Upping the Dosage

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/29/2002 10:43:00 AM Pacific Standard Time,

failteg@... writes:

<< I have been feeling yucky since. Could it be the upped dosage?

>>

My dose of Atenolol was upped from 25 to 50 to 100 to 150, my present dose.

These increments occurred over a period of about six years, but each time the

dose was upped I suffered from increased fatigue and shortness of breath. I

generally felt " yucky " for up to two months each time. I especially noticed

the shortness of breath when exercising. I think this reaction is quite

common because my cardiologist asked me dubiously how I was feeling when I

had been on Atenolol 150 m.g. for a week, not to mention 240 m.g. of

Verapamil along with it! When I said I felt exhausted, he didn't seem

surprised but said he hoped I could get through the initial period of

adjustment. I know of people who have given up on Atenolol after a week

because they just couldn't stand that feeling. I'm glad I persisted because

I would rather be taking a beta blocker than a proarrhythmic drug.

Now I have some days of fatigue, but then I am working about twelve hours a

day and probably would feel fatigue anyway. Most of the time I feel good and

energetic, despite the huge doses of Atenolol and Verapamil. Of course,

being in sinus rhythm all the time helps that feeling of well-being, too!

I would encourage anyone taking a beta blocker to stay with it at least two

months until you pass that initial period of adjustment. After taking

Atenolol for fourteen years, I would say it's been very good to me. Here I

am in sinus rhythm still after twenty years of afib. I'm sure Atenolol has

had everything to do with that.

in sinus in Seattle (15 minutes of afib in 221 days of sinus)

[Guest guest]

My Blood Pressure was creeping up.........my doctor upped the dosage of my

Atenolol from 25 to 50mg, and I have been feeling yucky since. Could it be the

upped dosage?

Ellen

[Guest guest]

> My Blood Pressure was creeping up.........my doctor upped the

dosage of my Atenolol from 25 to 50mg, and I have been feeling yucky

since. Could it be the upped dosage?

>

> Ellen

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[Guest guest]

> In a message dated 12/29/2002 10:43:00 AM Pacific Standard Time,

> failteg@j... writes:

>

> << I have been feeling yucky since. Could it be the upped dosage?

>

Sure could. I have a love-hate relationship with my beta blocker.

No question it reduces the daily ectopics which otherwise cause me

anxiety, and that it helps when I'm in afib by controlling the rate

and, I suspect, helps pop me out of it by reducing ectopics.

However, I really hate the lethargy and reduced ability to do

physical stuff that it causes. I have never adjusted to that. It is

a little better, but still has a big impact.

I take toprol. I did try atenolol for a short time, but it seemed to

have a more erratic effect on me, quite low blood pressure, etc. at

the same dose.

I hope once I lose weight I can reduce the toprol, but I am not

making progress with that.