Atenolol

Pronunciation

Brand Names

Canadian/Mexican Brand Names

Therapeutic Categories

What is this medicine used for?

• This medicine is used to treat high blood pressure, chest pain, or pressure from the heart. This is called angina.
• It prevents unusual heartbeats, called arrhythmias, and/or slows the heart rate (pulse) in patients with a heart rate.
• Other treatments include prevention of migraine headache, aggressive behavior, antipsychotic-induced akathisia, essential tremor, the prevention of rebleeding from esophageal varices in cirrhosis, and situational or performance anxiety.

How does it work?

• Atenolol blocks chemicals such as adrenaline. It prevents them from increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen use. Atenolol slows the body down a bit.

How is it best taken?

• Take with or without food. Take with food if this medicine causes an upset stomach.
• Take at a similar time every day.
• Do not take antacids or calcium supplements less than 2 hours before or 6 hours after this medicine.
• Tablet can be crushed and mixed with food or liquid.
• Do not suddenly stop using this medicine if you have been taking it for a long time. Medicine should be slowly decreased.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to your regular schedule.
• Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
• Do not change dose or stop taking medicine without talking with healthcare provider. This could be dangerous.

What are the precautions when taking this medicine?

• Check medicines with healthcare provider, especially with amiodarone, diltiazem, and verapamil.
• Wear disease medical alert identification for heart disease.
• It is dangerous to run out of this medication. Get it refilled today!
• Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor) and other medicines that slow your actions and reactions. This includes sedatives, tranquilizers, mood stabilizers, or pain medicine. Talk with healthcare provider.
• Use caution if you have a weakened heart. Can worsen symptoms. Talk with healthcare provider.
• If you are diabetic, use caution when low blood sugars are seen. This medicine hides signs of low blood sugar except sweating. Talk with healthcare provider.
• Use caution if you have lung disease. This includes asthma, COPD, or if you are using an inhaler like albuterol or ipratropium. Can cause wheezing or spasm in the lung.
• Do not use over-the-counter products that increase blood pressure. These include cough or cold remedies, diet pills, stimulants, ibuprofen or like products, and certain herbs or supplements. Talk with healthcare provider.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
• Do not use in pregnancy and do not get pregnant. Use birth control that you can trust while taking this medicine.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are breast-feeding.

What are the common side effects of this medicine?

• Feeling sleepy or lightheaded. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or hobbies that require you to be alert until you see how this medicine affects you.
• Dizziness is common. Rise slowly over several minutes from sitting or lying position. Be careful climbing stairs.
• Change in sexual ability or desire. This can return to normal after medicine is stopped. Talk with healthcare provider about other medicines without this side effect.
• Slow heart rate (pulse) and/or low blood pressure. This may make you feel lightheaded, dizzy, weak, or tired.

What should I monitor?

• Watch for swelling of legs or belly, shortness of breath, weight gain, exercise tolerance. If any of these worsen, talk with healthcare provider.
• Report a 3-5 pound weight gain if you have heart failure.
• Check blood pressure regularly.
• Follow diet plan and exercise program as recommended by healthcare provider.

Reasons to call healthcare provider immediately

• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Too tired or sleepy.
• Passing out, fainting, dizziness, or lightheadedness.
• Chest pains, fast heartbeats, shortness of breath, or decreased ability to walk.
• Any rash.

How should I store this medicine?

• Store in a tight, light-resistant container at room temperature.

General statements

• Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's medicine.
• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
• Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant)
• Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs, vitamins).

Copyright © 1978-2000 Lexi-Comp Inc. All Rights Reserved