Senormin

Atenolol is a prescription medication used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), to prevent angina (chest pain), and to improve survival after a heart attack. Atenolol belongs to a group of drugs called beta blockers, which relax blood vessels and reduce heart rate.

This medication comes in tablet form and is taken once or twice a day, with or without food. Atenolol is also available in an injectable form to be given directly into a vein (IV) by a healthcare professional.

Common side effects include tiredness, nausea, and dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how atenolol affects you.

Atenolol is a prescription medicine used alone or in combination with other medicines to treat high blood pressure. It also is used to prevent angina (chest pain) and improve survival after a heart attack.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Take atenolol exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully. Your doctor will determine the best dose for you. The dosage of atenolol must be individualized.

Do not take more than 200 mg a day.

Cessation of Therapy with Atenolol

Patients with coronary artery disease, who are being treated with atenolol, should be advised against abrupt discontinuation of therapy. Severe exacerbation of angina and the occurrence of myocardial infarction and ventricular arrhythmias have been reported in angina patients following the abrupt discontinuation of therapy with beta-blockers. The last two complications may occur with or without preceding exacerbation of the angina pectoris. As with other beta-blockers, when discontinuation of atenolol tablet, USP, is planned, the patients should be carefully observed and advised to limit physical activity to a minimum. If the angina worsens or acute coronary insufficiency develops, it is recommended that atenolol tablet, USP be promptly reinstituted, at least temporarily. Because coronary artery disease is common and may be unrecognized, it may be prudent not to discontinue atenolol tablet, USP, therapy abruptly even in patients treated only for hypertension. 

Before taking atenolol,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to atenolol or any other medications.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had asthma or other lung disease; diabetes; severe allergies; an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism); pheochromocytoma; heart failure; a slow heart rate; circulation problems; or heart or kidney disease.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking atenolol, call your doctor immediately.
• if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking atenolol.
• you should know that if you have allergic reactions to different substances, your reactions may be worse while you are using atenolol, and your allergic reactions may not respond to the usual doses of injectable epinephrine.

Atenolol can cause dizziness or drowsiness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how atenolol affects you.

Atenolol should not be taken/contraindicated if you:

• have sinus bradycardia, heart block greater than first degree, cardiogenic shock, and overt cardiac failure. These conditions are diagnosed by your doctor.
• have an allergy to atenolol

Atenolol may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• dizziness
• lightheadedness
• tiredness
• drowsiness
• depression
• nausea
• diarrhea

Some side effects can be serious. The following symptoms are uncommon, but if you experience any of them, call your doctor immediately:

• shortness of breath
• swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
• unusual weight gain
• fainting

Atenolol may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take: 

• calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac, others) and verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan)
• clonidine (Catapres) 
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as indomethacin (Indocin)
• reserpine (Serpalan, Serpasil, Serpatabs)

Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. 

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Atenolol falls into category D. It has been shown that use of atenolol in pregnant women caused some babies to be born with problems. Atenolol can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Atenolol crosses the placental barrier and appears in cord blood. Atenolol use in pregnant women resulted in children born small in size with low sugar and slow heart rate.  Caution should be exercised atenolol is used during pregnancy or to a woman who is breast feeding. However, in some serious situations, the benefit of using this medication may be greater than the risk of harm to the baby.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. 

Atenolol is excreted in human breast milk. Slow heart rate has been reported in breast-fed infants. Premature infants, or infants with impaired kidney function, may be more likely to develop adverse effects.

Do not stop taking atenolol without talking to your doctor. Suddenly stopping atenolol may cause chest pain, heart attack, or irregular heartbeat.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

If you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking atenolol.

Before taking atenolol, tell your doctor if you have or have ever had asthma and other lung diseases.

Atenolol should be used with caution in diabetic patients. Atenolol may mask hypoglycemia symptoms.