New cardiologist; New medication: Atenolol: who else takes this?

[Guest guest]

I went to the ER early on Wednesday morning with a terrible

reaction to the Sotalol (80 mg x2.) After I was there for awhile,

they told me that I could either be admitted and get started on

Rythmol with my just-back-from-India cardiologist, or I could go

home, continue on the Sotalol (which was making me really

sick) and see the head of cardiology on Friday.

I opted to be admitted and to start on the Rythmol. Unfortunately,

after only one pill I broke out into a huge fit of all-over itchiness,

and the cardiologist pulled the Rythmol because he was afraid

that if I took another one, I'd go into a serious allergic reaction.

So he released me on Thursday afternoon after giving me 40 mg

of Sotalol (which made me not quite so sick) and encouraged

me to keep the appointment that the ER had made for me with

the head of cardiology.

The new cardio. has taken me off of the Sotalol and put me on

50 mg of Atenolol once a day. So I have that, plus the Warfarin

(4.5 daily.) My INR in the hospital was 1.9; so I have to have it

tested again in the new cardiologist's office on Monday. I'm

guessing that the dosage will probably be increased to 5, which

is what I took to begin with.

I'm wondering how many people here take Atenolol, and what

does it do for you? Any side effects?

[Guest guest]

-I have been taking Atenolol 25mg a day for a few years. I have to

take 12.5 mg 2xs a day. The full 25mg gives me a low heart rate in

the 30s. My first cardiologist did not like me when I was on one of

my visits to the hospital. He told me that it was only my word that

it gave me a low heart rate, also told the nurse let her do whatever

she wants then sent me to another hospital. The best thing that he

could have done for me. I got another cardiologist, better than him.

Got rid of the first one.

-- In AFIBsupport , " elynnx1944 " <elynnx44@s...>

wrote:

> I went to the ER early on Wednesday morning with a terrible

> reaction to the Sotalol (80 mg x2.) After I was there for awhile,

> they told me that I could either be admitted and get started on

> Rythmol with my just-back-from-India cardiologist, or I could go

> home, continue on the Sotalol (which was making me really

> sick) and see the head of cardiology on Friday.

>

> I opted to be admitted and to start on the Rythmol.

Unfortunately,

> after only one pill I broke out into a huge fit of all-over

itchiness,

> and the cardiologist pulled the Rythmol because he was afraid

> that if I took another one, I'd go into a serious allergic

reaction.

>

> So he released me on Thursday afternoon after giving me 40 mg

> of Sotalol (which made me not quite so sick) and encouraged

> me to keep the appointment that the ER had made for me with

> the head of cardiology.

>

> The new cardio. has taken me off of the Sotalol and put me on

> 50 mg of Atenolol once a day. So I have that, plus the Warfarin

> (4.5 daily.) My INR in the hospital was 1.9; so I have to have it

> tested again in the new cardiologist's office on Monday. I'm

> guessing that the dosage will probably be increased to 5, which

> is what I took to begin with.

>

> I'm wondering how many people here take Atenolol, and what

> does it do for you? Any side effects?

[Guest guest]

Hi there - I am so glad you are out of the hospital and so sorry you wre so

ill.

I take Flecainide (have you tried that?) 100 mg 2 times a day, as well as 25

mg of atenolol 2 times a day.

Atenolol is going to make you tired, it helps if you take it at night to

sleep, as you really do go to sleep.

Hang in there, we are all rooting for you.

marna

New cardiologist; New medication: Atenolol: who else

takes this?

>I went to the ER early on Wednesday morning with a terrible

> reaction to the Sotalol (80 mg x2.) After I was there for awhile,

> they told me that I could either be admitted and get started on

> Rythmol with my just-back-from-India cardiologist, or I could go

> home, continue on the Sotalol (which was making me really

> sick) and see the head of cardiology on Friday.

>

> I opted to be admitted and to start on the Rythmol. Unfortunately,

> after only one pill I broke out into a huge fit of all-over itchiness,

> and the cardiologist pulled the Rythmol because he was afraid

> that if I took another one, I'd go into a serious allergic reaction.

>

> So he released me on Thursday afternoon after giving me 40 mg

> of Sotalol (which made me not quite so sick) and encouraged

> me to keep the appointment that the ER had made for me with

> the head of cardiology.

>

> The new cardio. has taken me off of the Sotalol and put me on

> 50 mg of Atenolol once a day. So I have that, plus the Warfarin

> (4.5 daily.) My INR in the hospital was 1.9; so I have to have it

> tested again in the new cardiologist's office on Monday. I'm

> guessing that the dosage will probably be increased to 5, which

> is what I took to begin with.

