Quote from pal7778:

Cardizem, tiazac, etc. etc. (ccbs) lower you pulse less harshly and for me without any
side effects at all. I would guess they're actually better for you. And I gather that the weaning problem is considerably less extreme.

This is true, I've been on cardiazem (diltiazem ) and calan (verapamil) and yes they do lower my BP nicely, problem is I was on them at the same time as atenolol so my pulse plummeted to the low 40s and I was a zombie. I am presently trying verapamil with a lower dose (25mg) of the atenolol. I know what everyone is thinking, "why not wean off atenolol" I have tried and when I do I get bad palps and that increases the anxiety and BP goes up to nearly 200.
I can't emphasize enough, if you are on a beta blocker for HBP you might want to think about getting off ASAP!
I'm talking to you too Axe,
Cass