In India, many patients start and stop medication on their own. Self medication is BAD but stopping a medicine without treating doctor’s knowledge may create life threatening problems.

Team@CMHF

Atenolol and other beta blockers should never be stopped abruptly. Stopping such a medicine suddenly is usually unwise, but if a patient is in complete heart block as a reaction to the medication, you bet we stop it immediately. Not to do so would be malpractice.

In an emergency room, under intensive supervision, ordinary guidelines don’t apply. Though it should be emphasized that, patients should not stop a beta blocker such as atenolol, metoprolol or propranolol suddenly on their own. Doing so might land them in the emergency department with chest pain, an irregular heart rhythm or even a heart attack.

Reference: http://www.vindy.com/news/2011/jul/03/stopping-medicine-could-trigger-problems/