Tablets (Injection is for hospital use only.)
To treat mild to moderate high blood pressure and to treat angina; also used to prevent or control heartbeat irregularities (cardiac arrhythmias). The injectable form is used in hospitals to treat heart attack.
Atenolol slows the rate and force of contraction of the heart by blocking certain nerve impulses, thus reducing blood pressure. By modifying nerve impulses to the heart, the drug also helps to stabilize heart rhythm.
50 to 100 mg, once a day. Smaller doses may be recommended for elderly patients or for those with impaired kidney function.
Oral: One to two hours; the full therapeutic effect may take one to two weeks. Injectable: Within 10 minutes.
Up to 24 hours.
Take atenolol on an empty stomach. Avoid alcohol and caffeine.
Store in a tightly sealed container away from heat and direct light.
Take it as soon as you remember. If it is within four hours of the next scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and resume your regular schedule. Do not double the next dose.
Suddenly stopping atenolol may cause serious health problems. Slow reduction of the dose over a period of two to three weeks is advised, under doctor's careful supervision.
Therapy with atenolol may be lifelong; prolonged use may be associated with an increased risk of side effects.
Adverse reactions may be more likely and more severe in older patients; a reduction in dosage may be warranted.
In rare cases atenolol may impair your ability to drive or operate machinery safely or perform hazardous work. Use caution, especially soon after beginning therapy.
Drink in careful moderation if at all. Alcohol may interact with the drug and cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure.
Discuss with your doctor the relative risks and benefits of using this drug while pregnant.
Avoid or discontinue the use of atenolol while nursing.
Proper dose will be determined by pediatrician.
Use of the drug should be considered but one element of a comprehensive therapeutic program that includes weight control, smoking cessation, regular exercise, and a healthy low-salt, low-fat diet.
Slow heartbeat; severe dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting; rapid or irregular heartbeat; difficulty breathing; extreme weakness; seizures; confusion; coma.
Call your doctor, emergency medical services (EMS), or the nearest poison control center immediately.
Consult your doctor if you are taking amphetamines, oral antidiabetic agents, asthma medication (such as aminophylline or theophylline), calcium channel blockers, clonidine, guanabenz, halothane, allergy shots, insulin, MAO inhibitors, reserpine, or other beta-blockers.
None known.
Atenolol should be used with caution in people with diabetes, especially insulin-dependent diabetes, since the drug may mask symptoms of hypoglycemia. Consult your doctor for specific advice if you have allergies or asthma, heart or blood vessel disease (including congestive heart failure and peripheral vascular disease), irregular (slow) heartbeat, hyperthyroidism, myasthenia gravis, psoriasis, respiratory problems such as bronchitis or emphysema, kidney or liver disease, or a history of mental depression.
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