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Suggest Treatment For Side Effects Of Atenolol
Question: Hello,
Please, only answer my request if you had an experience with helping someone successfully stop taking Atenolol. Thank you!
I'm 49 year old woman, taking Atenolol for almost 6 years. It was prescribed because the doctor didn't know what is causing my tachycardia for one-two nights, after checking my blood for diabetes, thyroid, then my heart - ECG etc, seeing that everything is ok, he gave me atenolol. In my desperation not to have this unpleasant tachycardia, I started taking it (25mg).
My BP was always low before that and is very low now, I'm always cold, fingertips get numb from cold, my hair got very thin, I got intestines problems (constipation and discomfort), complete lack of sexual drive, also noticed strange feeling of discouragement (I never understood how can anyone be depressed...). I see that these are the side effects of Atenolol. I always wanted to stop taking it, but when I tapper it off (scrape off a bit of the tablet), then I notice that it gives me palpitations. I should have just taken simple Valerian pills or other natural means to calm my heart down when I had my first tachycardia and not get into taking Atenolol...
What process do you advice to stop taking Atenolol? I will be very grateful for you advice!
Did you ever wean someone off from Atenolol (and not given them another pill instead of Atenolol)?
Thank you! XXXXXXX
Please, only answer my request if you had an experience with helping someone successfully stop taking Atenolol. Thank you!
I'm 49 year old woman, taking Atenolol for almost 6 years. It was prescribed because the doctor didn't know what is causing my tachycardia for one-two nights, after checking my blood for diabetes, thyroid, then my heart - ECG etc, seeing that everything is ok, he gave me atenolol. In my desperation not to have this unpleasant tachycardia, I started taking it (25mg).
My BP was always low before that and is very low now, I'm always cold, fingertips get numb from cold, my hair got very thin, I got intestines problems (constipation and discomfort), complete lack of sexual drive, also noticed strange feeling of discouragement (I never understood how can anyone be depressed...). I see that these are the side effects of Atenolol. I always wanted to stop taking it, but when I tapper it off (scrape off a bit of the tablet), then I notice that it gives me palpitations. I should have just taken simple Valerian pills or other natural means to calm my heart down when I had my first tachycardia and not get into taking Atenolol...
What process do you advice to stop taking Atenolol? I will be very grateful for you advice!
Did you ever wean someone off from Atenolol (and not given them another pill instead of Atenolol)?
Thank you! XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I read carefully your question and understand your concern.
You should know that the dose of atenolol that you are taking is a really low dose, and other possible metabolic causes of your clinical situation should be investigated.
I recommend consulting with your GP for a careful physical examination, repeat thyroid hormone levels. Your symptoms may be related to a thyroid dysfunction, which may have not been revealed by your previous lab tests. Some other blood lab tests would be needed too:
-complete blood count
-blood electrolytes
-kidney and liver function tests
-cortisol plasma levels (examine the adrenal glands)
-blood lipid profile
-vitamine B12 levels.
Regarding atenolol, I would recommend reducing gradually the dose with a quarter of the tablet every 5 days (You will stop taking it after 20 days). During this period I would recommend taking alprazolam 0.25mg three times daily, which will help control possible palpitations. You can gradually stop alprazolam with 1 tab a day for three consequent days after having stopped atenolol.
I would also advise you to avoid caffeine intake and any psychological and physical activity during this period.
After stopping atenolol, I would recommend performing an ambulatory 24-48 hours ECG monitoring and a cardiac ultrasound to examine your cardiac function and structure.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I read carefully your question and understand your concern.
You should know that the dose of atenolol that you are taking is a really low dose, and other possible metabolic causes of your clinical situation should be investigated.
I recommend consulting with your GP for a careful physical examination, repeat thyroid hormone levels. Your symptoms may be related to a thyroid dysfunction, which may have not been revealed by your previous lab tests. Some other blood lab tests would be needed too:
-complete blood count
-blood electrolytes
-kidney and liver function tests
-cortisol plasma levels (examine the adrenal glands)
-blood lipid profile
-vitamine B12 levels.
Regarding atenolol, I would recommend reducing gradually the dose with a quarter of the tablet every 5 days (You will stop taking it after 20 days). During this period I would recommend taking alprazolam 0.25mg three times daily, which will help control possible palpitations. You can gradually stop alprazolam with 1 tab a day for three consequent days after having stopped atenolol.
I would also advise you to avoid caffeine intake and any psychological and physical activity during this period.
