Graves' Disease Support Group

How low is your blood pressure?

{{{hugs}}}

I already explained to you on your other thread why I think your doc Rx'd this for you.

Now, if you truly have low blood pressure, this might not be a good idea.

That is when Block and Replace Therapy can work for someone in your situation (also explained in my other post).

Now, question of the day - do you have any symptoms?

If not, there is no reason why you couldn't do some watchful waiting and lab in 4 wks.

CD, with all due respect....the reason I posted my Atenolol question was to receive a varied response of information. One thing I'm learning really fast from reading Graves posts is that everyone (just like life) is different. Differences in tests, scores, symptoms, etc.

Is it Daily Strength's policy that you can only post a question once? I like to get as much feedback as I can, because right now I am the patient and the Dr (as I've stated before). That's why I joined this site...to educate myself since my MD is NOT doing his job.

To answer your 2nd question, I have textbook symptoms, or so my MD says. Insomnia, hand tremors, hair loss, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, can't tolerate heat (at all), double vision, palpitations, and shortness of breath.

I hope this answers your question. Thanks!
-Mell

While being on Altenolol, it is important to monitor your bloodpressure and pulse.

Especially when your thyroid hormones drop down into normal ranges for you.

I am thrilled that you created a new thread for this question - I have often suggested this to others since it helps other members find topics that might be of interest to them.

I mentioned the fact that I answered this question in your other thread so others could check your prior posts if they were interested in my answer.

I did have other thoughts to share and, thus, my post here.

I think it's great that you seek the largest amount of feedback - I know it helped me when dealing with my "difficult" docs.

Sorry to hear of all your symptoms - hope you're able to sort everything out and rally for the proper care.

Hi Butterfly, I was on Atenolol in the beginning when I was hyper..Basically I had heart palpitations, tremors, shortness of breath all that..It worked tremendously and the doc took me off it a few months ago when I wasn't hyper anymore. I think I took 25mg once a day. I believe it can also help to lower the F-T3 in some people but I'm not totally sure.
P.S..My Bp has always been on the low to normal side and the Atenolol didn't make it any lower..I was worried about that in the beginning so I understand why you would be too. The doc monitored my BP and so did my ma and took me off at the approriate time. I hope this helps you..take care and keep looking for a new Endo doc.. *hugs*~Susan~

I was put on Atenolol when I was first diagnosed. My doc put me on it because my FT3 was high and it was causing heart problems. They started me on a rather high amount and didnt taper it off soon enough based on my blood tests. Being on Atenolol for longer than I needed caused me serious problems. My blood pressure went very low and I was suffering extremely low energy. It was all I could do to get out of bed. I was not functioning very well at all. At this time I didnt know much about this disease or how to read my labs so I was at the mercy of my Endo. This will never happen again. In addition to this I was not tapered down on my PTU properly, so I was also very hypo. The combination of these two things caused me to be very ill. I hope this never happens to anyone else. Big Hugs...Kathy

Atenolol is one of the drugs classified as beta-blockers. Basically, they block or lessen the effect of certain hormones on the cardiovascular system. It will help with the hand tremors, palpitations, shortness of breath, and perhaps the anxiety, as all of these things contribute to the feeling of being anxious. It will also help prevent heart arrythmias.

I don't think they lower blood pressure as much as keep it from rising in the presence of adrenaline. Not good if you need to run from the proverbial sabre-toothed tiger, but great when the jerk in front of you sleeps through the left-turn arrow at the intersection! I believe that propanolol is the only beta-blocker that actually lowers T3.

For good information on prescription drugs, try drugs.com. They have several different levels of information, from brief and snappy, to very complex chemical and physiological descriptions.

I am sharing this here in case altoclef pops back in and, of course, for anyone else who might be interested

Here's a link to a medical journal article about the effects different beta-blockers had on lowering FreeT3 levels:

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/...

Yes, that's why I keep the Atenolol on hand in case I have another T3 Thyrotoxicosis. I also take at certain times of my cycles.

{{{hugs}}} :-)