Atenolol/Beta Blockers - sleepiness in first week?

Hi all,

I take Atenolol 25 mg for 8 days now and have noticed that I am tired and sleeping alot.  

It is definitely worse on days when I do exercise.  Today, all I did was one mile on the elliptical machine and then slept for 3 and a half hours afterwards.

I also take Xanax 1 MG and Lexapro 10 MG.

Can anyone else share their early experiences on beta blockers?

[ed34]

How did they establish your dosage? was it a finger in the sky or did they start it low and gradually increase until the desired effect was reached?  I take bisoprolol which is a strong beta blocker and they started me on 2.5mg. It used to take a real effort for me to fall asleep, but suddenly I could just shut my eyes and be off. Even in hospital waiting rooms I would fall asleep. They reduced me to 1.25mg and hey presto, back to normal. The beta blockers are still having the desired effect on my heart so the correct balance has been found.

[Flycaster305]

I think 25mg of Atenolol is a small dose.  As I recall when I took the drug, I was started on that dose and gradually it was increased to 100mg.  Like ed34 it was too large, and the dose was dropped to 50mg.  Beta Blockers keep adrenaline from affecting your heart, this has the effect of making you feel tired until your body adjusts.  It is a drug often prescribed to those persons with stage fright (politicians, musicians) and is a banned drug for some Olympic events like Sharpshooting.  
I take another beta blocker now, but have a love/hate relationship with them.  My heart is healthier because I take them, but I dislike how they affect other aspects of my life.  Certainly, exercise is more difficult.  

[bigkev414]

You're taking too much. Combined with the Xanax you're relaxing your central nervous system so much that it puts you to sleep. When I started (several years ago) on Tenormin the same thing happened. It also upset my stomach and gave me soft tissue aches. my tablets come in 50mg and 1/2 is 25. I cut mine into quarters and take one 1/4 each morning. I'm now fairly used to it and am drug sensitive and can only take small doses of any meds without side affects. If I have a busy day or a lot of exercise or stress and feel my heart rhythm start to become irregular or 'sense' that it needs to calm down I take another 1/4 at night. I've been under great stress lately and have increased my dose to almost 1/2 of a 50mg tab each morning, but feel weary all the time. Maybe you should try taking a quarter and then another quarter later if you feel you need it. It definately works and has reduced my SVT's (touch wood). I would be very interested in hearing how you get on with this. best of luck

[Flycaster305]

I'd talk to your doctor before changing your dose.  Beta Blockers are prescribed for a variety of cardiac problems.  In my case they are for Congestive Heart Failure and I need as strong as a dosage as I can handle.  You need to establish a baseline as Ed mentioned before the value of the medication dose should be altered.  

[bigkev414]

Flycaster is right - I meant to say that you should talk with your doctor  first  but forgot to type it in. Thanks for picking me up Flycaster. (put it down to old age - I was 67 on Nov 5th)
Hope you are going OK.