After stopping atenolol, I would recommend performing an ambulatory 24-48 hours ECG monitoring and a cardiac ultrasound to examine your cardiac function and structure.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hello Dr. Ilir,
Thank you for your reply! I appreciate you taking your time to answer me!
I thought if I could get atenolol in 12.5mg tablets then I could make the process of tapering off even slower. I weight about 46kg (158cm), so I definitely feel it more than a person that weighs 80kg, it makes sense, right? I don't understand why the doctors say it's small dose...it depends for who, doesn't?
Is there possibility of another medication helping me to get off the atenolol? I checked that alprazolam is Xanax, it's addictive... Maybe there is something homeopathic or natural?
When I get off atenolol, I would like to prevent the tachycardia from happening in the future. That's why I would like to know what was the cause that I got it the first time. If you don't mind, I will tell you the circumstances of that episode.
That day I was very busy from the morning, running around, meetings, drinking 2 strong coffees (I don't drink coffee), then in the evening I ate sausages for late dinner at 9.30pm. At 10pm I got upset at someone and my head started to spin, I was sure I'll faint so I started to go down the stairs, so I won't be alone.
As I sat down, I started having "blackout" I put my head down, so I will stay conscious. It was a fight, I heard my heart racing faster and faster, and lauder and lauder. Then it reached a peak, it calmed down and I felt super cold all over and was exhausted. I thought maybe it was stress, coffees, sausages (MSG), and long strenuous relationship that caused stress on regular basis.
Second time it happened a few days later at 4am and I thought I have a heart attack, because of my heart's acceleration. (but the tests next day showed everything ok)
What is our opinion?
Here is what I found, looking for solutions:
https://www.YYYY.com/watch?Y=YYYY000_Y
I don't just want to take tests and get medication for the symptoms, I hope you understand...
Looking forward to hear your opinion!
Thank you so much for your time!
XXXXXXX
Thank you for your reply! I appreciate you taking your time to answer me!
I thought if I could get atenolol in 12.5mg tablets then I could make the process of tapering off even slower. I weight about 46kg (158cm), so I definitely feel it more than a person that weighs 80kg, it makes sense, right? I don't understand why the doctors say it's small dose...it depends for who, doesn't?
Is there possibility of another medication helping me to get off the atenolol? I checked that alprazolam is Xanax, it's addictive... Maybe there is something homeopathic or natural?
When I get off atenolol, I would like to prevent the tachycardia from happening in the future. That's why I would like to know what was the cause that I got it the first time. If you don't mind, I will tell you the circumstances of that episode.
That day I was very busy from the morning, running around, meetings, drinking 2 strong coffees (I don't drink coffee), then in the evening I ate sausages for late dinner at 9.30pm. At 10pm I got upset at someone and my head started to spin, I was sure I'll faint so I started to go down the stairs, so I won't be alone.
As I sat down, I started having "blackout" I put my head down, so I will stay conscious. It was a fight, I heard my heart racing faster and faster, and lauder and lauder. Then it reached a peak, it calmed down and I felt super cold all over and was exhausted. I thought maybe it was stress, coffees, sausages (MSG), and long strenuous relationship that caused stress on regular basis.
Second time it happened a few days later at 4am and I thought I have a heart attack, because of my heart's acceleration. (but the tests next day showed everything ok)
What is our opinion?
Here is what I found, looking for solutions:
https://www.YYYY.com/watch?Y=YYYY000_Y
I don't just want to take tests and get medication for the symptoms, I hope you understand...
Looking forward to hear your opinion!
Thank you so much for your time!
XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
Thank you for the additional information!
The episodes of tachycardia seem to be just isolated episodes, probably related to adrenaline overload due to sympathetic nervous system activation.
Nevertheless, I recommend performing the tests I recommended, to be sure that it won't happen again.
Regarding atenolol dose it is true that it is based on the body weight, but still a low dose.
Regarding alprazolam or xanax, as I calculated, you will use it in a low dose for 20 days. It doesn't cause addiction for such period. But you can also take vagostabyl or Librium instead.
Hope to have been helpful!
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
Thank you for the additional information!
The episodes of tachycardia seem to be just isolated episodes, probably related to adrenaline overload due to sympathetic nervous system activation.
Nevertheless, I recommend performing the tests I recommended, to be sure that it won't happen again.
Regarding atenolol dose it is true that it is based on the body weight, but still a low dose.
Regarding alprazolam or xanax, as I calculated, you will use it in a low dose for 20 days. It doesn't cause addiction for such period. But you can also take vagostabyl or Librium instead.
Hope to have been helpful!
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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