Atenolol - side effects?

At the risk of sounding stupid, can Atenolol increase the physical PMS symptoms?  Also, can it cause muscle cramps (in my calves)maybe by inhibiting calcium or potassium?  I have only been taking Atenolol for 3 weeks, 12.5 mg in the am and again in the pm.  I am having an usually bad time with PMS this time around and I haven't had a problem with muscle cramps in about 15 years, at that time I did have a problem with both calcium and potassium.   My blood tests prior to taking Atenolol showed these levels were ok.

[CCF CARDIO MD - DLB]

Dear Jan

Medicines can potentially cause almost any side effect. The muscle cramps could be from the medication. If the symptoms persist, you should mention this to your doctor and see if another medication is better-suited to your system. I would not really expect atenolol to aggravate PMS.

I hope this has been useful. I wish you the best of luck. Feel free to write back.

Information provided here is for general purposes only. Specific questions should be addressed to your own doctor. If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.