>

> I'm wondering how many people here take Atenolol, and what

> does it do for you? Any side effects?

>

>

>

>

>

> Web Page - http://www.afibsupport.com

> List owner: AFIBsupport-owner

> For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via email,

> send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help

>

> Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or should

> be acted upon without consultation with one's physician.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi, Pasmaline. Thank you for answering. My heartbeat is very

rapid and my blood pressure gets so high in the doctor's office

(white coat syndrome, I guess) but it can be quite normal at

home. What I found is that the longer that I was on Beta

Blockers ~~ first Toprol, then Sotalol ~~ the beta-blocking

properties worked on me the opposite from what they were

supposed to do. So my BP gradually went up and up, and my

rapid pulse never came down very much. I'm always in the 80s,

90s, or even 100s. It will be interesting to see if Atenolol can do

what it's supposed to do and lower my heart rate and BP.

Now I'm wondering why I'm on it only once a day at night. I just

noticed today that my cat (who also has an irregular heartbeat

and gets pills twice a day) is also on Atenolol. How funny is

that?

> > I went to the ER early on Wednesday morning with a terrible

> > reaction to the Sotalol (80 mg x2.) After I was there for

awhile,

> > they told me that I could either be admitted and get started on

> > Rythmol with my just-back-from-India cardiologist, or I could

go

> > home, continue on the Sotalol (which was making me really

> > sick) and see the head of cardiology on Friday.

> >

> > I opted to be admitted and to start on the Rythmol.

> Unfortunately,

> > after only one pill I broke out into a huge fit of all-over

> itchiness,

> > and the cardiologist pulled the Rythmol because he was

afraid

> > that if I took another one, I'd go into a serious allergic

> reaction.

> >

> > So he released me on Thursday afternoon after giving me 40

mg

> > of Sotalol (which made me not quite so sick) and

encouraged

> > me to keep the appointment that the ER had made for me

with

> > the head of cardiology.

> >

> > The new cardio. has taken me off of the Sotalol and put me

on

> > 50 mg of Atenolol once a day. So I have that, plus the

Warfarin

> > (4.5 daily.) My INR in the hospital was 1.9; so I have to have it

> > tested again in the new cardiologist's office on Monday. I'm

> > guessing that the dosage will probably be increased to 5,

which

> > is what I took to begin with.

> >

> > I'm wondering how many people here take Atenolol, and

what

> > does it do for you? Any side effects?

[Guest guest]

Hi, Marna. Thank you for answering, and for your good wishes. I

gradually got sick on Sotalol; but then it suddenly " turned on me "

with a vengeance! I couldn't focus, I couldn't concentrate, and I

felt like I was walking on pillows! And I couldn't stay alsleep for

longer than 2 to 4 hours, and once awake, I couldn't go back to

sleep.

I am grateful to be on something that actually LETS me sleep! I

just hope that it doesn't " turn on me " too. I am now apprehensive

about all beta blockers.

No one has mentioned flecainide to me ~~~ they are just trying

to lower my heart rate and see if that will keep me from going

into A-Fib. If it works, I will be so grateful. If it doesn't ~~~ well, I'll

cross that bridge when I come to it.

I'm glad that you are doing so much better, Marna. I've been

following your story with interest and am hoping the very best for

you!

Elynnx

> Hi there - I am so glad you are out of the hospital and so sorry

you wre so

> ill.

>

> I take Flecainide (have you tried that?) 100 mg 2 times a day,

as well as 25

> mg of atenolol 2 times a day.

>

> Atenolol is going to make you tired, it helps if you take it at night

to

> sleep, as you really do go to sleep.

>

> Hang in there, we are all rooting for you.

>

> marna

> New cardiologist; New medication:

Atenolol: who else

> takes this?

>

>

> >I went to the ER early on Wednesday morning with a terrible

> > reaction to the Sotalol (80 mg x2.) After I was there for

awhile,

> > they told me that I could either be admitted and get started on

> > Rythmol with my just-back-from-India cardiologist, or I could

go

> > home, continue on the Sotalol (which was making me really

> > sick) and see the head of cardiology on Friday.

> >

> > I opted to be admitted and to start on the Rythmol.

Unfortunately,

> > after only one pill I broke out into a huge fit of all-over

itchiness,

> > and the cardiologist pulled the Rythmol because he was

afraid

> > that if I took another one, I'd go into a serious allergic

reaction.

> >

> > So he released me on Thursday afternoon after giving me 40

mg

> > of Sotalol (which made me not quite so sick) and

encouraged

> > me to keep the appointment that the ER had made for me

with

> > the head of cardiology.

