Should I stop taking Atenolol?

Question

I read a report on this site from quoting A study by UK NICE
indicating that persons taking atenolol for hypertension should stop immediately. My cardiologist says that is a lot of bull.
I have been on atenolol for many years with very good resuslt in controlling rapid heart rate. Anyone else have more info?

Answer 1

TICH4592 is a donkey. His willingness to make blanket statements about a whole class of useful medications to a person for whom he has no detailed medical history and worse to the public in general, is disturbing. His smug statements lack the basic care any ethical scholar would employ while doing human researching - which makes me question his claimed credentials.

The NICE recommendations he referenced only apply to hypertensive patients for first line medications [That is, if you had high blood pressure, the first medication your doctor might consider.] The recommendations never make a claim that Beta blockers are dangerous - rather just not preferred as a first drug. And I agree, a B-blocker for most patients as a first medication to control blood pressure is not your best choice. There are other medications that are more effective.

On the other hand B-blockers have multiple uses and may be the right medication for certain circumstances. They are definitely indicated in a person with known coronary disease. They are useful add-ons for people who require several blood pressure medications. They are excellent heart rate control medications.

Finally all of the points he itemizes as negative points against the medication have been recognized and debated for decades - and are not really that negative and sometimes are the desired effect.

In short, listen to your cardiologist. He knows your particular history and the circumstances for which you are being treated. Beta blockers have been around since the 1950's. They have an excellent safety profile.

Good luck.

Answer 2

Don't stop taking any high blood pressure medications without your doctor's supervision. I've been on beta blockers for the last 15 years, they're among the oldest prescribed medications for high blood pressure and anxiety disorders.
If you're concerned or having persistent side-effects, be sure to contact your doctor. If you stop taking atenolol it could endanger your life! I've pasted below the info. from a web-site about stopping beta blockers and provided the link:

It is important that you do not stop taking atenolol without first checking with your doctor. Some conditions may become worse when the medicine is stopped suddenly, and the danger of a heart attack is increased in some patients.

Answer 3

You should not stop taking the atenolol unless you talk to your doctor. You are not taking it to control your blood pressure, you are taking it to control your heart rate. To just stop could be very dangerous.
If you have a weak heart and it pumps to fast, it could cause a heart attack. Your cardiologist wants your heart to beat at a certain pace that is good for your heart. The atenolol does that.

Answer 4

You have certainly asked a good question, here, and I don't pretend to have the answers. My wife has cardiomyopathy and it appears a Beta Blocker (Coreg) is absolutely critical for her. But my father has high BP, and complains about all the problems he has observed over the years since starting on Toprol XL. I'm advising my father to seek alternatives, but to be very careful about tapering off the Toprol with his doctor's guidance and support.

So it seems that Beta Blockers are important to some people, but not to all, and we should all try to avoid dogmatism in this matter.

I recommend getting a copy of the NICE study report and reading it very carefully. Listening to you doctor is important. But blind faith in just about anything or anyone can get you killed.

The "bloodpressureline" Yahoo group seems to be a good one for working through some of these issues. There's a nice balance there between the medical profession and patients trying to make sense of it all.

Answer 5

Stopping any hypertensive medication abruptly, is a highly a dangerous step. Since you have been on Atenolol for many years, without experiencing any side effect or untoward reaction, forget about that NICE stuff, stay tuned to your cardiologist.
Enjoy life OK.

Answer 6

Unequivocably yes, you should stop. I assisted peripherally in the N.I.C.E. Guidelines Review, and unquestiobaly more people die who are taking beta-blockers for hypertension than others, who are not. The mortality rate difference was so marked that the trials were stopped before completion because of the compelling evidence.
1) slowing the pulse rate increases systolic pressure for any given cardiac work-level, increasing the risk of stroke.
2) Beta blockers inhibit the pulse rate from rising properly when needed to increase cardiac output. This leads to insufficient total systemic flow, with risk of consequent organ damage (including the heart itself)
3) slowing the pulse rate decreases the efficiency at which the heart does its work, thereby increasing its own load effectively. If cardiac impairment is present (that is, if it's already for any reason struggling to deliver the correct blood output for the organs, including itself) beta blockers will cause it to slip further in the direction of cardiac failure than it already is.
If you've been taking it for many years, you've survived in spite of it, not because of it. Good for you, but wean yourself off (not suddenly, -you get a "bounce") and change to other, better drugs.
**********
If RossGurlie actually reads what I wrote I specifically advised Glenn NOT to stop suddenly, but to wean himself off.
And sorry, this is a case where Doctor doesn't know best. In this subject UK is years ahead of USA. But you'll catch up.

Answer 7

Do not listen the the person above me. Do NOT stop taking Atenolol unless your doctor tells you to. I was also on it for a while, in order to help regulate the irregular heart beats I was experiencing. It is very dangerous to stop prescribed medication abruptly. Listen to your doctor, not arbitrary research on the internet!

Answer 8

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Answer 9

Do not stop taking it unless your doctor says to. Doing so could cause your heart rate to sky rocket and lead to a heart attack.

Answer 10

your 1st responder is totally correct...you jus tcan't stop taking that stuff...and i have family members on that too for a long time and it's been ok with them...i hadn't heard that report yet....but I think your doc would know so stick with him