What would happen if i stopped taking atenolol? my doctor wants me to go off atenolol, but says i have to do it slowly. why? what could happen to me if i just stop?

Atenolol : Atenolol is a medication in a class known as beta-blockers. It works by blocking a chemical in your body which can raise heart rate and blood pressure. If you stop it abruptly then your body can be hypersensitive to the effects of the chemical and you can become tachycardic (fast heart rate) and your blood pressure can go up. I recommend very very strongly that patients always taper off of these medications since abrupt withdrawl can be dangerous.

Don't do it : The first question is why are you taking it? A rhythm problem or a blood pressure problem. Sometimes stopping abruptly can result in a rebound increase in blood pressure. Slowly coming off usually doesn't take too long. It shouldn't cause a problem if you follow your doctor's instructions.