Weaning off Atenolol and Arrhythmia

[Irishroots]

I was advised by my doctor to change from 25 mg (once per day) Atenolol for moderate Hypertension (which was not reducing BP well) to Lisinopril (5mg).  I was on 25 mg once a day of Atenolol.  Through some miscommunication with my Doctor, I didn't correctly understand that I was to reduce dosage gradually, so I went pretty well straight off it and started experiencing arrhythmias...not really so much fast heart beat, but irregular (PVC's?, ectopic beats?) what I would simply refer to as rather "sloppy" and not consistently normal sinus rhythm which was very concerning.   I went back to the Atenolol at 25mg which immediately stopped the above mentioned issues, so clearly causitive.  I had not had any arrhythmia problems before taking Atenolol.  My question: Is it reasonable to expect that a gradual (over 10 days) reduction in the dosage would result in my being able to get off the medication without Arrhythmatic symptoms?  Should I reduce it more slowly...over weeks or even months?  

[Mexicalirose]

Moe869...I know this is VERY late, & hopefully, you are fine now, but a Calcium Channel Blocker is NOT a Beta Blocker. It is in a different class of bp medications. It would seem that you came off the Atenolol COLD TURKEY.
No wonder you were having issues. Beta Blockers MUST be weaned. On the other hand, if you were to suddenly stop the Calcium Channel Blocker...no problem. It doesn't need weaning.

[2210485]

Thanks for putting this thread back on top..

I am absolutely baffled by the way the original case was managed..

I just cant think of a justification as to why a physician would turn to atenolol as a front line treatment for hypertension.

Atenolol is a fabtastic selection in patients who have experienced myocardial infarction.. Studies have shown it has a bit more impact on myocardial O2 demand then its competitors.. This has alot to do with the specific subsets of beta receptors these medications have an affinity to.

However in a simple case of hypertension metoprolol is the best option. Its well balanced (a good selection for control of hupertension or arrhythmia), its an extremely common medication thats available just about anywhere you go, its cheap.. The list goes on really.

I wouldnt start messing with anything else unless the patient just didnt tolerate it for a reason that can be specifically attributed to a particular type of beta receptor, the patient had some sort of intolerance to a filler or cosolvent or if a special circumstance demanded something else (such as the need to reduce infarct size and combat ventricular remodeling)

[Moe869]

I am having the same conditions since I switched and stopped my atenolol (50 mg).  I am curious did you get off the atenolol okay?  My doctor took me off my atenolol a couple of days ago and prescribed a channel blocker due to my heart rate that was low (48 to 50).  I am feeling the same symptoms as what you went through while off atenolol and also went to er.  They did an EKG, blood work and did a chest X-ray and told me everything was fine.  I thought that switching from one med to another may not cause any harm but I may be wrong.  Need some advice.  

[Mexicalirose]

A Calcium Channel Blocker, i.e. Amlodipine is NOT a Beta Blocker. It sounds as though you stopped the Beta Blocker cold turkey.

[jondsam]

I have been on 75mg atenolol for PVC's and NSVT for years.  When I tried to tapper down the atenolol I had very disturbing ectopic beats so I immidealtely began taking the full 75mg a day.  I have always done great on the beta blockers as I have no real side effects except for sometimes it causes fatigue.  On the other hand It has really helped the ectopic beats, but surely did not git rid of them completely.

[Irishroots]

Thanks for your comments.  Coming off this stuff is like coming off of Kryptonite for Gods sake....I am 44, extremely healthy with the exception of needing to treat some mild hypertension, but this Atenolol....cure way worse than the disease for me...and it's like the mafia...once you get in, it may kill you to get out!!  I wish my doctor had put me on a low dose of some nice, easy to manage ACE inhibitor and been done with it.  As I withdraw I am experiencing massive fatigue, serious anxiety, and a boatload of PVC's and PAC's.  I'll let everyone know when I'm out of the woods.

[CFS56]

When I quit I was scared so I went really slow. Cut in half took half dose for about 10 days, then half of that for 1 week, then every other day for a week.  Was ok with it.

[RNRita]

I have quit my 25mg of atenolol on a few occasions and the only thing it did was cause my heart to get faster again (I take it for a fast resting HR). It never helped my PVSc anyway.  I had to go back on cuz my heart went right back to 96 BPM and accelerated too quickly on the treadmill.  You always should wean off of a beta blocker, so do as I say, not as I do.  Try cutting in half (if scored) for a few days, then half every other day for a few days, then off.  See what happens.  No, it should NOT take months.