Eliminating Atenelol

[GerryLeone]

I'm a 52-year-old who runs about 12 miles per week and have been doing so for over a year.  I've been on 50mg of Atenelol (25 morning/25 evening) for several years for palpitations; b.p. is normal.  

Recently someone told me that Atenelol "limits" how fast one's heart can beat... which would explain to me why I can never run farther than 3 miles without becoming winded.  At one point when my doctor had me on 50mg/25mg, I found I had to stop running at 2 miles because I was so winded.  When I reduced the Atenelol back to 25/25 and eliminated caffeine, I was back up to running 3 miles.  I didn't have additional or more frequent palpitations after reducing back to 25/25.  

I'd like to train for a longer run, so my questions are: IS the Atenelol really limiting my distance or is this a wives' tale?  Most important, is there any harm to eliminating the Atenelol totally -- in other words, can something more serious than just annoying palpitations happen?

Thanks for your time!

[Cleveland Clinic]

Gerry,

Beta blockers do limit your heart rate.  This can cause fatigue in some people.  It might manifest as limitations on your training distances.

If you are on the atenolol for palipatations, and you have no other indications, then there wouldnt be any long term problems with discontinuing the medication. I would discuss with your doctor to make sure there are no other reasons for the medication that another drug could be substituted.

good luck

[Clenn Camp]

Atenolol is bad at causing fatigue.  When my cardiologist doubled my dosage of atenolol from 25 mg once daily to twice daily I complained to him immediately about being so tired feeling and he said that is one of the side effects.  Stinks doesn't it?

Glenn Camp

[I'mallheart]

Hello i too take atenolol, it sux how tired we can get from it. i complained to my doctor and about 7 weeks ago we switched to taking it every other day and it has helped alot and i can take it if needed on the day off but so far been good. maybe look into this.. i just take 25 every other day... i have palpitations also with normal BP..
BEST OF LUCK

[pbanders]

Atenolol is a beta blocker, here's a posting that's similar to your question:

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/cardio/messages/34269a.html

Beta blockers change the way your heart beats, causing a lower heart rate and a slower rate of increase in arterial pressure (dP/dt) when your heart beats. As a result, beta blockers decrease your aerobic capacity (VO2max) to some extent. The amount of decrease depends on the individual, the type of beta blocker, and the dose.

I'm currently on 50 mg daily of metoprolol, another beta blocker. I was quite fit before I went on it, I raced bicycles on and off for years. I find that on metoprolol, at first, I experienced a significant decrease in my aerobic capacity. However, after a couple of months of training while using it, I find only a minor decrease in my capacity. I am able to ride 2 to 3 hours without problems, and am generally getting in 100 to 150 miles per week.

You should talk to your doctor about possibly trying a different beta blocker or dosage. You also may want to see if you give your exercise program more time, that your increased fitness level will compensate for any losses. I do NOT suggest that you self-medicate. I tried that with my metoprolol, and had a number of problems. Weaning yourself off of beta blockers should be done under a doctor's instruction and monitoring. Stopping the use of a beta blocker can cause tachycardia and worse.

[I'mallheart]

when you gonna post your answer!!! thanks for you answers

[Konopka1955]

Hi Gerry,  I found atenolol (12.5 mg X 2 a day) to definently limit my exercise ability as far as 'speed and distance' when I FIRST took the drug - but after several mos I was able to run "farther" and 'faster' than I could ever run 'before' taking the atenolol.  It took several mos before I saw any improvement.  

I was given a stress test after about a year of being on the drug (atenolol) and I got my heart rate up to 160 bpm before I got my first "VT" and the doctors decided to stop the stress test.  I know I could have gotten my heart rate higher than 160 bpm.  I don't think getting your heart rate that 'high' is normal when your on a beta blocker. But I could be wrong.  

I don't think being in excellent physical condition on a beta blocker - it should go that high - but I'm not a doctor.  

I know my EP doc did NOT like to see my heart rate go that high when I was running on a treadmill while having a VT !!  

The doctors on the CCF board are excellent and I'm sure they'll be of great assistance to you..

