Atenolol and Heart Palpitations: What Users Say

• Sla...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 26, 2013

For Anxiety "I was originally prescribed atenolol for mitral valve prolapse, but it does an excellent job of helping me manage physical anxiety symptoms as well. Shakes, sweats, hot flashes, palpitations are all greatly reduced. I also have glaucoma and have noticed a slight decrease in my intraocular pressure while taking atenolol. Overall, a very valuable medicine with many benefits."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 11, 2021

For Anxiety "I needed to share my experience with this drug. If I could go back in time, I would have never taken this! It worked well for my anxiety, but the side effects I experienced a month later of taking this at a 12.5-25 mg dosage were awful. I had extreme shortness of breath, chest pains, tingling in my arms (especially my left arm), and feeling lethargic. I stopped taking this medication right when these side effects started, as I thought I was having a heart attack, and it has been the worst medication to come off of. I stopped taking this a week ago, and I have had unbearable anxiety, heart palpitations all day and night, lethargy, insomnia, etc. I see my doctor this week to get an EKG and do other testing after taking this drug. I know everyone's experience is different, but this drug for me was a true nightmare. Side effects on any medication can start at any time, not just right away. What I had to go through this last week withdrawing from the drug, I wouldn't wish on anyone."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 23, 2014

For Anxiety "Very helpful for performance anxiety when taken together with 0.5mg Xanax, no more racing heart, palpitations, sweating hands, running out of the room feeling when doing a presentation in front of a group of people, better than propranolol since this does not cause wheezing in me."

• Anonymous
• March 20, 2009

For Ventricular Tachycardia "I have had no noticeable side effects from this medication. I did stop taking it for a week and found out how much I really do need atenolol. My heart palpitations returned with a vengeance. Post-heart attack, listen to your doctor."

• Chr...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 15, 2022

For Anxiety "Treatment-resistant patient here. I've been taking 75 mg daily for anxiety (severe heart palpitations) and an atrial fibrillation. Recently increased to 100 mg (which is the highest), but this does a better job than any SSRI/SNRI with no side effects. I also take clonazepam 1-1.25 mg daily along with an antipsychotic. The bad news is psychiatrists and NP's/GP's who practice don't recognize this drug and instead prescribe the inferior propranolol, so you'll (more than likely) have to get it from your primary care doctor. The good news is even without insurance, the cost is very low and the side effect profile is almost non-existent."

• Obe...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 30, 2019

For Supraventricular Tachycardia "I am an older teenager who has used atenolol before for supraventricular tachycardia but stopped because of an ablation, which was unsuccessful, so I am taking it again. This time, though, it seems to be working less efficiently. My heart seems to feel like it's going to go into palpitations, but it doesn't."

• Sea...
• March 27, 2012

For Mitral Valve Prolapse "I was born with mitral valve prolapse and started having palpitations when going through a lot of stress in my mid-30s. I was started on Atenolol 25 mg per day... then noticed about 10 years later that my heart rate was going up again and had bouts of palpitations. My Dr. just adjusted the dosage to 50 mg per day. I have asthma also, but Theophylline ER 200 mg taken twice daily takes care of the asthma."

• 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."

• Omi...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 4, 2020

For Ventricular Tachycardia "I’m a 72-year-old female who’s been on atenolol for decades for palpitations, tachycardia, and hypertension. My doc has tried to discontinue it several times, but within days I need to restart it because of the palpitations. I’m now taking 100 mg/day. It’s not effective for the hypertension and semi-effective for tachycardia."

• Omi...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 4, 2020

For Ventricular Tachycardia "I’m a 72-year-old female who’s been on atenolol for decades for palpitations, tachycardia, and hypertension. My doc has tried to discontinue it several times, but within days I need to restart it because of the palpitations. I’m now taking 100 mg/day. It’s not effective for the hypertension and semi-effective for tachycardia."

• Jes...
• June 18, 2016

For Anxiety "This drug helped eliminate my panic attacks and also keeps me calm throughout the day. I haven't had tachycardia in a while. Currently taking 12.5 mg. I definitely recommend atenolol for anxiety."

• Jwr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 25, 2017

For Anxiety "Works very well for physical symptoms of anxiety. Heart palpitations are under control, and blood pressure and heart rate are now excellent. I only need 12.5-25 mg once a day. Great medication."

• Dee...
• February 14, 2013

For High Blood Pressure "After a nightmare few years on various ACE inhibitors (Diovan the worst), I asked my Dr. for Atenolol. After only a week and a half, no more palpitations and immediate lowered blood pressure."

• Anonymous
• August 7, 2009

Atenolol for Supraventricular Tachycardia "Had severe tachycardia since 2004. I take 50 mg 2x daily, and resting pulse remains below 100 bpm."