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Beta Blockers switch

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AK0701
AK0701

I was put on metoprolol 12.5mg twice a day 2 weeks ago and I had to skip a couple of doses due to low blood pressure. 2 days later even though I resumed metoprolol I had the rebound effect. It was awful and it subsided the next day. I went to my Cardiologist and ask him to switch medications due to the side effects (flu like symptoms, nausea, dizziness, severe weakness, nightmares, depression, and feeling of suffocation). He agreed and changed me to Atenolol 12.5mg daily. It seems to be better but not without side effects either. This is day 4 from switch still have side effects

(nausea, dizziness, tiredness, anxious feeling). They are not as bad as metoprolol but still bothersome. My bp and heart rate remain stable even when I have that anxious feeling. My only diagnosis is hypertension and it's not severe. The reason for only 12.5mg dose is because my bp drops to low 100's with that small dose. Has anyone made the switch and did side effects go away?

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • jx41870
    jx41870 AK0701

    Posted

    The 12.5mg is a very small dose of atenolol, it's what I use, and I think it's 1/4 a normal small dose! My kudos to your doctor for knowing that's plenty for some people. And at this dosage I've had almost no side effects - except I dream more!

    However there are other classes of drugs to treat BP, the ACE and ARB drugs in particular, with or without a diuretic. You could try those instead.

    It is also possible that the continuing side-effects are still from the metoprolol, some drugs take a week or three to completely clear from your system (generally if they are fat soluble), so you might give it a little more time. This even though both metoprolol and atenolol actually have a very short half-life. So, the opposite issue is also possible, your side-effects may be too little - that metoprolol dose is also very tiny.

    The manual says atenolol can be taken once a day, but with me it clearly doesn't last that long and my original prescription was 25mg twice a day. So when I feel I need it I take a second dose short of 24 hours. I'm sure just taking it twice a day would be fine. The reference says the half-life is just 6 hours, but half-life is not the same as effective-life.

    So maybe discuss this with your doctor, a couple of options to try, individual reactions to drugs can be all over the place.

    • AK0701
      AK0701 jx41870

      Posted

      thank you for your reply.. yes i was thinking the metoprolol is still lingering and why my side effects are still there. They are not as bad and hope are gone soon. I have never really been on medications before probably why I am sensitive to the medications. Thank you

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