Beta Blockers question - please help

[Lextgrim]

I am on Atenolol 25mg to keep sinus tachycardia under control, without it my rate would be continually fast - reason is unknown.  Anyway, I have been on them 3 weeks and getting on fine with them, until this morning, before my tablet was due I sat down and noticed my pulse rate while I was standing up was very fast, I could feel it pounding at about 120 or more.  

Is that normal?  Do the beta blockers wear off  by the next day before you take you next one?  Have I only noticed it this morning but it is normal?  I'm pretty scared.

I did have a scare last night with something else, I started itching everywhere worse than normal, I itch all ovre anyway, especially on my nose, but last night i had itchy blisters and thought it was an allergy.  But this morning I was still itching a lot and my heart was pounding, still is at the moment, just taken my beta blocker.

[fearfactor]

I have gone off my propranolol but I still keep it around in case I get into a bad spot with palps.  Like today, I had to take 5 mg because I have a stomach virus and fever and my heart was racing and skipping.  It calmed it right down.  Maybe you do just need to have the dose adjusted.

[chattychicky]

I've been on  Atenolol for 18 years. Just last week my dose was raised for the first time since then. I always  I took 25mg in the morning. Sometimes I would  need more. Sometimes it just wouldn't last thru the night. I totally understand the taking the pulse thing. I did it CONSTANTLY. The fear of how this heart stuff feels is very scary. Now my dose is 25mg in the morning, 25mg at dinner time and I was told to keep another 25mg handy incase of a break thru problem. So maybe you dose needs to be changed a little?

[Lextgrim]

Hi again, thanks for your response.  

I know I am guilty of checking my pulse when the tachy is happening, I think it is when you become anxious and it scares you and so you kinda do check it.  

I know that i don't check it much but when the tachy started I was checking it all the time and timing it, it scared me so much that I found myself checking it a lot.

Its fear that can make you do it.  I know about fear because it makes you latch onto things, and I have found myself giving my doctor information that only she should really know.  

[Ihatepalps2]

Hi! Ive been on Atenolol for about 20 years..originally put on strictly for palps..but now on for palps AND high blood pressure. I take a good size dose-50 mg in the morning and 50 at night. I didnt realize that was a "big" dose ( I dont really know if its considered a "big" dose) till I came to this site and see others taking much smaller...  but anyways...what I can tell you is that my resting pulse averages between 60 & 70 bpm. Ive gained alot of weight in the past year, so I do notice that it goes up quite a bit (80 or so) when Im up moving around....and really up if I walk a fair distance, or climb the basement steps. I dont know if that is normal--at that point its about 120-130 bpm.....thats just me...and in fact I have a Dr appt on Tues to ask about that.
but as far as it "wearing off" ... I DO notice by the time its about 12 hrs and my next dose is due..I can tell by my heartrate that its time. I had to have a stress test about 7 yrs ago..and they wanted me OFF the Atenolol for it--I tell you, I sure HATED that feeling. My heart just seemed to me to be pounding that whole day that I went without, until I had the test in the late afternoon. The DR was not concerned in the least tho.
but I would call the Dr on Monday if I was you...just to double check.
I dont THINK the rash is connected......but if you have been on the atenolol for just 3 weeks or so....maybe.........a connection...

[anacyde]

I would contact your doctor about this.  Your dose may need to be increased.  The itching...I would check into possible allergens in your home.

[Lextgrim]

It is not constant at 120, it's about 90 resting then when I walk about it goes up.  I took my beta blocker over half an hour ago now and its still about 90 resting but not pounding as bad.  The blisters are not all over I have been itching all over for months but I have a couple of blisters that started itching intensely last night.  They have gone pink now and have stopped itching.  They looked like tiny water blisters, I assumed it was because of the cat.  I think I'm allergic to my husband's cat.  I get up in the morning itching, especially in and around my nose.  It has been like this since we got the cat 4 months ago.  But the couple of blisters came on last night.

I don't think they're related to the beta blockers.  It's just so strange because the beta blockers have been working well.  But this morning I was back to pounding etc...  I just want to know if they do wear off the next day before you take the next dose?

It is the weekend so I can't see my GP.  

On the beta blockers my rate has been about 60-70 resting, and about I don't know 80-90 ish when I move about but today it has been 90 resting and about 120 when I move about.  I was feeling slightly anxious at the time I think - I did have butterflies and tightness in my stomach, when it started I was feeling a little bit wound up but the rate has not yet calmed down properly.  I do have a lot of stress at the moment and i was having a moan about the cat to a friend when it started.