Forceful annoying heart beat

[Laurie500]

HI!  I have been on Verapamil, and gained weight from that.  I was also on nadolol, but the heartbeat was still forceful.  I asked to go on atenolol (10 mg in the AM and PM)  since it helped my mom for the same thing.  It is very noticeable and i have a hard time sleeping from this!  I recently went to a health and nutrition store...as I read the good effects of Hawthorne Berry on the heart..  I took that, but not at the same time as atenolol.   My heartbeat is worse then ever and sooooo strong and uncomfortable!    I won't go off the heart meds until I can slowly cut down.  Does anyone have suggestions as to what I should do?  No insurance becasue of layoffs, so this is hard.  Heart tests as of last fall (2008) were normal.  THANKYOU!  

[Jerry_NJ]

I read your post to say the herb made the heart beat worse, if true the stop taking it, I personally have strong reservations about most "home remedies".  

Sounds like you've had enough medical attention to tell you there isn't some critical problem with your heart, build on that to get your mind around of managing your emotions. that is a key to settling the heart down to a regular beat.

I don't know (have looked up) what your meds are, but if beta blockers the rule seems to be to tapper down before stopping.  But 10 mg, if a beta blocker similar to any I know of, is a very low dose and just stopping may not be a problem.  Did you doctor give you any advice on how to handle dose changes?  Maybe someone else will post here.  I have read you second post.

[NTB]

hi, Laurie. Does the atenolol lower your heart rate a lot? Were you taking it for hypertension or for rhythm control?

Atenolol is known to increase "central pressure". It sounds like that might be especially true in your case. If so, that can be dangerous as far as increasing risk for heart disease and possibly stroke - especially in the setting of hypertension. It's likely that the relentless banging pressure harms arteries.

Consider this letter to the editor in JACC:
"Atenolol Is Dead: Long Live Beta-Blockade
John R. Cockcroft, MD*"

"It is premature to sound the death knell for all beta-blockers in the treatment of hypertension based upon the Bangalore et al. (1) review, but it is high time to stop prescribing atenolol."

A vasodilating BB like nebivolol might be much better, but also many times more expensive.

Maybe another CCB would give you less edema.

[Laurie500]

Thankyou for the info!  I am going to try the new beta blocker...just maybe it's the key.  My heart rate is slightly lower with atenolol, not much difference.  I DON'T like it, for certain.  I appreciate the replies....will let you know.