How do i wean off 25mgs of Atenelol?

[Lola58]

I've been on 25 mgs of Atenelol at least 4 yrs. I'm a 58 yr old female with HBP. Have no history of any cardiac problems. Just recently started developing side effects such as pain in the knees, sore feet & in past few mos have developed Osteoarthritis in a couple of fingers known as heberden's nodes. Not sure if all the symptoms are directly related to Atenelol since my mother has a osteoarthritis of the knees as well but seems to be my knees seem to hurt more within the last year than ever before. I went to see my physician (family dr) who prescribed 5mgs of Amlodopine to be taken once a day in the morning. To make a long story short I took one pill the other day at 11am and awakened the following morning around 3:30am with a pounding heart beat which I've experienced before if a missed a dose of Atenelol by mistake. I kinda expected this to happen so I had the Atenelol on hand and took one pill which almost immediately slowed my heart beat back to normal. How, pray tell, can I come of Atenelol without having a heart attack or a stroke? I'm terrified. Should I see a cardiologist?      

[Drinion]

Talk to the doctor that prescribed them to you

[tacolino]

Im not a doctor, but what you describe sounds like a rebound Tacicardia.
This occurs on the withdrawl of a beta blocker. You get a racing heart.
Often doctors wean you off a beta blocker. Its a slow process but it will eventually work.
I took Lebetholol for some time and after trying to stop, had to re start it as I had the same rebound you describe. I was taking 12 of them a day!! It was all ok as I reduced over a number of weeks, but when I stopped the last one, I was racing fast, so had to re start.
Im now at the stage of taking one every 2nd day.
Just sharing my experience with you. . .