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I Have Been On Atenolol 25mg Once A Day For
Question: I have been on atenolol 25mg once a day for 16 years because of side effects my dr prescribed amlodipine 5mg once a day last Monday. I stopped the atenolol the next day and started amlodipine. all week BP was good until Sunday. Bp was 118/80 BP135. checked bp this morning 116/82 BP 140. is this normal adjusting to new meds?should have I tapered off atenolol? do I need to add back atenolol pr different BP med all together?
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome to Ask a Doctor service!
I passed carefully through your question and would explain that atenolol is a betablocker, whose main action is on the heart rate (it lowers heart rate).
While amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker, whose main action is on blood pressure values (lowering blood pressure values).
For this reason, as your blood pressure values is under control, and you do not have any lightheadedness, everything seems to be OK.
Regarding atenolol abrupt withdrawal, it can lead to rebound tachycardia. Anyway, you have been on a very low dose of Atenolol.
Coming to this point, I would recommend you to closely monitor your heart rate in the next days.
If you experience a high heart rate or frequent skipped heart beats, I would recommend taking low dose of a betablocker (atenolol or metoprolol, etc.).
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
DR. Ilir Sharka, Cardiologist
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome to Ask a Doctor service!
I passed carefully through your question and would explain that atenolol is a betablocker, whose main action is on the heart rate (it lowers heart rate).
While amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker, whose main action is on blood pressure values (lowering blood pressure values).
For this reason, as your blood pressure values is under control, and you do not have any lightheadedness, everything seems to be OK.
Regarding atenolol abrupt withdrawal, it can lead to rebound tachycardia. Anyway, you have been on a very low dose of Atenolol.
Coming to this point, I would recommend you to closely monitor your heart rate in the next days.
If you experience a high heart rate or frequent skipped heart beats, I would recommend taking low dose of a betablocker (atenolol or metoprolol, etc.).
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
DR. Ilir Sharka, Cardiologist
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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