atenelol side effects

THE LAST VISIT I MADE TO THE DOCTOR MY BP WAS HIGH , HE PUT ME ON A 25 ATENELOL. I TOOK IT FOR TWO DAYS AND STARTED HAVING DIZZY SPELL , ESPECIALLY WHEN I AROSE FROM A SITTING POSITION, I CALLED THE NURSE AND WAS TOLD TO CUT THE PILL IN HALF AND TAKE HALF THE ORIGINAL DOSAGE. CONTINUED HAVING TROUBLE TAKING IT AND WAS TOLD TO COME TO THE OFFICE FOR A BP CHECK.
BP WAS STILL HIGH AND WAS TOLD TO START TAKING TWO 25 MG PILLS A DAY. I DID AND THEY DO'NT SEEM TO BE MAKING ME QUIET AS DIZZY HEADED NOW BUT I FEEL AWFUL USUALLY STARTING ABOUT NOON AND HAVING TROUBLE SLEEPING AT NIGHT AND ALSO HAVING SEVERE CRAMPS IN THE CALFS OF MY LEGS, AS FAR AS MY SEX , I'M 76 AND ALTHOUGH ITS STILL IN MY MIND, I DON'T BELIEVE THE ATENELOL HAS HURT IT MUCH. I HAVE A DOCTOR APPT. IN THE MORNING AND HOPEFULLY HE'LL GET THIS PROBLEM SOLVED. AND A PERSON DEFINATELY NEEDS TO STOP USING IT GRADUALLY

I am a 45 year old female with heridtary hypertention. We moved to Orlando a year and half a go and at the time I didn't have a local doctor. I had checked my BP in a drug store one sunday evening and it was outrageously high so the next day I went into an emergency walk in clinic and was given a prescription for 50 mg. atenelol. I stopped and filled the script immediately and took the first pill around 10 am. I felt HORRIBLE within a matter of a couple of hours and the feeling continued to worsen throughout the day. My husband and I were on our way home from work that evening and all of a sudden I began to have severe chest pains and was blacking out. He called 911 and EMS met us in route to the hospital. Long story short, I end up in the ER hooked up to hear monitors and wearing nitroglycerine patches. My heart rate was right around 35! They did a bunch of tests and said...hmmm...don't know what the problem is. Go home and see your doctor tommorrow. I woke up the next morning in BAD shape. My husband drove me to the dr. and he sent us straight back to the ER. I was admitted and put back on all the monitors but my heart rate kept dipping so low. I was hysterical because I thought, "these idiots are going to just let me lay here and DIE." I kept telling them that I'd never had anything like this happen before I tood the Atenolol but they kept assuring me that it couldnt be the drug and that it was a "safe and well tolerated" treatment for hypertention. Ok well a week later as I am have a friggin CARDIAC CATHETER inserted to view my heart...some genius FINALLY says...."maybe it's the atenolol." I'd been in the hospital for a week already and had expressly told the doctors and nurses that I REFUSE to take that medicine. Then one of the nurses had let it slip that she didn't understand why I was still having BP issues since I was on the med. I went BERZERK and demanded that they get the cardiologist and the other doctors in there. None of these sorry jerks would admit that they'd been giving me this crap INSPITE of evertything that had transpired. They simply said, "well, it's in your head but if you feel that strongly about it, we'll give you Lisinipril." I was released a couple of days later. For the next six months I was in and out of the ER with SEVERE panic attacks. They were so bad that I thought I was going to DIE. I've been battling this since last January. I have days that are good and others that are horrible. The panic attacks seem to have no warning or specific triggers. My extremities will get very cold and my heart will start racing and the skin on the back of my neck gets hot. It feels like bugs are crawling on my scalp. My chest hurts and I start shaking uncontrollably. BP goes insane. I've ended up in the ER more times than I care to count and they just shake their heads and ask me if I want some xanex! I tell this whole tale to get to this point....something in my physiology CHANGED after being on Atenolol for two weeks. It altered something or shorted something out or whatever. But all I can tell you is that I have not been the same since I took that first pill. I have consulted every type of health care provider I can think of to try to solve this riddle but I am now CONVINCED that atenelol poisoned me in some way and my body has not been able to expel that toxin for whatever reason. At my wits end is a GROSS understatement. I am STILL working on trying to figure out what that drug did to me. Anyone who is reading this that has been through anything similar PLEASE post a reply! There is definately something insidiously dangerous about this drug.

Hello, I'm 35....my Doctor placed me on Atenelol back in Aug. of '07 right after the birth of my baby. My BP was a little elevated.....thought it was due to the stress I was under from getting divorced and my sick husband trying to kidnap and kill me......anyways.....I've noticed that the panic attacks that I once had have somehow returned. I'm an Official Court Reporter and I have had one tooooo many panic attacks/dizzy spells while in court.....although while it may be from my vertigo issues....I'm highly inclined to believe something may be going on with the Atenelol prescribed to me. I've had a lot of anxiousness and restlessness at times during the middle of the night. At times I feel heavy in the chest and heart rate speeds (symptoms of panic attack) .I had a lot of faith in taking this med due to the fact that my mother's been on it for YEARSSSSSS!!!! I don't know what to do? Maybe some of my panic attacks and dizziness are related to this med!!! HELP!!! I NEED TO KEEP MY JOB!!! CAN'T KEEP STOPPING COURT!!!!

