Atenolol User Reviews & Ratings (Page 5)
Brand names: Tenormin
Atenolol has an average rating of 7.2 out of 10 from a total of 282 reviews on Drugs.com. 63% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 18% reported a negative experience.
Reviews for Atenolol
- nos...
- April 11, 2010
For High Blood Pressure "I suffered with slightly elevated blood pressure and migraines for 12 to 15 years. After a trip to Mayo Clinic and being put on beta blockers, my blood pressure was normal and no headaches. I have now been on atenolol for 10 years or more, with a total of 47 years on various blockers with minimal side effects. I don't believe doctors use this treatment often enough for migraines."
- Lig...
- January 24, 2017
For High Blood Pressure "I have used this drug for many years, mainly for headaches, but also slightly high BP - it works wonderfully! The only side effect is slight tiredness due to lowering pulse, but tolerable if I force myself to get up and move when feeling extra tired!"
- Jen...
- Taken for 10 years or more
- May 21, 2019
For Mitral Valve Prolapse "At 27 years old, I was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse, hypertension, and fast heartbeat. My fabulous doctor, who was the head of the hypertension department, started me on 50 mg Tenormin daily for the first month and then increased it to 100 mg daily (which is now called atenolol, generic). I'm now 62 years old and have successfully been taking the same medication and dosage for all these years!!!"
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best time of day to take blood pressure medication?
- What medications are known to cause hair loss?
- How is atenolol superior to metoprolol?
- bcf...
- August 25, 2009
For Migraine Prevention "This medication has been an absolute godsend to me. Prior to taking low-dose atenolol, I was getting crippling migraines once a month or so that would consume 48-72 hours of my life. My doctor began prescribing atenolol over three years ago, and I have only had three or four migraines since - all of which I was able to stop immediately with Imitrex. I have no side effects other than sleepiness, which simply means I take it before bed, and there are no issues."
- 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."
- Wea...
- Taken for 5 to 10 years
- December 18, 2018
For High Blood Pressure "Have been taking this for years, basically I'll self-medicate to get the right dose for the day. Some days I don't need any, others, I need a bit more. (Doctor is fine with me doing it also.) Was put on it after a nasty experience with Vioxx. I do lots of running, cycling, swimming, and just an all-around fitness junkie. Aside from a cough when my HR gets to 152 and a bit of insomnia, it has worked great."
- sky...
- August 2, 2009
For Migraine Prevention "I've been taking atenolol 25 mg for about 3 years. I used to get very bad migraines at least 3 times a month, but since taking atenolol, my migraines have all but gone, and my blood pressure has come down. I do, however, have strange dreams and have slowly gained weight over the years."
- Lea...
- Taken for 2 to 5 years
- January 21, 2016
For Migraine Prevention "I suffered years and years of migraines. I had to wrap my head in a rag with alcohol to get some relief. My migraines stopped when I was prescribed Atenolol for high blood pressure. Have only had a couple of mild episodes in two years of taking Atenolol. Yay!"
- Pak...
- August 4, 2011
For High Blood Pressure "I've been using atenolol for 20 years, not my favorite. I struggle with exhaustion, low blood pressure, and weight gain. On the upside, my aortic aneurysm has remained stable, and aortic replacement isn't necessary for now."
- Sjl...
- Taken for 1 to 2 years
- April 9, 2024
For Supraventricular Tachycardia "I’ve always had really bad tachycardia and POTS. The first time I went to the cardiologist, my resting heart rate was 140. Since starting atenolol, my resting heart rate has remained in the 80s. POTS is a condition in which your blood pressure drops drastically when you go from sitting to standing. The first time I stood up in the cardiologist's office, my blood pressure dropped almost 50 points on top and 30 points on the bottom. Last time we tried it, it only dropped 3 points. It’s also a cheap medication and has been a lifesaver for me. I owe my life to this medication and wouldn’t be able to function without it."
- Zzz...
- June 12, 2015
For High Blood Pressure "This is the worst medication I have ever taken in my life. I have been in bed for seven days. Not only did it raise my heart rate, it gave me horrible vision, sensitive to light, can't function. Stuff is horrible for you. Should send my hospital bill to the manufacturer!"
- Geo...
- Taken for 10 years or more
- March 15, 2016
For High Blood Pressure "I'm on 150 mg atenolol, I take 100 mg in the morning and 50 mg at night. Side effects are leg water retention, breathlessness on exertion due to too slow heart rate, breathlessness when sleeping due to an even slower heart rate, this in addition to dizziness. I should mention I suffer from type 2 diabetes, insulin/diet controlled, so there may be an insulin/atenolol conflict there, and polyneuropathy to the extent I can no longer walk, as my legs no longer respond to instructions from my brain."
- Wiz...
- Taken for 10 years or more
- August 20, 2019
For Supraventricular Tachycardia "I was diagnosed with SVT in 1992. I was prescribed 50 mg Atenolol. My problems were completely gone. I dropped to 25 mg in 2001 and have been on 25 mg since. I know when I have missed my pill. I call it 'funny feeling in my chest.' The first thing I do is make sure I took my pill. It is 'my little friend.' I take it with 40 mg of Lipitor and 60 mg of Cymbalta. Also, 81 mg aspirin, Zyrtec, 1200 mg fish oil, B-Complex, and Areds 2 for my eyes. Absolutely no problems or side effects."
