Anyone here currently taking atenolol for any reason? Anyone taking it for vtach treatment?

[kentuckybasketball3]

Hi all here is alittle history to start of. I have been diagnosed by a cardio. EP with PVCs and some short runs of non-sustained vtach. Very short runs, I am otherwise a healthy 17 year old male, weigh 140 and am 5ft 7in. With my palps, I have lightheadedness ,dizzy spells, weak, fatigue, and nervousness. I have no exercise tolerance and I used to play baseball and football. So my doctor has said over and over again that my palps are very beighn. The doc has said she is willing to start me on 20mg. of atenolol to help manage my symptoms and rid me of my palps. I have a structurally normal heart, and a resting heart rate of around 60-68 beats per minute. I have not started my medication yet basically because I am so nervous about it. I asked my doc all about it and told her my concerns and asked will it make my heart rate to slow and she assures me its a low dose and should not cause any problems at all but I am looking for some personal expericence and some reassurance and knowledge here. So with all that being said

what are everyones thoughts on the side effects of the drug?
Anyone want to talk about the effectiveness the drug has had for them?
what does it make you feel like?
did it slow your heart rate down to much?
have you ever stopped the drug how did that feel and was it real bad?
what are the chances I will have bad side effects?(know its a guess basically)
does the drug help anxiety as well?

thanks all for the help, god bless and hope everyone is feeling well!

[CFS56]

I took atenolol for a couple of years with no problems.  I'm also scared of taking medication and it took me a long time to convince myself to take it.  I did switch to bystolic but it wasn't because of any bad side effects or anything.  

[DeltaDawn23]

I have taken Atenolol since 2003.  For 7 years it kept me out of Afib.  I take a 25 mg. tablet in 1/4's throughout the day, keeping track of my blood pressure and my heart rate.  If they drop down, I delay the next dose.  I also take Xanax for anxiety .25 mg. in 1/2's as needed throughout the day.  My family doctor and I worked this out.  Beta blockers are pretty benign as heart meds go.  Atenolol is not supposed to pass the blood-brain barrier, and has less side effects than the Toprol I tried earlier.  I would not hesitate to try it.  Good luck to you.

[mikepvcs]

And I am a very anal person about drugs don't like them am scared of them am even afraid to take Tylenol But the atenolol was a life saver for me I feel safer taking that then the Tylenol. I know you don't me but this is 100% true. I had 10 mg pills and would take a half. And it just calms everything down. If I took a whole one I would feel sleepy. But take my word I know everyones body is different but I have nothing but good to say about it

[mikepvcs]

I was on the atenolol with excellent results I would only take a half and mellow right out. I was given it for tacky cardia

[SwanSong]

Oh forgot to mention. On the website, just under the drug's name is a link to the FDA for the most up to date info and warnings on the specific drug.

The link can be found under the drug name and its rating on the left hand side of the website.

[SwanSong]

There are several places online where you read about specific drugs and their side effects. Use your favorite browser and put the drugs name in it and read about it.

Each person is an individual therefore individual side effects. Not everyone reacts the same.

There is also a website, cannot mention name here, where drugs are rated by people who take or have taken them.

The search parameters I used were something like "bad side effects ____" and the drug's name in the blank. You can in put any drug at the website. There are also alphabetical lists. I went to the site and looked up Atenolol. There are two pages dating back to 2002 and most recent is 12/23/11.

Information posted on the site includes a rating, reason a patient took the drug, side effects for the drugs, comments, sex, age, duration/dosage, and date added.

I have used the website numerous times because you receive a wide range of opinions.

I hope this helps.