Atenolol and Shortness Of Breath: What Users Say

• 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."

• 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."

• Mey...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 30, 2020

For Anxiety "Atenolol worked fantastic for my performance anxiety. I had a big fear of public speaking, and whenever I needed to do a work presentation, my heart would beat so fast that I would get short of breath and wouldn't be able to speak properly, with a shaky voice, etc. My GP prescribed me 50 mg atenolol to take 1 hour before, and it works great, by removing the rapid heartbeat. Propranolol appears to be the most commonly prescribed medication for this issue, however, I found atenolol does the job perfectly."

• Sar...
• June 10, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "I was put on a very low dose of Atenolol, and after 27 days, I stopped taking it. Worst ever. My heart pounds, my chest is tight with a burning sensation and difficulty breathing. Add cold soaking sweats and huge bruises on my arms, and I have had enough of this poison. Called my cardiologist and told him I was not taking it anymore, and he didn't call me back. Woke up at 4 a.m., and my heart was beating so hard I thought I was having a heart attack. Happy it works well for some. And it is the only medication I was on."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 18, 2012

For High Blood Pressure "Have been on this medicine for over 10 years. It does control my BP rather well, but have been looking for other alternatives recently. My main problem is the shortness of breath, especially if I do any type of cardio. I started running last year and immediately noticed that I can't run for long periods and am stuck doing intervals of jogging / walking. Next is rhinitis, always hacking out clear phlegm, and my last complaint is the edema (swelling in the ankles/feet)."

• Fli...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 17, 2017

For Anxiety "Let me start off by saying that I've done my research on Atenolol-it doesn't have the greatest track record, and there's a lot of evidence coming out saying that it doesn't actually protect your heart or arteries from damage. But Atenolol is the only thing that has worked to control my heart. I used to have high BP (160/100) and tachycardia at times, but as soon as I started taking Atenolol, it was like I was normal again. And I can definitely tell a difference when I stop taking it. I get a little shortness of breath very infrequently, and my pulse is sometimes under 60 bpm, but it's the one drug that has worked for years. I wish I could find something better/more effective, but I haven't yet. Tried Losartan, Valsartan, and a few others."

• Ron...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 18, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "My cousin took atenolol 50 mg, the first week still working well. However, on the second week, started to have sudden mild shortness of breath, which lasts for 5-10 minutes, and my BP can be as low as 98/65. Reduced the dose to 25 mg, however, the sudden mild SOB still exists. Reduced it to 12.5 mg, on monitoring status... Reduce the dose slowly if having such side effects, with consultation with your doctor."

• dix...
• August 17, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "The neurologist put me on primidone to stop tremors (caused by seizures medication). Was working great. New doctor switched me to atenolol. Chest pains, tightness in chest, hard to breathe, dizzy, fainted, feeling suicidal, could not read. Called doctor. His RN said to go off it immediately. Later, fainted. Called pharmacist. He said, 'Get to ER stat.' My BP is usually 120/63. Was 188/88 when I was first admitted to ER. Spent 4 hours on IV, etc. ER MD told me never to do beta blockers. Had no idea this Rx was a beta blocker!"

• Anonymous
• May 30, 2011

Atenolol for Mitral Valve Prolapse "I have been on Tenormin for about 4 years. It certainly has taken care of the heart palpitations. I do not take any caffeine. But other side effects have occurred: asthma has gotten worse, I get winded after running only one and a half miles, more often than not, I feel tired, my hair is thinning, I have esophageal spasms, which I have read that Tenormin may induce upper GI problems. I am going off the medication to see if it makes a difference. I exercise regularly, and 7 years ago, my doctor suggested I take beta-blockers, which I wasn't keen on, but since I exercise, he said it wasn't that imperative that I take it. So I'd rather run regularly and efficiently and be off it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 22, 2022

For Anxiety "Healthy 21 y/o male with GAD & PTSD from the UK. This medication actually really works for anxiety and should be prescribed more often! SSRIs can help with the mental side of anxiety, but this works for the physical side of anxiety as good as benzos, with less problems. If your anxiety is triggered, you may feel the electric zap sensation running down your spine, but after that, NOTHING! It stops the cycle of anxiety in its tracks because your body stays chill, so then your mind does too, and you can move on. Can be unpleasant the first time you take it, with dizziness and a slow heartbeat (and that was only with 1/2 a pill - 12.5mg). Unfortunately, I had to stop this medication because it made me VERY breathless, which is only a side effect in asthmatics, so I am going to see my doctor about this because it shouldn’t happen in healthy people taking atenolol (I also can’t breathe as well with benzos). Would still recommend regardless (for non-asthmatics). Good luck everyone!"

• Sun...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 18, 2020

For Ventricular Tachycardia "On this for postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). This is a terrible drug! I would highly recommend avoiding this med at all costs. This med caused severe dizziness to the point I couldn't function. Also, atenolol causes crippling depression and has a black box warning when you stop taking it. Right before I stopped the med, I noted extreme breathlessness and felt like I couldn't get enough air."

• Sta...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 5, 2020

Atenolol for Supraventricular Tachycardia "I have arrhythmia, and this week I’ve had 2 tachycardia episodes over 200 bpm. They prescribed me this medicine, Tenormin, to help with heart rate stabilization. I was pleased to find that it kept my heart rate between 65-80 all day, and it also helped keep me calm. My issue is that this drug should NOT be taken if you have asthma. About 3 hours after I took the first dose, I had a bad asthma attack and had to take my rescue inhaler. It opened me up again, but the rest of the day I had a tight/sore chest with a raspy cough. I wish the doctor told me this to begin with. The drug worked fantastically, but not for asthmatics."

• Mel...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 6, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "The longer I was taking this, the more breathless I became. My dose was halved, and it was great for a while, but the breathlessness is creeping back. Bought myself a pill cutter and am going to half it again. Also take amitriptyline and indapamide, originally for headaches but now for high blood pressure too."

• 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!"