Atenolol & Alcohol

Hello, I am a 22 year old college student. I have been prescribed 12.5 mg of Atenolol for tachycardia during panic attacks and because I seem to overreact to adrenaline. I am young and enjoy partying occasionaly. I never drink throughout the week and I am otherwise healthy despite the issue stated above. When I do drink, I am very careful with monitering how I feel and monitering my heart rate, so in other words I drink very slowly so I don't end up over doing it. I am a total lightweight so it doesn't take much to get me intoxicated, however I am always very careful not to get so intoxicated that I can not handle myself or any emergency that may arise. My question is this: Is it safe to drink alcohol occasionaly while on a very low dose of Atenolol? Will it worsen tachycardia? I have never experienced tachycardia or any other issues while drinking, however, but I have never tried drinking on this medication. I read that it could worsen dizziness and drowsiness, but is there a possibility that it could cause anything life threatening at such a low dosage and with my drinking habits? Thank you so much for your answers!!

[globalhiking]

Hi,
In general people on Atenolol are told not to drink alcohol at all while taking it.
Because Atenolol can cause blurred vision, drowsiness, and lightheadedness (amongst others), alcohol has the potential to make those worse, and increase your chance of accidental injury.

I don't know how much of those side effects you suffer from - but if you do, maybe you should abstain.
If you don't suffer from any side effects, then, maybe you can try to drink a little, but only at home, or somewhere safe when you can gauge the effect alcohol has on you.
Also no two occasions are the same, so even if one time was ok, maybe the next time won't be; so proceed with caution (I hope I don't sound too much like a 'party pooper'; I hope that's the right expression!)

About the tachycardia - I'm not sure if alcohol can worsen it (maybe other people on this forum know). But if you do try, be sure to be very well hydrated, and to eat not long before.
Maybe you know that already - but eating food higher in fat (the good ones, naturally!) before drinking, will help slow down the rate at which your stomach empties, and will slow the rate of alcohol absorption, lessening the chances of getting drunk.

Hopefully this helps :-)