Atenolol and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 17, 2014

For High Blood Pressure "I've been on 100 mg of this medication and it did exactly what it was supposed to do. It lowered my blood pressure and I also got the side benefit of reduced anxiety. No bad side effects whatsoever. This one is a 10 in my book."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 21, 2020

For Anxiety "Don't normally respond to these reviews, but feel the need to share my experience from using atenolol. Not sure how it makes me feel, but my exercise life is the greatest. For years, I was unable to run or jog for long distances due to shortness of breath. Maybe a 1/2 to 1 mile max, and I'm totally exhausted. Now I jog/run 2 3/4 miles (about 11 laps), 4 times a week with energy to spare. Also, I suffered with anxiety going for doctor's visits, my pulse and heart rate were through the roof, especially when I was up for my yearly DOT certification physical. So again, not quite sure how this medication works, but it is truly Godsent."

• Tri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 1, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Been on this drug since April this year. Within one hour of taking 12.5 mg, my heart beats so hard, skips around, and makes me feel like fainting. This lasts usually about an hour. I am constantly nauseous and anxious. I don’t know if this is from the drug or because it scares me so badly when I take it and react this way. I’ve had EKG, Holter, and Event monitors, and nothing shows except some PACs. Dr. says keep taking the 12.5 mg. I want off it."

• Hor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 11, 2013

Atenolol for High Blood Pressure "Ever since taking this, my throat has been swollen. I told the doctor, and he doesn't think it's from the Atenolol, but it didn't start until then. It's hard to sleep at night. I have horrible eye pressure, and it makes me anxious. I'm hoping I can switch meds soon. It doesn't reduce my pressure much at all."

• Mar...
• February 23, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "Worst medication ever. Taking this medication was the biggest mistake I ever made, and I want to wean off it so bad. I wish I had a time machine to go back and stop myself from taking this poison. It has caused me severe depression, hair loss, worsening anxiety, and had a very negative effect on my sex life (I'm a 30-year-old newlywed). Drug companies will not be honest about side effects because BP meds are a huge moneymaker for them, as they are one of the most commonly prescribed meds... do your own research, I wish I had."

• yay...
• April 14, 2015

For High Blood Pressure "I was 27 and overweight when I started taking 25 mg of atenolol, which worked great for about 6 years, but last year at age 34, the doctor put me on 50 mg, which started causing anxiety about once every 2-3 months and lack of sleep. Now, at age 35, I'm on 75 mg, and the side effects are weekly migraines, lightheadedness, anxiety, leg pain, and jaw pain... don't feel like myself..."

• t-d...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 23, 2018

For Anxiety "Atenolol has worked great, but found I had to take it on an empty stomach, or else it wasn't as effective. When I had to go off of it due to the supply disruption, Metoprolol was not working the same, and the anxiety was brutal, coupled with the fact my doc was on vacation, and I had to deal with a nurse who was just trying to stall me and my symptoms."

• 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."

• 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."

• dix...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 23, 2016

For Anxiety "Was prescribed this for tremor (due to seizure Rx). Had been on primidone, which worked well. Atenolol caused dizziness, extreme vertigo, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, chest pains, tightness when trying to breathe. I fainted. MD told me to go off it. After fainting, called pharmacist. He said, 'Get to the ER' and 'Why are you on a beta blocker?' I didn't know atenolol was a beta blocker. Not supposed to take those due to having asthma. In ER, my BP was 188/88. Usually is around 123/63. Took 4 hours, IV etc., to get BP down to 158/78. They released me but said to tell MD never to put me on betas again."

• mis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 31, 2013

For Anxiety "Awful drug, so dizzy all the time, can't walk or shower. Has made my anxiety and panic attacks worse. Agoraphobia is coming back now. Sick gut all the time. Put on it in ER for afib. Wish to God I'd never been put on this evil drug. Xanax no longer work on these either. Beware."

• mis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 31, 2013

For Anxiety "Awful drug, so dizzy all the time, can't walk or shower. Has made my anxiety and panic attacks worse. Agoraphobia is coming back now. Sick gut all the time. Put on it in ER for afib. Wish to God I'd never been put on this evil drug. Xanax no longer work on these either. Beware."

• alm...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 15, 2023

For Migraine Prevention "I had to take this because the insurance company forced me to before paying for anything that actually works. It did nothing for migraines. This drug did calm my anxiety and helped my sleep, which is why I was hesitating to quit taking it. But it helped too much. I lived fatigued and depressed with no motivation - and that was while being on a daytime stimulant. Finally, I got the migraine injection that helps my migraines, and it’s time to get off this stuff. My doctor told me to half the dose for a week and I should be good. Uhhh, apparently not. My heart rate has been very high for 10 days and last night my heart was palpating with beats over 100 in my sleep for hours. Then it shot up to 170 bpm when I got out of bed. I had to take atenolol just to get it to go back down. Either I wasn’t tapered off properly or wasn’t told to break from the stimulant for a few weeks while my heart adjusts. My anxiety is also now through the roof."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 5, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "I've been taking atenolol 25 mg and methyldopa 500 mg for 5 months now. My BP is very normal, however, the side effects are just bad: dizziness, dull pain on the left side of my body, chest discomfort, and anxiety, always very paranoid. Some days are better. I am hoping all these will go away. I'm also terrified about coming off atenolol, but I really want to."

• Ano...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 30, 2012

Atenolol for Anxiety "I was prescribed this medicine for irregular heartbeat, but also noticed that it greatly affects my anxiety too. I would highly recommend it."

• Nzy...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 18, 2019

For Anxiety "Atenolol has a great calming effect overall on my anxiety. Could also exercise more. No more anxiety, rapid heart rate, nervousness. Better sleep/rest quality."

• Nzy...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 18, 2019

For Anxiety "Atenolol has a great calming effect overall on my anxiety. Could also exercise more. No more anxiety, rapid heart rate, nervousness. Better sleep/rest quality."