Goodr189 Posted June 25, 2016 Report Share Posted June 25, 2016 Recently started atenelol and the side effects are super strange. I take such a low dose too. First it feels like I have a strap around my chest. Also my head is super spacey like my first time smoking pot. Also have constant phlegm in my throat and maybe lungs. Anxiety has also increased quite a bit but it's not "normal" anxiety. Hey at least my heart rate is under control right? Not sure if this is worth it. Should I explore other beta blockers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corina Posted June 25, 2016 Report Share Posted June 25, 2016 We can't tell you what you should or shouldn't do or try of course, but there are a lot of different bb's out there and you wouldn't be the first that did bad on one type and much better on another! I think it's best to ask your doc, good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lily Posted June 25, 2016 Report Share Posted June 25, 2016 I remember feeling great on Atenolol, except it made me depressed. No motivation depressed, not sad depressed. Maybe you just need to give your body some time to adjust. How long have you been taking it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yogini Posted June 25, 2016 Report Share Posted June 25, 2016 It takes a few weeks to adjust when you first try a beta blocker. I've tried 3 beta blockers - one I couldn't breathe on. It's a very different for each person, so it's best to talk to your dr. Beta blockers statistically have the highest success rate in helping POTS - I've read they work for 50% of the people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Womble Posted June 25, 2016 Report Share Posted June 25, 2016 My dr told me it takes between 2 weeks and a month for the side effects to settle down. I was on Bisoprolol, not sure if that has the same name outside of the UK. Unfortunately the side effects didn't get any better for me. Among other things, they dropped my bp so much I couldn't get out of bed at all without passing out. I have also tried Propanolol which, for me, had less side effects, but sadly no help for my pots. If the side effects aren't so dreadful that you really can't cope, I'd try to give it a bit of time and see if things improve. If not, as others have said, there are quite a few other bb's you can try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goodr189 Posted June 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2016 The increased anxiety was unbearable. It was weird anxiety too. No adrenaline so no panic or racing heart but I felt like I was going crazy. This was with only 12.5mg of atenolol. I stopped after 3 days (yesterday) and already feel much better. Maybe I'll ask my doctor about propanolol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stellaluna Posted June 26, 2016 Report Share Posted June 26, 2016 Goodr189, I can understand the question that is this worth it? A grab bag of symptoms added in to in place of supposedly helping one huge symptom. That sounds pretty awful. I don't know if I would have lasted 3 days but some people say you have to get past that adjustment period... For me, I usually know pretty quick if a med is going to work for me. ( or not, though of course I follow doctor's directions too...) I am on one drug as a migraine preventative that I take daily and it is typical for many to take 6 weeks to get past some side effects. Most people experience them (mild, tingling in extremities, intolerance to taste of coke/pop) however if I had not decided to wait out those 6 weeks, I would not have been able to enjoy a quality of life that this medication for migraines has allowed me for 8 plus years now. I wish I would have tried this drug so many years sooner when doctors first suggested. That said, these side effects were VERY mild. A while ago, a neurologist talked me into trying something ( I agreed to give it a try against my better judgement). I did not tolerate well and I felt like I was jumping out of my skin. I think I lasted about 2 days but I felt it took longer than that to get it out of my system. I was on propranolol many years ago (before diagnosis of dysautonomia but perhaps some same symptoms; related to Mitral Valve Prolapse MVP). I was on it for two stretches of a year or more each. I eventually got off only due to pregnancies. I found it helpful for heart rate and BP. Of course every "body" is different but the only side effect I remember (and I tend to be medically sensitive...) is it made me quite tired but I functioned well > I was either working many hours with many young children or mother of at least small child at home if that puts things into perspective. It was not that incapacitating for me. ( again before major onset of POTS/Dys. symptoms and diagnosis). For the BB propranolol, the benefits outweighed the slight negative side effects for me. I don't remember the dosage I was on--it was time release. I think I took brand name Inderal LA at the time. Obviously consult your doctor but I wouldn't give up right? Keep trying. There might be a BB that would work for you or at lease give you some relief or at least something else to help... Wishing you the best, Stellaluna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goodr189 Posted June 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2016 Ended up switching to propranolol. I could not take atenolol any more. It was like I was having a bad acid trip. Horrible drug! Hopefully the propranolol is much better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corina Posted June 30, 2016 Report Share Posted June 30, 2016 Fingers crossed this one will be better! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stellaluna Posted July 1, 2016 Report Share Posted July 1, 2016 Goodr, Hope this is the one that will bring you some relief. So much trial and error with this thing. Well Wishes, Stellaluna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goodr189 Posted July 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2016 Haven't had to take it yet, my heart rate has been in the 80s since I got it prescribed! This syndrome is something else. Thanks for all the good thoughts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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