Topic: For those on a beta blocker - Atenolol and lightheadedness???
disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
Hey guys. My cardiologist just switched me from 50mg Toprol to 25mg Atenolol due to my having more palpitations lately. He also had me on a holter monitor for 24 hours, but won't get the results of that for a couple of weeks.
I've just got a quick question. I just started the Atenolol today and it's made me extremely lightheaded and dizzy and feeling like I might pass out. I've read that this is a common side effect, but is it a side effect that will go away? Has anyone here taken Atenolol and gotten this side effect and it went away? How long did it take for this side effect to go away? I don't think I can stand another day of this side effect.
The Toprol never gave me that side effect, so I'm just curious with your experiences. And don't worry, I am going to call my cardiologist about it tomorrow to see what they say about it.
Thanks!
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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WildCondor
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posted
It can take time for you to get used to the Atenolol, and the side effects should go away. It causes bp to drop in the beginning so that is probably why you are experiencing lightheadedness (from your BP dropping)
Did you have a tilt table test? Cardiolologists run that test. Do you have NMH? If not, and you have palpitations only, and not Neurally Meditated Hypotension (NMH) then the Atenolol isn't needed for the NMH and may indeed be dropping your BP, because in people with NMH it actually raises it and has the opposite effect.
Was your Toprol, Toprol XL? As in was in extended-release? If so, it would have given you a more steady dose over time, not all at once like Atenolol. You might just want to go back on the Toprol. :)If it was working for you then why change it!
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disturbedme
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No, I have not had a tilt table test, but I am seeing a cardiologist. I don't know if I have NMH. I do have low blood pressure and am on Florinef. BUT I have had chronic tachycardia for over 12+ years. I have tachycardia if I'm resting/walking/sitting/sleeping, etc. It's always high. So I've been on a beta blocker for it. It doesn't help the low blood pressure problem, but I could not function at all with the chronic tachycardia. I am also on Florinef to help raise my blood pressure, which is doing some good, but my blood pressure is still low.
Yes, my Toprol was XL. And Toprol was good and I had no problems with it, but it was not working in respect that I still was having palpitations that were getting worse in the last couple of months. I had an epsiode of palpitations for two hours in August and then just a few days ago I had palpitations that lasted for 24 hours and I ended up in the ER worried about my heart.
I wouldn't mind staying on Toprol because I never had issues with it, but I am SOOOOO sick of the palpitations. They are so scary and I've had enough. I'm really at a loss as to what to do. I don't think I want to stay on Atenolol.... I feel just awful - lightheaded and like I'm going to pass out. So I'm really trapped and at a loss as what to do next. I want the palpitations under control.
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
/\/\/\ Anyone else at all??
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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posted
I felt that way on both drugs! Actually, Toprol was worse than atenolol for me.
I now take Verapamil and it's pretty good. Does make me tired though, just like the beta blockers.
The Verapamil may work for you as it's more for the heart than the BP. I may have to get mine lowered though, since my BP is in the 90's and making me tired.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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WildCondor
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posted
Why don't you go back on Toprol Xl and take the XL at night, and regular Toprol in the morning? Or raise the dose of it. Are you taking magnesium?
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disturbedme
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Member # 12346
posted
Yes, I'm on magnesium.
I want to go back on Toprol, but don't know if I can.... It was 50mg. I don't want to have to up it anymore when it was helping my pulse rate just fine... just not helping with palps.
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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sutherngrl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16270
posted
I took atenolol for about 6 months, same dosage as you, for palpitations that were 24/7 and Mitral Valve Prolapse.
I had taken it years ago for MVP and did fine on it; but taking it with LD, I had the same side effects as you. My BP would drop and I felt lightheaded constantly. Now I didn't know I had LD at this time, so I didn't know why I could take it years prior and not now.
Anyway after 6 months I stopped taking it because I just couldn't walk around feeling like I was going to pass out constantly.
If you take it for a while it might help enough that you can get off of it and the palps won't be as bad. That is what happened to me. I still have them, but not as bad as back then. I just live with them now.
Posts: 4035 | From Mississippi | Registered: Jul 2008
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WildCondor
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posted
Is the Atenolol helping the palpitations though? Maybe you can lower the atenolol dose while your body adjusts to it. Just an idea. or take extra magnesium and an extra 1/2 atenolol when the palpitations appear. Have you considered a pacemaker?
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disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
Southengirl, yes, but I'm on them mainly for the chronic tachycardia that I've had since I was 12 years old. I just have palps as well and they come and go, but lately they've been worse. So without a beta blocker, my pulse is up to 110 or higher every single day. I can't function like that.
WilCondor, I've only been on the Atenolol for one day, so I can't say if it's helping the palps yet.
Pacemakers scare me sooooooo badly!! I'm only 25, it would be so awful to have to have one put in.
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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posted
Sometimes when I start a new medicine I feel dizzy and light headed-but I think it's because I'm anxious about what might happen-i.e. is it safe for me to take . I do take atenolol(25mg)-and was nervous at first , so I broke them in half (very tiny pill, I know). But then I read that it is prescribed in higher doses to some-and that eased my anxiety. Now I take the whole pill. No problems
Posts: 365 | From Sylvania | Registered: Aug 2008
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WildCondor
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posted
You might want to give the Atenolol more time. When i started it, it took about 2 weeks for my body to get used to the side effects, and then it really started working great and continued to do so for 8 years.
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