Good Luck and Happy Trails
Konopka1955

[Gaspipe]

You have to decide if you want to get the skips back because if they have been effective in their control of your PVCS elimination of the beta blockers may cause them to return.  One must assume you went on the drug because they were bothersome enough to go on them in the first place. Just because you get winded after a run does not mean you are not well conditioned.With a DOCs guidance maybe you could try lowering your doseage and see what happens. But even if you stop you may find your PVCs return with time as they have a way of doing. There are other meds to control them but you will find beta blockers are among the most safe antiarrythmyic meds around. You'll hear a lot about vitamins and such but they are all unproven .If your PVCs are benign as proven by the usual barrage of tests then maybe you'll wean slowly off the betas under your docs care and live with them when they return. I'am no medical authority but I been right where your at and have been on the gammit of meds and am back to my orginal med.. atenolol.I still live with PVCs but the beta blockers are the only med {and believe me I hate to take pills}I'll live with at present.Good Luck Gaspipe

[I'mallheart]

also you may want to try taking the atenolol at night..that way your not as tired with it during the day

[I'mallheart]

also you may want to try taking the atenolol at night..that way your not as tired with it during the day

[GerryLeone]

Thanks, Doc, and everyone.  Much to consider here, all of it good.

[usar13b]

My question to you is did the medication help to alleviate your palpitations during excercise.  I have had pvc's for a while.  My teenage son also gets them and the majority of the time he gets them is during a heavy work out.  Unfortunately for him they are not only annoying but are quite painful as well.  We have thought about beta-blockers and I've been wondering how effective they are in controlling excercise induced pvc's/pac's.  We have both had thourough heart evaluations and everything is structurally fine.

[Mantels]

I had an MI in Decemeber 03. Taking Toprolxl at night. Back to running 4-6 miles 5-6 times a week at 7-7:30 min per mile. Typical HR during runs about 145-155 I have had my hr up to 179 on a recent stress test and felt fine.

Taking the beta blockers at night helps, though some days by 5PM I am pretty tired.

[GerryLeone]

Usar13b:  I'm afraid I can't answer that question, since I've never noticed palpitations during a workout, and have never had pain from them.

Mantels:  Wow... 4-6 miles 5-6 times a week is great!  7:30/mile puts my 10:00/mile to shame.   That's tremendous.  I'll have to talk to my doctor about Toprolxl, and I'll certainly try switching the Atenelol to an evening dosage.  Thanks.

[LR57]

Interesting, I was offered 1.25mg od Cardicor (bisprolol, another very selective beta blocker for the heart) as a fix for palpitations experienced while running. The drug made my palpitations worse, with palpitations occuring while at rest and accompanied by waves of dizziness emanating from the chest, a new symptom. I stopped after 7 days. Withdrawal of this minimal dose then turned me into an invalid for the next two weeks. Five weeks after the event I am still not fully recovered. If only I can get my heart back to where it was before taking the beta blocker I will be content to accept my limitations and just stop running.
Having done some research since, I can not see it is appropriate for beta blockers can be offered as a fix for exercise induced palpitations.
Catheter ablation looks promising but the problem would have to be very severe to take the risk in the UK's dirty hospitals. I notice Tony Blair is claiming catheter ablation has fixed his palpitations.

[LR57]

Interesting, I was offered 1.25mg od Cardicor (bisprolol, another very selective beta blocker for the heart) as a fix for palpitations experienced while running. The drug made my palpitations worse, with palpitations occuring while at rest and accompanied by waves of dizziness emanating from the chest, a new symptom. I stopped after 7 days. Withdrawal of this minimal dose then turned me into an invalid for the next two weeks. Five weeks after the event I am still not fully recovered. If only I can get my heart back to where it was before taking the beta blocker I will be content to accept my limitations and just stop running.
Having done some research since, I can not see it is appropriate for beta blockers can be offered as a fix for exercise induced palpitations.
Catheter ablation looks promising but the problem would have to be very severe to take the risk in the UK's dirty hospitals. I notice Tony Blair is claiming catheter ablation has fixed his palpitations.

[bd21]

A related discussion, Heart Palpitations was started.

[PEG1001]

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[jovi1499]

A related discussion, Tapering Atenolol was started.