Tenormin and PVCs

[joep229]

I am 60 and have been taking Tenormin(Atenolol) (50mg) once daily for over 10 years. When originally prescribed, my blood pressure bottom # was 90 to 100 when I went to the doctor. He said it was borderline, but wanted it to be lower. About half the time, even to this day when I go to the doctor sometimes it is fine and other times it is still somewhere between 90 and 100, so I really don't know if the Tenormin is doing much. I Beginning about 3 years ago, I started having PVCs. When they started, I was having a lot of them for a few months. Eventually they calmed down or got so mild that I was not noticing them for quite a while. They seem to come and go. I am noticing them pretty much every day lately.  I have been checked out thoroughly and told it was nothing to worry about. My blood pressure is generally fine when I am at home or not stressed. What I am concerned about though is that my resting heart rate is commonly as low as 48 bpm. I'm in pretty good shape, but I am not a runner nor by any means an athelete. I don't get dizzy or have any symptoms that I know of from it. I have been told that Tenormin is sometimes used to treat PVCs, but I am wondering if PVCs can be a symptom of having a heart rate this low.

[Jerry_NJ]

Seeing no "takers" I'll jump in.  

I have never seen any mention of low HR as a cause of PVCs.  Of course the Tenormin contributes to a lower HR, and perhaps you have a natural at rest HR that is low.  You say you've been using the med for 10 years, so I suppose you don't have any reference number for a resting HR without medication.

One question I'd put to my doctor if I had been on Tenormin for 10 years is:  is there anything newer that could work better.  I'd also ask about PVC and the need for treatment.

[sb786]

My resting heart rate is about 50 - 55 bpm with or without beta blockers and my cardiologist and EP are very pleased with it.
My cardiologist told me that the pvcs i get at rest are due to a low heart rate and if i start to get many pvcs then i should clench my fist really hard and this should increase my heart rate a little and eliminate the pvcs.