect of the Atenolol on my heart was very good, bringing my heart rate into the 60's and my bp down to about 110 over 65. A far superior reaction than to the Prinival.
Sorry this is so long. Needed to get the history out. Thanks for any response - -
Doctor's Answer
by CCF CARDIO MD - DLB, Nov 22, 1999 12:00AM
There are numerous other beta blockers, but no reason to think that they would be any better for your situation. I am surprised that the beta blocker would have caused such a side effect. If it really did, then you would probably be better off with another class of medications.