- goo...
- September 25, 2016
For High Blood Pressure "Since taking atenolol 50 mg twice daily for about a year, I have been slightly weak and gained a little weight, which is hard to get off. I think I have other side effects, but nothing extreme. My problem, I mean the one that worries me, is nightmares. I simply don't like having crazy nightmares. I think I'd rather gamble on having elevated BP. I think my quality of life will go up if I reduce the dosage, even though my longevity will probably go down. I suppose there are other medicines that do the same as atenolol, but I think maybe it's better to see if I can get along without them. Of course, if my health gets worse, then I must give up and just do what the doctor tells me. I trust my doctor, I just want to trust myself too."
- jax...
- June 21, 2009
Atenolol for Anxiety "This was prescribed for hypertension, and so far as I can tell, I have had no problems with it. I cannot say whether it helps with anxiety, although my doctor said to take one when I felt as though my heart was racing. It seemed to help, but I do not know whether it was because of the Tenormin or the placebo effect."
- kln...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- January 20, 2023
For Ventricular Tachycardia "While I was in the hyperthyroid stage, I was put on 25 mg of atenolol to control my heart rate. My side effects included: insomnia, brain fog, depressed mood, and anxiety. I am now going through withdrawal symptoms, which are just as unpleasant."
- Xyz...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- February 24, 2020
For High Blood Pressure "I'm a 21-year-old with a high blood pressure of 160/100 and a pulse rate of 90+. I used only 5 days of atenolol 50 mg. It helps me to lower my blood pressure to 110/70, but I also saw side effects from the first day (extreme fatigue, coldness, and low heart rate (46)). Now today, I'm going to consult my doctor about these side effects."
- moo...
- November 18, 2015
For High Blood Pressure "Please note this medication (atenolol) did in fact make me lose hair. Each morning, I awake to comb my hair. I noticed a large amount of hair left in my comb. I started searching the web on my medications. There it was, atenolol. (hair loss) I told my doctor and was put on another beta blocker. The hair loss stopped."
- New...
- September 26, 2016
For Migraine Prevention "I just started using this for migraine prevention this week. I've had no bad side effects. I've actually been sleeping better, and I'm feeling less anxiety. I will post a follow-up review in a couple of months."
- Hel...
- Taken for 1 to 2 years
- June 9, 2025
For Anxiety "I had been dealing with severe anxiety following a domestic violence situation that has been solved, but my feelings are still there. I started with my primary doc, who said I have slight hbp, so he started me on atenolol. He said it'll also take a little edge off my anxiety. Then he refers me to the psychiatrist. Two weeks on atenolol, I was a lot less jumpy and a lot less shaky. My heart wouldn't pound and my brain wouldn't race every time I would have to go in public or go to my part-time job. At this point, I feel fine enough that I don't need the psych referral at this time. Thank you for atenolol. It's a medicine that lowered my anxiety and BP. No side effects, not even fatigue. I have been taking atenolol for two years now and have moved on with my life without overwhelming anxiety."
- 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."
- Noo...
- Taken for 10 years or more
- May 12, 2022
For High Blood Pressure "I was prescribed atenolol 25 mg for high blood pressure. I have been taking this drug for over 12 years along with amlodipine. I have to do a speech for my daughter’s wedding, I’m a very anxious person, and the other day I took 50 mg of atenolol as an experiment instead of my usual 25 mg. I found that I was a lot calmer in social situations, usually, I panic doing the weekly shopping. I have never been able to ask for help for my anxiety and have lived with it for many years. I will definitely be taking 50 mg to help me on my daughter's wedding. The only side effects at the higher dose for me were slightly blurred vision and a little more tiredness, pulse and blood pressure a little lower. Best of luck, everyone, just take one day at a time."
- Ski...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- January 14, 2021
For Ventricular Tachycardia "My PVCs got much worse about 6 months ago. I figure on average I was skipping 5 beats a minute but would often go into a one out of every three pattern for hours, which makes you think you're near death. The jury is still out, but I started 25 mg of atenolol daily a week ago, and I am >90 percent improved. BP is much better, and my heart no longer races. God bless the makers of atenolol..."
- Sea...
- April 8, 2022
For High Blood Pressure "Switched to 12.5 mg atenolol from metoprolol succinate ER 12.5 mg a day because I was having bad headaches on metoprolol. Worse decision. Only on my 5th day, woke up today with a heart rate of 116, chest pain, anxiety is through the roof, and it is causing me to be super depressed. Like I cried 3 times the last couple of days, and I never cry. Going back to metoprolol tomorrow, even with the headaches, it’s way better."
See also:
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For Migraine Prevention "I was doing some research on migraines, was having 4 or 6 migraines a week, had to beg my doctor to put me on this. He finally agreed. Been on it for 2 months, not a single headache nor migraine. I have had migraines since I was 10. I am now 33. I know it is commonly used for high blood pressure and the reason my doctor was kind of leery of it is because I didn't have high blood pressure, but I'm glad he let me try it. It's on the Walmart $4 plan."