Atenolol

[pkm]

Mother is 83 and on numerous medications. Her heart dr. has discontinued the atenolol for her high blood pressure since she is also on revatio (new term for viagra) and he feels this should control her pressure.  He also states the atenolol is contributing to her excessive tummy extension and extreme swelling of her feet even though she is on furosemide for water retension. This is the first we have heard of atenolol contributing to water retension.  Please give us your opinion.  Thank you,
Concerned Daughter

[Forum-M.D.-MJM]

Hello,
Revatio is used to treat pulmonary hypertension. Your doctor must have reason to believe that your mom's swelling is related to pulmonary hypertension and that Revatio is more helpful than atenolol.  Without knowing why your doctor thinks she has pulmonary hypertension, I am not sure that I can answer your question.  Pulmonary hypertension can be a complicated disease.  Believe it or not, some academic centers have physicians that specialize in pulm. hypertension and only treat this disease.  It may be helpful to get a second opinion.
I hope this helps.  Thanks for posting.

[Tas33]

I can understand your concern for your mom.  When their doctors switch their medications without tappering off, it's a little confusing how it will work out.  I'm not familiar with the new drug your mom is taking but am familiar with atenolol.  My dad, who is 80, last year had a stoke, and since he had been on Atenolol for almost 30 years, they decided it wasn't doing what it needed to do anymore, so they switched him to an entirely different anti-hypertensive drug.  It did have somewhat of an adjustment period where we had to monitor his bp/heart and meds were adjusted accordingly as we communicated with his doctor as needed.  After about two months, his body adjusted to it.  
As you mentioned the swelling from the Atenolol, I've not heard of that, but it's possible, her doctor feels the new medication will work better than the atenolol did for her with what her health situation is at this time.  I'd keep a close eye on her bp/hr while she adjusts and see if the new med is working the way it should be and consult her physician if concerns arise.

[Fionajnz]

I have been taking atenolol for the past 18mths or so, just tapered off it.  This was part of my tx for a post partum cardiomyopathy.  I have found a big improvement in the asthma symptoms I deal with and I know this can be a side effect of the med.  As far as it contributing to water retention overall, not sure that makes total sense, but betablockers can be tricky beasts and it would not entirely suprise me if it was a side effect in some people.  I also take lasix for water retention, I watch my weight and any shift overnight of 3-5lbs or more I take some lasix for a few days.  I can have weight shifts as much as 7 lbs overnight depending on what I eat.  I eat a low salt diet to help.

Hope your Mom feels better soon.

Fiona

[Brothabill]

The cardiovascular system, is well a system. They all interact and poor function in the system can cause backups, just like a traffic accident.

The left heart keeps you alive, its muscular, larger and keeps your blood pressure up and pushes oxygenated blood with nutrients throughout your body.

The venous system, well its collection the 'spent' blood after muscles, brains, organs and other tissues are done extracting the nutrients. It's NOT under high pressure, it's low pressure and it funnels back to the RIGHT heart through one way valves in the legs, muscular pumps in the calves push it along.
It comes from the head from the Superior Vena Cava, and from the lower body, liver, legs, intestines through the Inferior Vena Cava.

Dont worry, they are just fancy names for the large tubes that carry the deoxygenated blood so it collects into the right side of the heart. The right side is just an assist to the heart. The real work is done in the left heart, the side that keeps you alive.
The right heart, is under low pressure, it's smaller, less muscular and only pumps blood about six inches to and from the lungs back to the left heart. It's role is minimal.

BUT, if you have problems with the left heart, or the lungs. Like the left heart leaks back into the lungs or the lung microvasculature is rigid. THEN, the right heart is faced with moving blood against HIGHER PRESSURE.
WHich it doesnt do very well, since it's the wimpy right heart.
So fluid backs up in the system, first place it goes is the ankles. Older women are notorious for their swollen ankles.

This back up in the system can cause the left heart to have more afterload as well. SO they give lasix or another water pill to just lower the hydraulics in the system by stimulating a portion of the kidney loop to excrete more water. Lasix hence is called a loop-diuretic and also causes potassium loss. So that is a factor.



Atenolol is completely different. Atenolol is a 'beta-blocker'.
Now you have beta receptors all through out your body, primarily in the lungs and heart, but also the brain, the ovaries, the intestines, actually everywhere.

They respond to adrenaline. It's like adrenaline is the 'key' and the beta receptor is the 'keyhole'. Adrenaline comes and turns the keyhole and causes a reaction. Increase heartrate, increase this or that. All part of the 'fight or flight response'.
What betablockers do is go in and like the old prank of supergluing the keyhole of your dorm neighbor so he couldnt get in before the night of his final exams. Well that's what atenolol does. It blocks the key from entering the keyhole and no resulting action takes place.

They are great drugs and one could argue having them in the water, although, there are beta receptors in the brain as well and mild depression can occur as well as just a general feeling of being 'puny'.

Both diuretics and betablockers are prescribed for blood pressure control, although betablockers are crummy choice for it unless otherwise indicated. Diuretics are good first line.
Dont get me wrong, betablockers are great, but more for rate control rather than blood pressure control.

Anyways, I hope this gives you more understanding to converse with the physician so proper dialogue can take place to facilitate better care.

[Amber_WV_RRT]

I haven't heard of Atenolol causing swelling either, but Lisinopril is famous for it....that and a persistent cough.

[Ar-babe]

I have been taking Atenolol for nearly 11/2 years, and I have gained nearly 30 pounds.  I have been light headed recently with some strange, subtle throbbings in my right eye area.  I have heard that long-time use of Atenolol can cause these symptoms - is there any truth in this?  I am concerned - especially since I have battled weight gain for most of my life, and none of my clothes fit.  I am feeling better than I did with severely elevated blood pressure, but I have all of these side-effects.  Does anyone know if this is related to the aforementioned "beta-block"?

[MoonBunny316]

I'm 17 and have vasovagal syncope and i also have postural hypotension. Im taking atenolol for that and have found that it works miracles for these symptoms and instead of being put on the steroid for this disorder I figured if it works why not take it rather than be put on a steroid and gain 30-50 pounds.

[camedgrl]

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[naana6]

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