Atenolol

I have posted here several times before about p.a.c.'s ans p.v.c.'s and have said before as now,that through extensive tests the doctors always tell me my heart is excellent,I just have these arrythmias.Well I recently got tired of putting up with them,especially since they were interfering with my sports and exercise,etc.I wanted to try beta blockers so my cardiologist put me on 25 mg of atenolol once a day in the morning.I can play tennis etc.with almost no extra beats,though I am slightly tired and have mild light headedness.The thing that concerns me is that I get headaches,for most of the day and they abate only at night ,I presume when the drug is wearing off.Are headaches common,and how long should I put up with them before I quit the atenolol,because right now the trade off is not worth it.I have been on atenolol for only one week.I love my execise routines and wanted to be rid of the thing that bothers me ,the stupid skipped beats.
Thanks
Andy A.

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

Headache has been reported in less than 3% of persons receiving atenolol.  You will have to discuss with your doctor the side-effects of the medication vs. the benefit and make a decision as to the best course of action.

[Louise]

I have been taking Atenolol for 5yrs and find i do get headaches. They seem to come and go but do not stop taking the pills as the pacs return it maybe something you have to put up with.

[Linda]

I have been taking Atenolol for over 2 years but I have not experienced headaches from taking the medication.  I think that you should allow at least two weeks to decide if you should quit.  Beta blockers are sometimes prescribe for migraine headaches.  The dose you are taking is quite small.

[PATTY]

Try taking your atenolon at bedtime. I find the effect are common for about 8 hrs. after taking this medication. After 8 hrs. I feel fine. It works for me.

[chris smith]

I had headaches when I first started taking atenolol also and my doctor told me that can't be, as beta blockers are used to treat headaches. They eventually went away.

Chris

[June]

I have been suffering, and I mean suffering, from PAC's and
some PVC's since Christmas day.  I used to get a few maybe 2-4 times a year.  Now they are with me everyday.  All the doctors say that it is normal and to just live with it. I find it debilitating because my mind just cannot accept what they are telling me....How the hell can all these irregular heart beats be normal?? I a sick and tired of living like this.  My quality of life is horrible because I live in fear all day and all night.  I have be wearing this event monitor for 5 weeks and finally the PAC's are showing up with the frequency that I had told the doctor in the beginning....I even went to the emergency room Sunday morning and by the time I arrived all was quiet in my chest! As soon as I left, they came back again....so I do have them on tape with the event monitor....The cardiologist believes that my June 99 stress/echo test revealed that my heart is structurally sound....so...what the heck gives here?  I want to know what I can do to live with this....what are the best medications that have the highest success rates...Having a wacky beat once in awhile is doable...but I can't do this.....Please somebody out there help me!!!!!!!
June Bower-----***@****
Thanks

[raymond f. carroll]

i have been taking atenolol for 9 days, the third day was the worst for dizziness, will be taking these for two weeks then visit the doctor. I have ihss and my blood pressure went up a little sice my last physical

[Bill Morse]

I have been on atenolol for over 15 years for high blood pressure.  For about the last five years I have had mild irregular heartbeats sometimes after exercise and at other times for no apparent reason.  I am on 50 mg. daily.  Should I be being seen by a cardiologist?  My pcp has had me on halters periodically with no identified problem.  I recently spent an overnight in the hospital to monitor for heart attack after I became very ill on the road.  the emergency room Ekg showed irregularities, but the other hospital tests revealed no abnormality.  I was also given a stress test; it was successful.
My lastest visit to the pcp revealed a slight irregularity, and I am going in for another halter visit.  My anxiety is up again.

[Mick]

I have been having irregular heart beat for a few months now, and my doctor has just prescribed Amiodarone, but nobody has told me what they are for, I am also taking Atenolol and Amlodipine for high blood pressure, should I be taking the Amiodarone as well as the others.They have also told me to let the Driving Licence Office now that I am taking this new pills, as I am a Heavy Goods Vehicle driver. What does this mean?  Please give me some advice.

[Greg]

I AM 43 YEARS OLD MALE AND JUST HAD MY SECOND STROKE AND TWO TIA
MY DOCTOR TOLD ME THAT I HAVE FACTOR FIVE BLOOD DISORDER. HE HAS
SENT ME TO A HEART DOCTOR. HE TOLD ME I SHOULD NEVER HAD A BLOOD
CLOT IN MY BRAIN, HE SAID THE BLOOD CLOTS HAD TO BE COMING FROM MY HEART. PLEASE HELP TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON. THANK YOU!

[Amy]

I HAVE BEEN ON ATENOLOL FOR 1 1/2 YEARS NOW. I TAKE 200 MG PER DAY AND STILL HAVE DAILY PALPITATIONS.  2 YEARS AGO I HAD AN EP STUDY WHICH REVEALED A FIB BUT I WAS RECENTLY TOLD THAT I AM EXPERIENCING PVCS, AND NOT TO WORRY.  i WAS WONDERING IF ANYONE KNOWS IF ABLATION IS AN OPTION FOR PVS.

[vince greene]

2 years ago I was diagnosed with Ihss and now they call it hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. I have been taking atenonol 150mg per day in the mornings....never headaches but the iregular beats are present. the way i look at it is if its iregular its because of the food types ive eaten durring the previous hours and try to identify them. coffee,smoking, and monosodium glutamate seem to be the big ones for me.especialy MSG!!! try to find and consume products without msg....not easy. my daughter has SVT (super ventricular tachicardia) she seems to be as sensitive with the msg....hope to be of some help.

