Graves' Disease Support Group

Graves-Basedow disease is a medical disorder that may manifest several different conditions including hyperthyroidism (over activity of thyroid hormone production), infiltrative exophthalmos (protruberance of one or both eyes and associated problems) and infiltrative dermopathy (a skin condition usually of the lower extremities). This disorder is the most common cause of...

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Help Me! Help Me! Beta Blockers!

scorpiogirl76
scorpiogirl76
Hello everyone! and thank you for viewing my post. I feel like I am going insane or close to crazy or partly looney... HELP! So, my doc put me on atenolol 25 mg once daily at bedtime... I chose to take 12.5 mg once daily during the day (as I most active then and my heart rate at night is already down to 60's). So far, I have felt great aside from some nauseousness... well, no after a little over a week of taking this... I am having absolutely horrible nightmares!!! and paranoia has set in. I feel like someone is always watching me or someone is in my house (when it's just me)... it's creepy. I read somewhere this can be a side effect but can't find it now. I saw propranolol can cause crazy dreams but when i was on propranolol, I was much better... no crazy dreams just TIRED all the time. Is this the atenolol? or is this my levels out of control? I want to switch back to propranolol now but will wait til I talk to my doc monday or should i wait til lab first (in 2 weeks) to see where my levels are? Someone please help me! It's not a good feeling... it's bad enough dealing with the ups and downs of graves, now this! Eeeeeekkkkkkkk!

Thanks so much! ~Hugs a ton.
scorpiogirl76
scorpiogirl76
Let me also mention I am on PTU 37.5 mg daily in divided doses. I take 12.5 mg every morning and 8 hours later I take 25 mg (in the evening).... this seems to work for me and worked great in the past. (see journal for levels and dosages if needed). Thanks!
cd3764
cd3764
You just can't catch a break, can you?

Horrible nightmares are a side effect of beta-blockers, period. (I remember I had them as well)

If you did better with propranolol, I think you might want to switch back.

And, yes, fatigue is also a side effect of beta-blockers.

Both propranolol and atenolol are effective at bringing down T3 levels so, I think it would be a good idea to call your doc and tell him you'd like to switch.

Maybe, just maybe, you can get your FreeT3 level down a bit and, by the time of your next labs, get the heck off of them once that happens.

Hope you feel better soon!
scorpiogirl76
scorpiogirl76
Thanks! Yes, I was thinking of switching em myself as the nightmares and the paranoia was SO intensely bad last night. I have the propranolol still but figured I should wait as I don't know if I should just switch or ween off atenolol first then switch. It's awful!
altoclef
altoclef
Call your doctor- who cares if it's Saturday? That's why they have answering services. Find out what you need to do to switch and do it. Something this crazy-making shouldn't wait.
cd3764
cd3764
Great idea altoclef!

And, that great idea got me thinking....if you can't reach your doctor, maybe you could ask your pharmacist.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I had really BAD (gory bloody) nightmares and vivid dreams on the propranolol (extended reease) - when I was on the 120mg dose they occurred several times a night.

I've always had nightmares and very vivid dreams though (since I was a little kid basically!) but the beta blocker upped the amount of them I had.

When I went to a lower dosage of the propranolol (60mg), I had the really bad nightmares/dreams happen less frequently.

Now that I am off the medication all together, I have maybe 3-5 nightmares a month. (about normal frequency for me).


My doctor said that was a normal side effect though and happen mostly at the higher dosages.
mmztcass
mmztcass
Yes for sure Atenolol can do this.

{{{hugs}}}
scorpiogirl76
scorpiogirl76
Thank you everyone. I did call my pharmacist friend (I am a pharmacy tech) and asked what to do to switch over. He said cut my atenolol dose in half for a couple days then start my propranolol. I was on propranolol before (an extremely high dose) and NEVER had the nightmares or paranoia i'm having now. It's been about 3 days and I'm about ready to turn myself in to a mental instituition thinking I'm crazy! Does anyone know if I just don't take my atenolol today and instead taket he propranolol in its place, will i have any transient side effects?

Thanks so much!
mmztcass
mmztcass
I know this is hard to do. I would do what your pharmacist friend suggested and then before you know it, you'll be fine a few days after.

{{{hugs}}} :-)
deleted_user
deleted_user
I'm glad I read this. I have been having nightmares lately too (I'm on Propanolol 10mg 4x daily.) I thought I was going insane! Glad to know it's probably just a side effect.
scorpiogirl76
scorpiogirl76
Okay, doc switched me back to the propranolol 10 mg twice daily as of today.... I took the weekend and weened myself off the atenolol for 2 days (not sure if that was long enough)...and now today.... i have these horrible chest pains... are these transient symptoms due to the switch? or is it just heartburn or gas or something of the sort? I had these pains before and went to the ER and had an EKG, only to be told that it wasn't anything. But i can't help but worry.... Does anyone have any ideas?

And yes Ashley... nightmares can be a side effect of beta blockers... hopefully if your dose is lowered, your nightmares will subside. It's no fun... I can relate.
Karli1432
Karli1432
I didn't realize it till I read your latest post, but when I weaned off my propranolol I was having chest pressure tightness, ended up in er, had everything done, I'm ok...I didn't know if it was me going hypo on meds or what? I was told anxiety, just like anxiety can tense your neck muscles and head aches your chest muscles tighten and stress also...but weird, it was happening when i reduced my propranolol. I also notice some chest pressure when I first started taking it..told my hubby felt like cotton balls stuff in my chest. Its probaly the meds in combination with anxiety. I don't have it anymore. Hope you feel better :)
Karli1432
Karli1432
Forgot to add: I had nightmares also...Wake up in a panic attack...I think I dreamed I died..only happened a few times. Scary, made me fearful to sleep...but they have gone now and so is the propranolol ....

Just tell yourself its the meds and stress, stress over this disease....really messes with your head. Things calm down your stress will...I'm feeling better hang in there. Best wishes!
scorpiogirl76
scorpiogirl76
Thanks Heather.... YES that is exactly how I feel... alot of pressure which I guess is the cause of the chest pain. When i took my blood pressure and heart rate (i have a monitor), my blood pressure was high and my heart rate was down in the 40's... when I walked around for a few minutes, the pain would go away but as soon as I laid down.... IT WAS BACK! ARGH... Now, I remember this feeling before.... which is why he took me OFF of propranolol and suggested atenolol... I don't which is worse.... chest pain and fear or having paranoia and being terrified but no chest pains :(((((
deleted_user
deleted_user
Hi There,

I'm sorry to hear about all of this :( ...these were some of the side effects I was originally talking about that make beta-blockers such a difficult therapy to manage. From the little you've described, it sounds like angina pectoris to me, what did your doctor tell you regarding switching the doses? I would imagine he/she doesn't want you going a day without taking your BB's, especially because you said your blood pressure is high. The reason propranolol probably causes chest pain in you is because it has actions directly on the vasculature (blood vessels), while atenolol generally only works on the heart (although it can penetrate the brain and cause nightmares, obviously). I know that this is annoying, but maybe try another beta blocker...there are several more out there (metoprolol, nadolol, carvidolol, etc.) and some of them might not cause any side effects in you. Either way I would talk to your doctor about this - chest pain and hypertension left uncontrolled can lead to problems.