Atenolol

[Lynette]

If medications are scored, or have a line down the middle, they can safely be split in half. Medications without a score usually have special coatings to control how quickly and where in the GI tract they are absorbed, such as an exended release medication. If you break one of them in half, or even chew them, you risk getting too much medication too quickly.

 

[RonP]

Atenolol

Does anyone know if it's okay to break my atenolol pill in half and take 1/2 in the morning, 1/2 in the evening? I'm on 100mg a day (which I never batted an eye at, until my new cardiologist implied that was a high dose - I'm not on it for high blood pressure, but for the problems with my heart - I skip beats frequently when I don't take it). For some reason I thought my former cardiologist said splitting the dose in half like that would be okay.

Also, has anyone noticed nightmares with atenolol? I have some weird dreams (this past weekend especially!) and never even thought it would/could be related to medicine, but when I was doing some research, saw that nightmares could be a side effect of atenolol. Interesting!

Thanks!
Kerri

Kerri:

I take Atenolol too and you really should ask your doctor when you should take your dousages and whether or not you should split the pill. Mine has me take it in the morning. You should never skip a pill for your heart needs this med religiously and regularly to stay normal for you.

Ron P.

 

[hensylee]

nightmares? who said nightmares? I said I don't have them hardly ever. Well, guess what? Had one last night and it was a guy kind (guys chase and get chased a lot in their nightmares) and it was really scary. Woke me at midnight. Couldn't go back to sleep. Wanted to get up and re-shut & lock everything, finally settled on some Ritz crackers, a book - and when I finally got back to sleep, slept with the light on!

 

[kerri73]

Sorry about that!

If those are "guy" nightmares, I must have too much testosterone in my system! Those are the types of dreams (the bad ones, at least) I always have. It's either someone chasing me/shooting at me, or tornadoes.... or scary things in my childhood basement (I hated that basement anyway).

Kerri

 

[BAV Pt's daughter]

try am dosing?

try am dosing?

Have you tried taking them in the moring to see if having the peak effect during the day would help out? The atenolol peaks in about 2-4 hours. This may be a way to cut down on the crazy/bad dreams. It is long-acting, so maybe it won't, but its worth a shot. If you try, let me know how it works out for you.

 

[hensylee]

my rx says 'take one tablet by mouth twice daily'. 25 mg each

 

[BAV Pt's daughter]

my rx says 'take one tablet by mouth twice daily'. 25 mg each

Atenolol is a long acting drug (duration is approx. 24 hours), so most of the time it is orders once daily with the exception of immediate post acute MI patients, but there are always exceptions to this rule. Always check with your doctors before changing the way you take your meds please, everyone!!!!

 

[kerri73]

I'll have to try switching it to the mornings to see if that helps (if I can remember - I keep forgetting and I just pop them like clockwork) I take all my meds at once in the evening.... 4 of them, so once I swallow I'm like... DARN, I forgot!!! Oh well. And my atenolol pills aren't scored, either, so I can't just split them in half - so I'll have to talk to my cardiologist about what she thinks about ordering twice as many 50mg pills and taking them twice a day. We'll see!

 

[BAV Pt's daughter]

cutting in half

cutting in half

if the doc ok's taking them twice daily, you could try a pill-cutter, they cut pretty precisely. It doesnt have to be absolutely perfect if you take the other piece the same day, since you'll still get the same total in the end. These are very inexpensive at the pharmacy. Some of the nurses at my hospital have picked up their own even at the dollar store (they tend to walk away from the halls at work) But still check before doing this!

 

[jayaresq]

At 9 weeks post-AVR, my cardio switched me from Atenolol (25 mg am & pm) to Altace (an ace inhibitor) to continue treating my BP. Although the Atenolol was doing the trick nicely, my doc warned me that LONG TERM Atenolol use would make me more fatigued and might lower my sexual desire. I followed his advice. The Altace (one pill daily) achieves almost the same BP results as the Atenolol.

I never took special notice or linked my post-op nightmares to Atenolol. I just figured it was my subconscious brain trying to sort out all the emotions and challenges I was experiencing. Good luck. -- Jim

 

[Foxxy74]

Hi Kerri,

I hadnt thought of my Atenolol causing my weird weird dreams, but it now seems that I am not the only one. I too attributed them to all the stress and depression I suffered after they shock of having to have Emergency Open Heart Surgery.

For about the first 6 - 8 weeks after my Surgery I was on Metoprolol, but these cause quiet alot of visual disturbance and inability to concentrate, so I swapped to Atenolol. Seems to be working well for me so far, and the weird dreams are not all that often, so I might stick it out and mention it to my Cardiologist when I see him again in November, see what he has to say.

Chris