Atenolol

Brand names

• Apo-Atenolol
• Gen-Atenolol
• Novo-Atenolol
• Nu-Atenolol
• PMS-Atenolol
• Rhoxal-atenolol
• Scheinpharm Atenolol
• Tenolin
• Tenormin

Usage

To treat mild to moderate high blood pressure and to treat angina.

How it works

Atenolol slows the rate and force of contraction of the heart by blocking certain nerve impulses, thus reducing blood pressure. These actions also protect the heartbeat from excessive work, which reduces the chance of angina.

Side effects

Serious

Depression, shortness of breath, wheezing, slow heartbeat (especially less than 50 beats per minute), chest pain or tightness, swelling of the ankles, feet, and lower legs. If you experience such symptoms, seek medical assistance immediately.

Common

Decreased sexual ability; decreased ability to engage in usual physical activities or exercise; dizziness or lightheadedness, especially when rising suddenly from a sitting or lying position; drowsiness, fatigue, or weakness; insomnia.

Less common

Anxiety, irritability; constipation; diarrhea; dry eyes; itching; nausea or vomiting; nightmares or intensely vivid dreams; numbness, tingling, or other unusual sensations in the fingers and toes; abdominal pain; nasal congestion.

Possible interactions

Other medicaments:

Atenolol may increase the effects of:

• other antihypertensive medicaments and cause excessive lowering of blood pressure. Dosage adjustments may be necessary.
• reserpine (Ser-Ap-Es,etc.) and cause sedation, depression, slowing of heart rate and lowering of blood pressure.

Atenolol taken concurrently with:

• amiodarone (Cordarone) may result in cardiac arrest.
• ampicillin or bacampicillin may result in lower blood levels of atenolol.
• calcium (various) may result in large decreases in atenolol blood levels.
• clonidine (Catapres) requires close monitoring for rebound high blood pressure if clonidine is stopped while atenolol is still being taken.
• digoxin (Lanoxin) may result in very slow heart rates.
• insulin requires close monitoring to avoid undetected hypoglycemia.
• oral antidiabetic medicaments may result in prolonged low blood sugar.
• phenothiazines may increase the effects of both agents and result in phenothiazine toxicity or excessively low blood pressure.
• quinidine (Quinaglute) may cause additive lowering of the blood pressure.
• ritodrine (Yutopar) may blunt ritodrine benefits.
• verapamil can result in undesirable slowing of the heart rate and excessively low blood pressure.

The following medicaments may decrease the effects of atenoloI:

• antacids-decrease atenolol absorption.
• aspirin (various).
• indomethacin (Indocin), and possibly other "aspirin substitutes," or NSAIDs, which may impair atenolol's blood pressure lowering (antihypertensive) effect.

Foods:

Can decrease total atenolol absorption by 20%. Best to avoid excessive salt intake.

Herbal medicines or minerals:

Ginseng may increase blood pressure, blunting the benefits of this medicine. Hawthorn, saw palmetto, ma huang, goldenseal, yohimbe and licorice may also cause increased blood pressure. Calcium and garlic may help lower blood pressure. Indian snakeroot has a German Commission E monograph indication for hypertension-talk to your doctor. Eleuthero root and ephedra should be avoided by people living with hypertension.

Alcohol:

Use caution. Alcohol may exaggerate this medicament's ability to lower blood pressure and may increase its mild sedative effect.

Tobacco smoking:

Nicotine may reduce this medicament's effectiveness.

Exposure to heat:

Caution is advised. Hot environments can lower blood pressure and exaggerate the effects of this medicament.

Exposure to cold:

Caution is advised. Can enhance the circulatory deficiency that may occur with this medicament. The elderly should be careful to prevent hypothermia.

Heavy exercise or exertion:

Avoid exertion that causes light-headedness, excessive fatigue or muscle cramping. This medicament may worsen the blood pressure response to isometric exercise.

Occurrence of unrelated illness:

Fever can lower blood pressure and require a decreased dose. Nausea or vomiting may interrupt the dosing schedule. Ask your physician for help.

Discontinuation:

Avoid stopping this medicament suddenly. If possible, gradual reduction of dose over a period of 2 to 3 weeks is recommended. During such reduction, physical activity is best kept to a minimum. Ask your doctor for help.

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