I have been on it for 4 years, and it seemed to slow my heart down when I took it, but now I found out that i'm pregnant(at 36) so they took me off of it. Now I have severe palpitations and jumps, I get out of breath doing nothing, so does anyone know if there is something else I can take? I don't think I can make it through this pregnancy feeling the way I do. Please help

I have been on atenelol for 3 years now for hypertension and irregular heart beat, and to slow my heart. I have had depression. When I lie down to go to sleep, my heart beats so hard and heavy that I can't sleep, often I end up sleeping sitting up, I have experienced swelling mainly legs and feet, weight gain - (25 pounds a year - even while lowering my calories drastically) no sex drive, extreme crankiness, short term memory problems, debilitating exhaustion - I could fall asleep every time I sit down, ringing in my ears, joint pain, vision loss, insomnia, hair loss (eyebrows and head) dry skin. My periods were crazy - sooo heavy with lots of clots.
when I went without my medicine for 3 days when I didn't have the money to pick up my prescription, I felt like the old me again. Even though my heart races and palpitates - I sleep at night, I have energy, and get things done, and my thinking clears.
My Doctor doesn't want to change my prescription since it is controlling my blood pressure.

I am almost having a panic attack due to hair loss from this drug. When you get the doctor to change your meds., will your hair come back in?? I mentioned it the last time I was in his office and all he said was that it was just one of the side effects. A woman losing her hair is devistating.

I've been taking Atenolol for nearly a year. I've also gained weight and losing it has been feudal. I noticed that after being prescribed 50mg from 25mgs that my migraines got much worse. I had migraine headaches for over two straight weeks. I've also had more joint soreness since upping the dosage. I'm thinking that the original soreness in my joints may have been partially caused by the use of the drug in the first place. The original reason for being on Atenolol was to overt my panic attacks, but they occur no less often while on the drug. I guess it is time to end this madness and get off of it!

Just today I saw my endocrinologist and got my test results back. I originally went to see him because of anxiety, thyroid issues, racing heart and palpitations, hair loss and my fibromyalgia has been bad this last year. Maybe this could be helpful to others, apparently I have a major vitamin D deficiency. He informed me that this can cause anxiety and related issues and this morning I've read the same thing all over the internet. Apparently there is evidence, and blind studies have been done to prove that far more people suffer anxiety and depression, and pain for that matter, who are Vitamin D deficient. I'm excited and hopeful to begin vitamin D treatment. Now I'm worried though, because he also prescribed a small dose of Atenolol to help with anxiety and racing heart. I already have been having hair loss and loss of libido. Are all of you certain it was caused by the Atenolol? Now I'm wondering if I should start taking it or not. Help me decide what to do...

Just today I saw my endocrinologist and got my test results back. I originally went to see him because of anxiety, thyroid issues, racing heart and palpitations, hair loss and my fibromyalgia has been bad this last year. Maybe this could be helpful to others, apparently I have a major vitamin D deficiency. He informed me that this can cause anxiety, depression, pain and related issues and this morning I've read the same thing all over the internet.
There is also findings that patients thought to have had fibromyalgia may only have vitamin deficiency. Apparently there is evidence, and blind studies have been done to prove that far more people suffer anxiety and depression, and pain for that matter, who are Vitamin D deficient. I'm excited and hopeful to begin vitamin D treatment. Now I'm worried though, because he also prescribed a small dose of Atenolol to help with anxiety and racing heart. I already have been having hair loss, loss of libido and definitely don't want weight gain. Are all of you certain it was caused by the Atenolol? Now I'm wondering if I should start taking it or not. Help me decide what to do...

I wish I could get my Doctor to read all these posts regarding the real side effects of Atenolol. I've been taking 25mg for 3-4 years. The Dr. I had before this one laughed in my face and said I was just fat and to go on a diet when I told her I was gaining weight for no reason. Yes, I'm overweight but I eat very little. I've gained 25 lbs since starting Atenolol and I eat even less - especially soda and junk food.

I didn't have heart papatations UNTIL I started on Atenolol. Chest pains, too. And sex drive? What's that? Thank God my partner is understanding! I also have mild panic attacks (probably because this medicine is messing with my mind) and I never did before. I feel HORRIBLE every single day of my life and I know my family and friends and doctor think I'm a freaking hypochrodriac but I HATE this! It's ruined my life. I'm too exhausted to do anything and the palpations only drain me more. I have had stress tests, ultrasounds and all come back just fine but I'm becoming paranoid my heart is going to give out from a heart attack at any minute and I talk about dying way too much. I'm probably depressed and don't realize it. Oh, and I'm much more moody than I used to be. I'm 49 and probably in peri-menopause so, Oh Goody, life should be taking another fun turn! LOL!

I went off the Atenolol a few months ago. Even gradually it was difficult and had me all out of sorts BUT I had energy!!!! I have very mild asthma and I could breathe easier, too. I felt alive and clear headed. But my blood pressure went up a little (140/92) and due to my weight (268) the Dr. wanted me back on it. Now I'm back to being a zombie, slow, pulse, heart palps, no energy, forgetful and I feel full after eating 2 bites of food and have gained a couple pounds. Oh, I have very dry skin and my faces flushes alot, too. What a miserable way to live. I'm so conscious of food and need to exercise anymore that I might actually loose some weight and lower my BP if I had energy to get away from the computer!