Atenolol

Brand Names

Atenolol, Tenormin

What is Atenolol

Atenolol is a prescription medicine that is supposed to treat disorders connected with the heart and blood vessels. Atenolol belongs to the group of beta-blockers that usually affect the heart and blood circulation. Atenolol is useful remedy for angina and hypertension (high blood pressure). It helps to treat or prevent heart attacks.

Side effects of Atenolol

Be cautious there are some side effects caused by atenolol:

• Unexplained swelling or sudden weight gain
• Chest pain
• Dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting spells
• Cold, pricking or numbness in your hands or feet
• Deterioration of asthma
• Change for the worse of heart failure
• Confusion
• An irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
• Some allergic reaction, including unexplained rash, hives, itching, unexplained swelling, wheezing, or difficulty breathing or swallowing

Indication

Atenolol is used to control high blood pressure. Atenolol has been shown to significantly lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Atenolol can be prescribed to relief chest pain caused by angina. Besides atenolol is highly effective at treating angina symptoms, because it decreases the load of the heart.

Atenolol helps to improve survival rates in the course of treatment following a heart attack when the supply of blood and oxygen to the part of the heart is blocked for a long period of time that a portion of the heart muscle dies.

Precautions

You should abstain from this medicine if you have:

• Heart disease (including congestive heart failure, a history of heart attack or irregular heart rhythm)
• A slow heart rate
• Asthma
• Bronchitis
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Emphysema
• Kidney disease
• Diabetes
• Depression
• Pheochromocytoma
• Psoriasis
• Hyperthyroidism
• Raynaud's phenomenon or other circulation problems
• A blood vessel disease
• Any allergies, including allergies to other beta blockers, foods, dyes, or preservatives

If you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, breastfeeding or are going to be undergone surgery or anesthesia, you should not take this medicine. Atenolol can interact with certain medications.

Dosage forms

The dose of atenolol depends on your age, the medical condition you are being treated for, other medical conditions you may have and other medications you may be currently taking.

Atenolol Dose for people with high blood pressure is 50 mg once a day. After a couple of weeks, based on the blood pressure response and/or atenolol side effects, the dosage may be increased or decreased. The maximum recommended daily atenolol dose is 100 mg.

Atenolol Dosage for people with angina is atenolol 50 mg, taken once a day. After one week it may be increased or decreased taking into consideration your blood pressure response and/or atenolol side affects. The maximum daily dose is atenolol 200 mg.

Following a heart attack, atenolol is given in the hospital through an intravenous line and the daily dose can vary based on a number of different factors.