Atenolol and Fatigue: What Users Say

• Les...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 8, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I have been on this medication atenolol since I was 19. I am now 50 (31 years). When I first started taking it, I struggled with the fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and staying awake during the day. So, instead of taking it in the morning, I take it before bed to sleep off the side effects. I like this medication, it works well for me. I have tried other medications for short periods of time but ended up requesting atenolol because I am very familiar with it and it has fewer side effects."

• Adv...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 13, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "I was prescribed atenolol for minor high blood pressure due to pain. I’m not one to take medication. The first day taking atenolol, I was very fatigued. The second day, I had a rash on my back and stomach area! The itching was like having poison ivy. Horrible! Had to go to urgent care for a shot to stop the itching. After dealing with that issue, I decided to go back to natural ways. Started on red beet supplements! BP went down to 102-67 in three days, from 158/101. I feel like I am 25! Feeling great using natural resources instead of chemicals."

• Izz...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 9, 2022

For Anxiety "I was prescribed Atenolol for severe panic episodes that consistently raise my heart rate and BP throughout the day. Having cardiophobia certainly didn't help things. My panic attacks consisted of racing thoughts, a hammering heart, trembling hands, and hyperventilation. I was afraid to keep having panic episodes, which would further contribute to them. It was exhausting, scary, and debilitating. I was hesitant to take Atenolol, as it was a drug that directly affected my heart, but I'm glad I did because the relief is indescribable. Atenolol is great for controlling the physical symptoms of anxiety/panic episodes. It blocks adrenaline and keeps your heart rate and BP steady/under control-no matter what you're feeling. I figured out Atenolol had a half-life of 7-8 hours before it wears off. I take it once every 6-7 hours for full, round-the-clock, daily coverage (25 mg doses). Works best on an empty stomach. Been on for 3 years. Finally living life again."

• Ash...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 16, 2019

For Ventricular Tachycardia "I am a 27-year-old female. I was put on Atenolol after years of doctor's visits, including everyone trying to tell me I had anxiety. That was not the case, I was finally diagnosed with Atrial Ventricular Reentry Tachycardia and immediately put on Atenolol. They tried an ablation, but it was unsuccessful. I have now been on Atenolol for 5 years, and I have had chronic fatigue since I began these medications, and I feel like my symptoms are worsening. I have tightness in my chest often, difficulty getting a deep breath, and the lethargy is off the charts, my sex drive sucks, and I feel 'blah' more often than not. I also love to work out, but I feel like I always have a gorilla on my back. It's all extremely frustrating. I am dying to wean off of this medicine, and I really wish the doctors would have educated me more about the side effects because I think the diagnosis would have seemed more bearable than this."

• Xyz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 24, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I'm a 21-year-old with a high blood pressure of 160/100 and a pulse rate of 90+. I used only 5 days of atenolol 50 mg. It helps me to lower my blood pressure to 110/70, but I also saw side effects from the first day (extreme fatigue, coldness, and low heart rate (46)). Now today, I'm going to consult my doctor about these side effects."

• JTa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 23, 2020

For Migraine Prevention "Atenolol was my second try at a preventative (the first was another beta blocker-propranolol). I came off propranolol due to insomnia. Atenolol unfortunately also caused insomnia for me. I would have frequent dizzy spells and fatigue, but could not sleep at night. On to the next!"

• alm...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 15, 2023

For Migraine Prevention "I had to take this because the insurance company forced me to before paying for anything that actually works. It did nothing for migraines. This drug did calm my anxiety and helped my sleep, which is why I was hesitating to quit taking it. But it helped too much. I lived fatigued and depressed with no motivation - and that was while being on a daytime stimulant. Finally, I got the migraine injection that helps my migraines, and it’s time to get off this stuff. My doctor told me to half the dose for a week and I should be good. Uhhh, apparently not. My heart rate has been very high for 10 days and last night my heart was palpating with beats over 100 in my sleep for hours. Then it shot up to 170 bpm when I got out of bed. I had to take atenolol just to get it to go back down. Either I wasn’t tapered off properly or wasn’t told to break from the stimulant for a few weeks while my heart adjusts. My anxiety is also now through the roof."

• So...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 28, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "I was put on a small dose of atenolol in Feb 22 for severe anxiety and high blood pressure. It has worked incredibly well for me. I do feel tired and fatigued some days, but my anxiety and blood pressure are much lower. So it is worth it, in my opinion."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 8, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "I was put on atenolol for high blood pressure and frequent PVCs. It did lower my blood pressure, but left me foggy and fatigued most days. The cardiologist said I can discontinue because the PVCs are benign. He mentioned I may want to continue it for the migraines. I laughed because the month I was on atenolol, I got 3 migraines with aura…which is the most I’ve had in a long time."

• Run...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 29, 2024

"Prescribed atenolol after an Afib attack. I also have anxiety and high blood pressure and migraines. Took 50 mg for two months and 25 mg for 8 months. Definitely was great for migraine and anxiety prevention. The first three months I was very fatigued and slept a lot. I did settle in for the most part, but exercise was difficult, and I gained weight while on this when I needed to lose weight. I exercise daily, and after I saw the weight gain, I had enough. Hopefully, the switch to a new drug works."

• lh1...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 8, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "Atenolol has been very good for me. I had a racing heart and somewhat high blood pressure caused by Graves' disease, and it really helped out while I was stabilizing my antithyroid medication levels. Helped a lot with anxiety, too. I had a thyroidectomy later and stayed on the atenolol while trying to find the correct dose of thyroid hormone. With all those fluctuations, I could have had annoying heart symptoms, but thanks to the atenolol, the transition to synthetic thyroid hormone went smoothly. No side effects, except for some fatigue and mild lightheadedness for a few days when first starting on the medication. The only downside is that atenolol is hard to taper off, at least for me. I went down to 12.5 mg for a month and it was okay, but when I stopped it altogether, I started having insomnia and episodes of racing heart (after waking up and light exercise). However, I might not be fully stable on the thyroid meds yet, and some of this could be their effect."

• GBS...
• May 24, 2022

For Mitral Valve Prolapse "It works, but I could not tolerate the side effects. I started taking 25 mg once a day for high blood pressure, chest pains, and mitral valve prolapse. At first, it was great. After taking it for a few months, I started getting worse chest pain with tightness that spread to my back down my arms, back pains, muscle pains, joint pains, shortness of breath, trouble sleeping, extreme fatigue, bouts of depression, and mood swings! I finally talked my doctor into taking me off of beta blockers. I wish I could tolerate them, they are good at keeping anxiety with a fast heart rate at bay!"