Atenolol efficacy vs PVCs

[stlcard1521]

Hi, I'm a healthy 21 y/o male who was recently prescribed atenolol for PVCs. I've been taking half a 12.5mg tablet for 3 days now; I think the tablets are making them worse. I'm getting about 10 or so a minute since I've been on the atenolol. I have some minor regurgitation in my pulmonary and tricuspid valves. I took atenolol for 1 day last month when my doctor first prescribed it (took a 25mg dose) and my PVCs were really bad that day so I quit taking it. I went back for a 30 day follow up, told him it made them worse and he said I just needed to take it for 4 or 5 days atleast to get a steady state blood level (He told me to maybe try going to 12.5mg when I restart, which is what I'm now doing). I restarted taking it again this week, it's been 3 days now and my PVCs have been more frequent than normal. Just wondering if the medication should be working, or if I need to take it longer. Otherwise excercise and good nights sleep seem to minimize them, I'll just drop the atenolol and go back to dealing with them. Thanks

[Bromley]

Hi. That seems like a lot of discomfort.  I have that trouble from time to time too, although I use a different beta blocker.

Dont forget to take the obvious steps of cutting back on caffeine and alcohol, and keeping stress under control.  I also find that regular aerobic exercise helps alot.

Good luck.

[Cleveland Clinic]

Cardsfan,

Nice name.

Unfortunately, the old adage "Theres no cure for the common cold" applies to PVCs as well.  There are a lot of mechanisms for PVCs, some people have them at slower heart rates while others have them at higher. If you are the former, then the addition of a beta blocker will increase the frequency of your symptoms. If the latter, then watching 95 mph fastballs whiz past Edmonds at the plate will probably increase them.

If youve had a normal cardiac evaluation then the presence of PVCs carries no significant bad prognosis other then their bothersome nature.  Honestly, your pretty young to commit yourself to starting a daily medication, so I would look to see if there are better ways of dealing with the symptoms other than the medication.  Look to this forum to see how others have dealt with their symptoms.

good luck