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Suggest Remedy For Mild Cough And Asthma

Posted on Thu, 12 Mar 2015

Question: Hi I am currently taking 12.50mg atenolol per day for about 11 months. In this time I have gained weight, been consistantly wheezie and have a mild cough. I have a tendency to asthma. Could this be side effect of taking atenolol? its very strange that this has all started when I started taking atenolol. I am taking atenolol to keep my heart pulse rate in the 60's range due to biscuip aortic valve size.

Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Wheezie and a mild cough may be a side effect of Atenolol...

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
I read your query and understood your concerns.

Pulmonary wheezing and a mild cough may be a side effect of Atenolol especially in patient with a tendency to asthma. An important fact that supports my advice is the fact that everything started after beginning atenolol.

If you were my patient I would suggest to use Nebivolol which is 10 time more selective than other betablockers (including atenolol). If the problem persists, even with nebivolol than all betablockers are contraindicated for you and I would switch to Verapamil. Verapamil is a calcium channel blockers and has no effect on asthma and pulmonary function.

Hope this was of help!
Wish you health!
Dr. Benard

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Benard Shehu (2 days later)

Thank you for your helpful reply. Also I was wondering how beta blockers are actually suppose to work. If I exercise, does the beta blocker 'kick in' to control my pulse rate at this time? the idea in my situation, is to keep my pulse rate around the 60's to take off any extra force on my aortic root valve, (which does seem to be working,) but what about when I exercise, do the beta blockers 'kick in' if my pulse rate rises during exercise? I would have thought if this was the case, then I could feel faint?

Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Yes they "Kick in" to control HR during exercise...

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

Beta blockers work by blocking the beta adrenalin receptors. There are three beta receptor on body tissue. The beta 1 are found in heart and beta 2 in lung tissue. These beta blockade will be manifested with slow HR and bronchial spasm. There are two type of beta blockers. Non selective beta blockers (which block all the types of beta receptors) and beta selective beta blockers.

Although Atenolol is a selective betablockers it may cause wheesing and cough in patients with a strong tendency for asthma and a more powerful beta selective agent (Nebivolol) should be used in such patients.

Beta blockers are the best agents to control HR during exercis. Yes they "Kick in" to control HR during exercise and they never, but they never cause faint during that time.

Hope this was of help!
Dr. Benard

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Benard Shehu (19 hours later)

Thanks for this. Just one last question, Can Atenolol (or beta blockers in general) effect Blood glucose levels in any way that you may know of? Thanks

Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Atenolol doesn't effect directly blood glucose levels...

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

Atenolol doesn't effect directly blood glucose levels, but atenolol (and other betablockers) cover the symptoms of low blood sugar. This is why atenolol should be take with care in diabetic patient and patient should be informed about this phenomena.

Wish you health!
Dr. Benard

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar