Atenolol : Drug Information
What is Atenolol?
Atenolol is a medication that can treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Reducing high blood pressure helps stop heart attacks, strokes, and kidney problems. This medicine can also treat chest pain (angina) and can improve survival after a heart attack.
Atenolol belongs to a class of drugs called beta-blockers that works by blocking the effect of some natural substances in your body, like epinephrine, on the heart and blood vessels.
This effect reduces the blood pressure, heart rate, and strain on the heart.
Atenolol may also treat irregular heartbeat, heart failure, alcohol withdrawal symptoms and prevent migraine headaches.
This medication is available under the following brand names: Tenormin.
Important Information
You should not use this treatment if you have severe heart disease such as “AV block,” very low heartbeats, or heart failure.
Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor. Suddenly stopping this medication may cause your worse condition for the disease.
If you have any operation, be sure the doctor knows ahead of time that you are using Atenolol.
Atenolol can induce some side effects that may affect your reactions or thinking. Be careful if you are driving or doing anything that requires you to be alert and awake. Avoid consuming alcohol because this act can increase drowsiness and dizziness while you are taking Atenolol.
Atenolol is only part of a comprehensive treatment program for hypertension that may also involve exercise, diet, and weight control. Follow your medication, diet, and exercise routines very closely if you are under the treatment of this medication for hypertension.
If you are under high blood pressure treatment, keep using this medication even if you feel well. High blood pressure usually has no symptoms. You may need to use medication for blood pressure for the rest of your life.
What to know before taking Atenolol?
You should not use this treatment if you are allergic to Atenolol, or if you have:
- decompensated heart failure
- a serious heart condition such as “AV block” (second or third degree)
- very slow heartbeats
To make sure Atenolol medication is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
- coronary artery disease
- congestive heart failure
- asthma, bronchitis, emphysema
- diabetes
- peripheral vascular disease such as Raynaud’s syndrome
- overactive thyroid
- liver or kidney disease
- pheochromocytoma (tumor of the adrenal gland)
- allergies (or if you are experiencing allergy treatments or skin-testing).
Using this medication during pregnancy may harm the unborn baby. Consult your doctor if you are currently pregnant or planning to be pregnant or become pregnant during Athenolol therapy.
This medication can pass into your breast milk and can harm your unborn baby. Talk to your therapist if you are breast-feeding your baby.
Atenolol is not for the use of children younger than 18 years old.
How to take Atenolol?
Take Atenolol exactly as your doctor prescribes for you. Follow all directions of your prescription label. Your doctor may frequently change your dosage to make sure you get all the benefits of this medication. Do not use Atenolol in smaller or larger amounts or for longer than you recommended.
Go to your doctor to check your blood pressure regularly. Follow all the directions of your doctor if they suggest you for any other medical tests.
If you need surgery, tell the surgeon before your surgery that you are taking Atenolol.
It may take up to two weeks before you get the full outcome of this medicine. Keep applying the medication as instructed and tell your physician if you feel any new symptoms.
It would help if you did not stop using Atenolol suddenly. Sudden stopping may make your condition more serious.
If you are under Atenolol therapy for high blood pressure: Keep taking this medicine even if you feel you are well. High blood pressure frequently has no symptoms. You may need to use drugs for blood pressure for the whole of your life.
Your condition may need this drug with a combination of other medicines. Use all medications as advised by your doctor. Read the medication guide carefully or patient instructions provided with this medication. Do not change your doses without your doctor’s prescription.
Store Atenolol at room temperature and away from heat, light, and moisture. Keep the medication bottle tightly closed when it is not in use.
Atenolol dosage
Usual Adult Dose for Hypertension
- The initial dosage is 50 mg orally once a day.
- The maintenance dosage is 50mg to 100mg orally once a day.
- The maximum dosage of this medication is 100mg per day.
Usual Adult Dose for Angina Pectoris Prophylaxis
- The initial dosage is 50mg orally once a day.
- You can increase the dosage to 100mg orally once a week if you can not get an optimal response.
- The maintenance dosage of this medication is 50mg to 200mg orally once a day.
- The maximum amount of this medication is 200mg per day.
Usual Adult Dose for Angina Pectoris
- The initial dosage of this medication is 50mg orally once a day.
- You can increase it to 100mg orally once a day after one week if you can not get an optimal response.
- The maintenance dosage is 50mg to 200mg orally once a day.
- The maximum amount of this medication is 200mg per day.
Usual Adult Dose for Myocardial Infarction
- 50mg orally two times a day or 100mg once a day is recommended for this medication.
Overdose
Seek emergency medical care or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
Overdosing symptoms of this medication may include severe weakness or lack of energy, shortness of breath, prolonged heart rate, or fainting.
What to avoid while using Atenolol?
Follow your doctor’s instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.
Keep all meetings with your doctor. Check your blood pressure regularly to manage your response to Atenolol. Your therapist may ask you to check your heart rate regularly. Ask your druggist to teach you how to get your pulse.
Do not allow anyone else to take your medication. Ask your doctor any questions you have about your prescription.
You need to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription medications you are currently taking. If you are using vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements, then consult your doctor if this medication is good with vitamins and herbal products. You should take this medication list with you whenever you visit your doctor.
Atenolol side effects
Atenolol may induce side effects. Talk to your physician if any of these symptoms become severe or do not go away:
- dizziness
- lightheadedness
- tiredness
- drowsiness
- depression
- nausea
- diarrhea
Some side effects may be painful. The following symptoms are rare; if you encounter any of them, call your physician immediately:
- swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
- shortness of breath
- weight gain
- fainting
This medication may cause other side effects. Consult your doctor if you have any unusual difficulties while taking this medication.
What drugs can interact with Atenolol?
Atenolol oral tablet may interact with other medications, vitamins, or herbal products that you are currently taking. An interaction is when an ingredient changes the way of working of a medicine. It may be harmful or block the drug from working fine.
To help evade interactions, your doctor may manage all of your medications correctly. Be sure to tell your doctor about all vitamins or herbal products, or other medicines you are currently taking.
Below is the list of some drugs that may interact with Atenolol.
Mental health drugs
Reserpine and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) may improve the effects of Atenolol. They may also slow your heart rate or increase lightheadedness.
MAOIs can continue to associate with Atenolol for up to fourteen days after taking them. Examples of MAOIs are;
- isocarboxazid
- phenelzine
- selegiline
- tranylcypromine
- Heart rhythm drugs
Taking some heart drugs with Atenolol may slow your heart rate; these drugs are;
- digitalis
- amiodarone
- disopyramide
- Calcium channel blockers
- amlodipine
- diltiazem
- felodipine
- isradipine
- nicardipine
- nifedipine
- nimodipine
- nisoldipine
- verapamil
- Alpha-blockers
Alpha-blockers can low your blood pressure. They may reduce blood pressure too much when mixed with Atenolol; these drugs are;
- guanethidine
- alpha-methyldopa
- prazosin
- clonidine