[Andy Watson]

I have been diagnosed as having an ectopic heart beat and prescribed atenolol, I took these for 12 days but had to stop because my Asthma gradually got worse. What do I do now? Do I carry on taking atanolol and put up with the asthma or do I stop taking it and put up with the ectopic's. Some advice would be great.     I take Becotide and Ventolin to control my asthma .

[Bridie to June on pacs pvcs]

June I understand exactly where you are comming from. I am 28 and suffer with pacs and pvcs everyday. They never leave throughout the day and night I have been to the ER alot and have had some tests done. That dont really show anything significant I dont really believe that there is nothing wrong with me because of the frequentcy of these things they ruin your life.When I do once in a while get a break from these beats maybe for half hour here or there I feel relieved but know taht they will return. I understand how you feel If you need to vent I will listen. n

[Louise]

IAM 53 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE BEEN ON ATEONOL NOW FOR 2 YEARS I AM NOT SURE IT IS DOING MUCH GOOD BUT WHEN I DO BENDING I GET A HORABLE HEAD PAIN IS THIS NORMAL????????? THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP

[marcia]

I am currently taking 25 mgs. atenol daily,have MVP and am currently experiencing unusual palpitations.  I had an ekg today and blood work, blood count and electrolytes and thyroid. The palpitations are uncomfortable and seem to be more frequent.  I have no other symptoms, but am concerned about these constant what seem to be missed beats

[Victoria]

I've been off/on Atenolol for the last 5 years.  During that time, I've had 8 bad episodes to send me to the ER - palpitations so hard and irregular that I couldn't catch my breath, making me lightheaded and wanting to pass out.  I quit my atenolol in January and experienced two episodes that had me reaching for 50 mg of atenolol again.  In about 30 minutes, I was ok.  Is it safe to take atenolol on an "as needed" basis?  Also, can stomach problems relate to palpitations?  Sometimes, I get gassy and feel bad indigestion right before I feel the palpitations begin.  My electrophysiologist says no but he cannot find the answer of what might start these awful episodes.  I'm 46,4'11", 150 lbs and tests show no heart abnormalities.  PS: thanks for this website, I don't feel alone or feel I'm going to drop dead so why bother planning to live happily ever after.

[Mark]

I've noticed palpitations when I try belch due to indigestion or excess gas.  Often they occur during a meal or right after a meal.

[Frank]

TO VICTORIA-COMMENT ON TUESDAY 28,2000

I ALSO HAVE TAKEN ATENOL WHEN HAVING PALPITATIONS TO HAVE THEM GO AWAY RIGHT THEN AND MAYBE NOT GET THEM AGAIN FOR MONTHS. I CAN'T GET AN ANSWER WHEN I ASK ABOUT TAKING IT "AS NEEDED".HAVE YOU GOTTEN ANY MORE INFORMATION ON THIS?

[clarice wicker]

I have been having PVC,s for many years. the doctors said that there not anything rong with me, I have spent thousands of dollars trying to find out what is wrong. I also take Antenol, it has helped some. At one time i had them so bad i went through a bad depression. My heart would speed up just hearing the phone ring. I had high numbers of panic attacks because of them, i would not evev drive,not even to the store. When i started taking Q-10, garlic, magnesium,vitiam E,calcum,vitiam C,it got better, it in fact has almost stoped.I have also noticed that when i eat food high in fat makes it happen even icecream.Has anyone else tried taking these vitiams? If you have did it help you? All i know is that through Prayer some thing has helped.

[RONETTA HOLLAND]

I HAVE BEEN TAKEN ATENOLOL FOR ABOUT 5 MONTHS NOW FOR MVP, MY DOCTOR WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE I HAVE LOW BLOOD PRESSURE AND ATENOLOL WOULD MORE AND LIKELY MAKE IT DROP MORE, THE FIRST 2 WEEKS I DID FEEL DIZZY BUT NOW IT REALLY WORKS FOR ME.. JUST GIVE IT TIME, I DO STILL GET PALPUTATIONS BUT NOT LIKE I USE TO AND I WOULD RATHER FEEL DIZZY EVERY BLUE MOON THAN PUT UP WITH PALPUTATIONS EVERYDAY..

[RONETTA HOLLAND]

I HAVE BEEN TAKEN ATENOLOL FOR ABOUT 5 MONTHS NOW FOR MVP, MY DOCTOR WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE I HAVE LOW BLOOD PRESSURE AND ATENOLOL WOULD MORE AND LIKELY MAKE IT DROP MORE, THE FIRST 2 WEEKS I DID FEEL DIZZY BUT NOW IT REALLY WORKS FOR ME.. JUST GIVE IT TIME, I DO STILL GET PALPUTATIONS BUT NOT LIKE I USE TO AND I WOULD RATHER FEEL DIZZY EVERY BLUE MOON THAN PUT UP WITH PALPUTATIONS EVERYDAY..

[annie]

I have been on atenol for three weeks for IST and now have been diagnosised with mitral and tricuspid regurgitation. My B/P was 160/110 and pulse was 120-140. The first week i was very sleepy, but now i feel fine and it is working for me. I am 33.

[Peter]

I am on atenolol for six+ months.  I don't get headaches or any of the other stuff mentioned here but I have had great difficulty getting and maintaining an erection.  In addition, I have almost no desire or thoughts in that area.  This is very concerning.