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Suggest Ways To Manage BP When On Atenolol
Question: I started atenolol 25mg. First my doctor told me that i could just take the pill in the morning with breakfast. This didnt work for me as i found it lowered my BP too much and it made me drowsy and lightheaded. So I now split the dose and talk half in the morning and the other half at night. I feel fine througout the day. No dizzyness or drowsyness. But at night time when i take my other half of the pill at 7pm its a different story. Around like 10PM i start feeling lightheaded and kinda drowsy. Is this normal?why doesnt the same happen during the day?I have only been on this medication for 10 days.
Brief Answer:
Monitor blood pressure
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I would like to know have you checked your blood pressure when you feel light headedness at 10 pm ?
How often it happens?
Yes, atenolol can cause drowsy and light headedness which are common side effects especially in people who start recently.
Mostly in morning blood pressure tends to be high; hence doctors suggest blood pressure medications to be taken in morning. In your case the blood pressure may be low or normal in evening, may be because of that you are feeling drowsy after taking medication which lowers blood pressure. Atenolol can cause side effects even after 2-3 hours of having medications.
I suggest you to record your blood pressures when you feel drowsy and light headedness, if you find low blood pressure often then better you visit your treating doctor and discuss about it, doctor may change the medications or frequency of medications. If you have normal blood pressure doctor may even stop the medication after few days.
Thank you.
Monitor blood pressure
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I would like to know have you checked your blood pressure when you feel light headedness at 10 pm ?
How often it happens?
Yes, atenolol can cause drowsy and light headedness which are common side effects especially in people who start recently.
Mostly in morning blood pressure tends to be high; hence doctors suggest blood pressure medications to be taken in morning. In your case the blood pressure may be low or normal in evening, may be because of that you are feeling drowsy after taking medication which lowers blood pressure. Atenolol can cause side effects even after 2-3 hours of having medications.
I suggest you to record your blood pressures when you feel drowsy and light headedness, if you find low blood pressure often then better you visit your treating doctor and discuss about it, doctor may change the medications or frequency of medications. If you have normal blood pressure doctor may even stop the medication after few days.
Thank you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
I have checked my BP when it happens and it reads 103/70 HR 65. Im fairly new to the medicine and my body is adjusting to it. I was given this medication to combat mild tachycardia heart rate at time 100-120. What I will probably now do is take even a little less than my split 12.5mg dose at night time. Maybe that will help some. What do you think?
Brief Answer:
You can take little dose
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear,
Yes, you can try medication with little less dose and also I suggest you monitor your blood pressure before and after medication.
If you have low blood pressure before medication or If you will not better even with low dose then consult your doctor and doctor may advice the medication only once in a day.
If you have any queries I will be happy to help you.
Thank you.
You can take little dose
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear,
Yes, you can try medication with little less dose and also I suggest you monitor your blood pressure before and after medication.
If you have low blood pressure before medication or If you will not better even with low dose then consult your doctor and doctor may advice the medication only once in a day.
If you have any queries I will be happy to help you.
Thank you.
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
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