I am trying to get off of the drug atenolol. I was taking Toprol Xl but I was having many problems. Palpitations feeling of hard heartbeat in my neck and chest. Dr switched me to atenolol 50 mg. It worked well for about 9 months then it started to not work again. Started to have palpitations and the hard heartbeat again feeling it in my neck and legs and all. The reason he first put me on it was my heart rate was a little up high 80 s and my blood pressure was running 135/90. I also was having small palpitations every couple of months or so. At the time I was perimenopausal thinking maybe hormones were causing the palpitations. Now the atenolol as I said doesn t work well. The Dr will not take me off because he says it will get worse but he doesn t have any answers for me. I decided to decrease the pills myself. I went down to 25 mgs. after a couple weeks I felt a little better. Then I went down to 12.5 mg and same reaction felt bad for a week or two then got better. Waited awhile and bumped down to 6 mg that was ok too. I actually felt better than when on the 50mg. My blood pressure has remained ok 120/80. Heart rate has increased again to high 80 s. Now I tried to bump down again to 3 mg. Doesn t seem to be working well palpitations have come back and feel heavy heartbeat again. Not sure what to do now. Can I not ever get off of these pills I really don t feel good taking them. Thank you for your help. Also do they increase chances of diabetes? I don t have any other health issues no other medications. I am 51 years old.