> >

> > The new cardio. has taken me off of the Sotalol and put me

on

> > 50 mg of Atenolol once a day. So I have that, plus the

Warfarin

> > (4.5 daily.) My INR in the hospital was 1.9; so I have to have it

> > tested again in the new cardiologist's office on Monday. I'm

> > guessing that the dosage will probably be increased to 5,

which

> > is what I took to begin with.

> >

> > I'm wondering how many people here take Atenolol, and

what

> > does it do for you? Any side effects?

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Web Page - http://www.afibsupport.com

> > List owner: AFIBsupport-owner

> > For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via

email,

> > send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help

> >

> > Nothing in this message should be considered as medical

advice, or should

> > be acted upon without consultation with one's physician.

> >

[Guest guest]

<Snip>

> I'm wondering how many people here take Atenolol, and what

> does it do for you? Any side effects?

I take 100mg of Atenolol daily. It has the following four effects on

me:

1. A feeling of fatigue. This is a feeling of exhaustion or weariness.

On the other hand, it is a false feeling because once I start moving

the " feeling " goes away quite quickly. It is, however, a mightly

struggle to mentally prepare for getting my body in motion.

2. A " brain fog " of sorts. It is not that I can't think clearly, it is

more along the lines of being slow to react -- particularly apparent

when in conversation. (This is not a big problem for me but your

milage may vary.)

3. A low blood pressure. My blood pressure before was around 120/80.

Now it is 90/65. (I suspect that this applifies the effect noted in #1

but the doctor doesn't seem concerned.)

4. My heart rate no longer gets " out of control. " I can still have

spikes of 160 bpm but it is quickly (1-2 seconds) brought back to

(what is for me) normal.

By the way, I was increased to 100mg daily from 50 mg because of my

exercise regimen. The above was true while I was on 50mg and (much)

less active.

I might also mention that the main adavantage of Atenolol is the low

cost... for those without insurance or those who have a co-pay.

Ron

[Guest guest]

I have taken it for years; it is a beta-blocker. I started many years before I

went into persistent A-Fib. I took atenolol (that's the generic generic name;

commercial names include Tenormin) for two reasons: to control high blood

pressure (along with HCTZ, a thiazide diuretic) and to help prevent

" palpitations " (which may have been bouts of paroxysmal A-Fib, for all I know

now, but did not know at the time!). As far as I can recall, I never had any

side effects from atenolol, though, in the beginning, it slowed me down the way

that sotalol is doing now. My resting heart rate was between 50 and 60 BPM,

more often around 50 BPM, and when I was doing aerobic exercise on the

stationary bike at the gym, I could never get my heart rate much over 88 BPM.

My sense is that, as a beta-blocker, atenolol is a rate-control drug, but with

no rhythm control, whereas sotalol controls heart rate and also has

anti-arrhythmic effects. My PCP prescribes atenolol all the time, but generally

he will not prescribe sotalol, commenting that it is a drug that cardiologists

prescribe. The sotalol Rx is from the EP.

Right now, I am on 80 mg of sotalol, 2x/day plus 25 mg of atenolol 1x/day. Even

though I am in NSR at the moment (following cardioversion last Monday), I am

still a bit short of breath, and I attribute that to the sotalol. The EP may

stop the atenolol if my heart rate falls too low. I hope to acclimate to the

sotalol the way that I eventually did with the atenolol.

Hope this helped,

Steve

At 4:06 PM +0000 9/24/05, elynnx1944 wrote:

>I'm wondering how many people here take Atenolol, and what

>does it do for you? Any side effects?

[Guest guest]

Sotalol is also low-cost. They are both generic.

Let's hear it for cheap drugs!

--Steve

At 5:44 PM +0000 9/24/05, ronboyd0174 wrote:

>I might also mention that the main adavantage of Atenolol is the low

>cost... for those without insurance or those who have a co-pay.

[Guest guest]

--- In AFIBsupport , " ronboyd0174 " <ronboyd@q...> >

> 2. A " brain fog " of sorts. It is not that I can't think clearly,

it is

> more along the lines of being slow to react -- particularly

apparent

> when in conversation. (This is not a big problem for me but your

> milage may vary.)

I took atenolol for about 2 years and developed the brain fog also.

It came on so gradually that I was not aware of it until I was taken

off. the rapid return to clear mindedness was like a miracle.

>

> 3. A low blood pressure. My blood pressure before was around

120/80.

> Now it is 90/65. (I suspect that this applifies the effect noted

in #1

> but the doctor doesn't seem concerned.)

My heart rate got so low that I now have a pacemaker, and the low BP

was the reason I was taken off of it. Murray

>