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Email a friendIs Atenolol Safe For Treating Anxiety?
Newspaper Columns, Pharmacy Q&A October 24, 2007
Q. I have had anxiety attacks several times in the past 15 years. Always before I have been given Xanax and in several days I would be okay. Then I would take the pills as needed occasionally.
Last week when I went to the doctor and told him I was having anxiety attacks again, he prescribed the blood pressure pill atenolol. Have you ever known atenolol to be given for anxiety? When I tried it I developed an upset stomach and lost my appetite.
A. Atenolol has not been approved for anxiety. Such beta blockers are primarily prescribed for blood pressure and heart problems. Doctors sometimes prescribe propranolol or atenolol for the physical symptoms associated with stage fright, but these drugs are not appropriate for general anxiety (Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, Aug. 2006 Suppl.). Alprazolam (Xanax) is approved for anxiety and short-term use is often quite effective.
Tags: Anxiety, Atenolol, Xanax
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Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist. Teresa Graedon holds a doctorate in medical anthropology and is a nutrition expert. Their syndicated radio show can be heard on public radio. In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of this newspaper or e-mail them via their Web site: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com.
© 2007 King Features Syndicate, Inc.
Reader Comments
My family has a history of anxiety, including myself. In the past few months I have had incidents of a flushing feeling, extreme sweating and the need to lay down due to an anticipation of fainting. In the first episode, I was taken to the emergency room to rule out any serious problems, and they did indeed determine there were no serious problems which had caused this. However, a follow-up visit to my doctor determined my blood pressure was high, and she prescribed blood pressure medication as well as Xanax and Prozac.
How can I tell whether the anxiety is causing the blood pressure to rise, or the blood pressure is causing me to be anxious due to the discomfort of feeling hot and faint? I do not wish to take a blood pressure medication when I perhaps should be controlling the anxiety with medication and/or by seeing a mental health professional. Could you please comment. Thank you.
Posted by: Naomi Hoben | October 26, 2007 8:53 AM
ATENOLOL IS DANGEROUS TO SOME PEOPLE. AFTER MY 3 BY-PASS HEART SURGERY IN 1999 JUST FEW DAYS TAKING ATENOLOL I HAD SEIZURES MANY TIMES, KNOCK DOWN HIT THE FLOOR. LUCKILY, THERE WAS NO SHARP OBJECT. MY EYE GLASS FRAME WAS DAMAGED A LITTLE.
Posted by: Jose O. Borromeo | October 26, 2007 10:16 AM
Is atenolol given or helpful for essential tremors?
Posted by: mtn | October 28, 2007 2:49 PM
A friend was on 200 mg Sertraline (Zoloft) for depression & anxiety, prescribed by a shrink. The friend still had anxiety, but to a lesser degree. Many months later, a dermatologist prescribed an antihistamine, Hydroxyzine HCL tablets 25mg/day, to treat hives resulting from an allergy. To my friend's utter delight and amazement the anxiety disappeared in a few days!
She told her shrink about it and he confirmed that this antihistamine is sometimes prescribed for anxiety, and he added Hydroxyzine Pamoate capsules 25mg/day to her normal 200mg/day Sertraline prescription. The "Pamoate" capsule version of Hydroxyzine was not effective at relieving the anxiety and it caused headaches. Her shrink changed her prescription to the "HCL" tablet version and now she no longer has anxiety.
Posted by: dc | October 28, 2007 5:36 PM