Well, it seems you have much more experience than I. I have taken Toprol SR and now take the generic Metoprolol SR. I do not know atenolol.
It is important that we have a rest HR below 100, and normal blood pressure. BB is the medication of first choice in my experience, whatever "brand". I have insurance, but prefer and am required to take generics whenever possible. So, few brand names in my "diet".
I take BB to control/lower my HR, I suffer from Atrial Fibrillation. My understanding is, that while aerobic exercise is "good" for the heart, a constant high HR is not good....can damage, maybe like so many other things, more wear-and-tear.
That's what the doctor said. He said the heart is a muscle and he said too much work on the muscle and it gives out. I have taken Toprol and it did not bring my heart rate down. I took Flecainide and that helped the rhythm problems but did not bring heart rate down. So I had a sinus node modification and pacemaker put in but now heart rate is right back up. He seemed worried which makes me freak out!
As I said, you have much more experience than I, and sorry that means you have more problems. BB does a good job of bringing down my HR, and my BP adjusts to it so that I don't have a too low BP. I do take a rather large dose, however, at least 100 mg a day, I have been as high as 100 mg twice a day (12 hours). The high levels of BB do take their toll, fatigue and maybe some troubling dreams, I'm not sure on the last point, I have them but it may be my age rather than the BB.
I know I'm not helping, but I am reading and hope others are/will.
I think your heart can take a high rate for long periods of time, it just adds strain, and best to somehow get under control. I guess the "final action" is to disable the SA node (not sure I have the name right) and put you under full pacemaker control.
Atenolol knocked me out. I could not function on that med. So my doctor took me off it and put me on Sotalol, then a mix of Sotalol and Cardizem. When my A-fib become chronic, we added Atenolol to the mix, put only as a PIP. Sometimes it worked, other times it did not.
Jerry- yes, he said that would be the next step but I really don't want to be completely pm dependant but if I have to I will! Thanks for your help!
twinbee-thank you also for responding. I have been on the Atenolol for about a week now and so far so good. I am tired though!
I was on atenolol for 10 years to control my rapid heartbeat. About every year, the dosage needed to be increased. By last October, I was on 100mg twice a day. I then developed A-Fib and was hospitalized for a week. I was instructed to continue it with Cardizem, then Flecinide, then Proprofone along with coumidin, and after 2 ablations, I am still in A-fib. I am currently taking 100 mg along with a new drug just approved by the FDA. Life was good before A-fib, and the atenalol did the job with few side effects. The worst was fatigue every time the dose was increased, but it only lasted a week or two. I did really well on it and wouldn't be afraid to take it.
Well that's good to know. I just hope that my body doesn't build up a tolerance for it because so far it is working really well. I guess I just need to wait and see. Thank you!
I was put on atenolol in my 20's because of IST. I was and still is a wonder drug for me. It lowered my heartrate but not too much. Of course I started out on 1/4 of the 25 mg pill and to this day (20 years later) I still just need 1/4 of the pill. Sometimes I get a breakthrough episode where my heart will speed up and I just take another 1/4. Atenolol is great as far as I am concerned. Start out by breaking it in half and see if that is enough to control your rate. I do hear people say it makes them tired if they take too much so hopefully you won't have to.
Good luck
Frenchie
I agree with Frenchie.. I am on atenolol for PSVT. I am somewhat fatigued but it does a great job on my heart rate. I tried lots of meds before- verapamil, cardizem, flecainide, Toprol XL ( hated it- had headaches, bad nausea). So far the atenolol has worked the best with the least side effects for me. The bad effects I feel are fatigue, and a heaviness in my chest laying down or with exercise. But prior to taking my resting heart rate is 110- 120... and then the SVT attack it would go up to 150 - 175 for an hour or two. I am sure you are "worn out" with it at 155.
I too am only a low dose. I take 1/2 at night and 1/4 in am... but I have very low BP so have to keep dose low because of the low BP. I recently tried to decrease and go off with cardiologist permission... did not work . My daily heart rate went up again and I hate the pounding racing feeling along with exhaustion it caused me .
Good luck to you... I hope it works for you. It has been a lifesaver for me!!!
Thank you all for your comments. I feel better knowing that it is working for people!
So far so good on it! I am a little tired but was tired before with the high heart rate so this is much better to me. I have a hand held heart monitor that the doctor gave me and I have not even had to use it. Things have been very calm which is nice for a change!!