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Atenolol for high blood pressure

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
vince13

vince13

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1.5 LADA
Has anyone else noticed that they have developeda silly dry cough since they have been taking this drug ? OH has been taking the drug for some time and has had a slight tickle in his throat but now it is extremely frequent and irritating, especially in such situations as theatre, church, concerts etc.

He is seeing his Dr tomorrow for a diabetic check-up and I wonder if it is something he should mention linked to this drug. I know there was talk of developing this kind of cough when someone was on another high blood pressure medication.

Any thoughts anyone please ?
 
I know that you are supposed to report it if it happens on ramipril - does it say anything on the patient information leaflet? I'm on something called candesarten and don't have any problems with that.
 
No, Alan, the leaflet doesn't mention dry coughs as a side effect but it does say you shouldn't be on it if asthmatic etc. There are the usual loads of side effects listed (which would scare you out of taking anything - I suppose they have to cover themselves!) but I can't see anything particularly relating to this. Thanks for your input anyway - everyone else seems to be asleep today....
 
vince13 said:
No, Alan, the leaflet doesn't mention dry coughs as a side effect but it does say you shouldn't be on it if asthmatic etc. There are the usual loads of side effects listed (which would scare you out of taking anything - I suppose they have to cover themselves!) but I can't see anything particularly relating to this. Thanks for your input anyway - everyone else seems to be asleep today....
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Faith, I would report it to your doctor anyway - just because it's not listed doesn't mean it mightn't be a side-effect for you and something is causing it. Your GP may try you on something different or ask you to stop it for a week or two to see if the cough goes.
 
I have been on Atenolol for years, and not suffered any coughs Faith. Its not the drug of choice these days, and as its a beta blocker, it is unwise to stop taking it I believe, without medical supervision.

Atenolol and a commonly taken deuretic drug, cant pronouce or spell it, were linked to type 2 I was reading some while back.
 
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I was taken off atenolol when diagnosed type 2 three years ago it's not considered suitable for diabetics as it can stop the signs of hypos. I alsi put in weight with which came off as soon as I stopped taking it. I've also read that it can actually cause type!
 
Sebstar said:
I was taken off atenolol when diagnosed type 2 three years ago it's not considered suitable for diabetics as it can stop the signs of hypos. I alsi put in weight with which came off as soon as I stopped taking it. I've also read that it can actually cause type!
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How did they get you off Atenolol Sebstar, ween you off or just stop it?

I've asked to come off and been told no.
 
Just remembered that I used to be on something similar called bisoprolol (also a beta-blocker). I didn't get the tickly cough but did suffer the tiredness and nausea. I couldn't get my fitness back because they limit your heart rate to below 100 beats per minute so I couldn't run very far without getting tired. They can also reduce your adrenalin response so your hypo symptoms can be reduced. As far as I remember, once I got the all-clear for my heart they allowed me to just stop taking them, so it probably depends on your own particular need for them as to whether you can just stop them or not (always with doctor's advice!).
 
Thats interesting Northerner, my pulse rate is about 50 or less now, not conducive to an exciting lifestyle.

Some guy was running the marathon on them, and had to stop every 4 miles or so to allow his system to catch up as his heart rate couldn't.
 
slipper said:
Thats interesting Northerner, my pulse rate is about 50 or less now, not conducive to an exciting lifestyle.

Some guy was running the marathon on them, and had to stop every 4 miles or so to allow his system to catch up as his heart rate couldn't.
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That was what I found crazy for me - they knew I was a runner and the surgeon encouraged me to get back into it asap, but then gave me pills that would make it a hundred times more difficult! 🙄
 
slipper said:
How did they get you off Atenolol Sebstar, ween you off or just stop it?

I've asked to come off and been told no.
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As soon as I was diagnosed type 2 they stopped the Atenolol and put me on rampiril which is supposed to protect the kidneys as well. I suppose it depends what you are taking Atenolol for I was taking it for high blood pressure but it's not considered to be the best drug for blood pressure now.
 
How would you feel having to take Bisoprolol, Losartan, Amlodipine and Bendroflumethiazide? Over the years, since a teenager, I have been taking BP meds and the only way seems to be with an assortment of medications. There is a family history and although I have never been overweight, and keep fairly busy, there is no alternative for me.
After an angiogram two years ago it was found that I have a birth defect in my heart, a narrow aorta, which means my heart has to pump harder and in so doing raises my BP. They will not consider an op at my age to stretch the aorta as they consider it to be too dangerous so am left with no choice but to take the tablets. I have to see a cardiologist for tests every three months.
As a child there was a diagnosis of "a weak heart" but medical science has moved on since then. A child today presenting with the same problems would be operated on.
Consider myself lucky that nothing has happened throughout my life to endanger my health with this problem so grin and bear the meds and side effects.
 
Goodness Maisie, that's quite a few! As you say, no alternative but to put up with them - hope the side effects are tolerable. I remember my doctor saying to me (when my BP was quite high) that she wouldn't increase the candesarten I was on, despite only being on half the maximum dose, because above a certain level the benefits are likely to be less, so they would normally introduce another drug alongside it. I never had to do that though as my BP came down so I ended up being able to reduce the dose. But it sounds as though they have hit you with the full kit and caboodle (I'm sure that's the medical term 😉)
 
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