Lisinopril or atenolol

Hi @jadillow,

I’m tagging @hopeful33250 @predictable @ladybugmg @soliloquized @flmonline @rrowner2 @iowafemale @tinkerbell as they’ve all written about Atenolol. You might wish to view this discussion too:
– https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/new-to-the-world-of-hypertension-meds/

Atenolol is a beta blocker used to treat hypertension, angina and other cardiac-related conditions; the benefits generally outweigh the side effects. Here’s some more information from Mayo Clinic about Atenolol: https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/atenolol-oral-route/description/drg-20071070

@jadillow, have you asked your doctor about what heart-rate would be considered too low for you?

Hello @jadillow: Changing meds can be stressful and I can understand your concerns. I have taken Atenolol for a number of years along with another blood pressure med called Vasotec. The two work together quite nicely. However, I was concerned about it at first, just like you. I was concerned that my blood pressure might go too low. However, I have settled in quite nicely over the years and feel quite comfortable. I don't have as many spells of a high heart rate nor the "squeezy" feeling in my chest.

I agree with Kanaaz, that you should call your doctor's office with your concerns and ask him/her to explain why the change was made and also express your concerns about your heart rate going too low. Most doctors are more than happy to address your concerns.

Will you post again and let us know how you are doing?

Thank you. I will. I have told doctor about my heart rate concerns and he didn’t say anything. My old doctor prescribe me a calcium blocker and told me to take with the Lisinopril. New doctor said stop Lisinopril and take the atenolol as I didn’t take the calcium blocker much. Do you have experience with that? And which one may be better ?

@jadillow Hi I'm glad to hear your under a Dr,s care 😉With your concern about the med as to which one is better ,everyone is different in there responding to meds what works for one may not respond as well for you Your Dr needs to know all your condition and meds your on. Also your pharmacist can help in that matter with meds they are well versed in meds. Glad to hear from you Thanks for responding

Great idea, @lioness. You are right about talking with the pharmacist. They have good knowledge of meds and can often be more easy to talk with than doctors.

I have never done this. Lol. So I just call my pharmacy and ask wants they think on this?

@jadillow Yes call your pharmacist or go talk with him ask him about Lisinopril and your other meds he can tell you if there's interaction with this meds

Actually, good pharmacists are more knowledgeable about drugs than most doctors. Pharmacists used to be RPh, 5 years of college I believe, but they are now, and for a number of years, PharmDs, a Doctorate in Pharmacology, a 6 year program I believe.

I went to school for a Pharmacy Technician, a short 6 months, people that work under a pharmacist filling prescriptions, but I never worked in the field. I was in the hospital recently for afib, started on anticoagulants, but switched to Coumadin due to an interaction between the new anticoagulants and Phenytoin. Tablet computer in hand, I quickly found out that there's an issue with Coumadin and Phenytoin too, but it's a measurable interaction by looking at INR and Phenytoin Levels through blood testing and everything went well.

Pharmacists can often be an excellent source of information on drugs and interactions. One day, asking questions of the pharmacist, I apologized for taking his time. He said he really enjoys answering questions, that's what they're trained for, evaluation of various circumstances.

One question I'd have of @jadillow though is why the resting heart rate is slow? And be sure to clarify with the doctor about the Calcium Channel Blocker and Beta Blocker. It seems that they weren't to be used together, but it's best to ask. That might already be established, but it's not written here, so I wasn't sure. The combination of a Beta Blocker and a certain Calcium Channel Blocker can result in excessive reduction in heart rate, yet other forms of these 2 medications are used together in some treatments.

Thank you. I am using the calcium blocker with Lisinopril. Have not used the beta yet

Be sure the doctor wants you on one, or the other. There are special combinations of Beta Blockers and Calcium Channel Blockers that are used together, but other combinations of those 2 medications can reduce the heart rate too much.