Janet,
Atenolol is a great drug. I really do not think I would be alive if not for it. It slows down your heartrate and lowers blood pressure. I took atenolol 25mg for 9 years. Just switched to Toprol 50mg. It's also great...better than atenolol because it works around the clock. Atenolol is great though, fine for starting off with.
To tell you the truth, Beta blockers(atenolol) are the only drugs I have ever taken that have helped my anxiety.
The anti's like Zoloft, Lexapro, Imimpramine etc...all suck.
Xanax did help a lot. I now take clonopan and it does nothing.
Atenolol will help you a lot!