atenolol and pregnancy
(ah THE no lall)
Tenormin
What is the most important information I should know about atenolol?
• Do not stop taking atenolol abruptly unless you are directed to do soby your doctor atenolol and pregnancy. Stopping atenolol abruptly may cause your condition to becomeworse atenolol and pregnancy.
• Call your doctor immediately if you experience shortness of breath atenolol and pregnancy.
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities atenolol and pregnancy. Atenolol may cause dizziness or drowsiness atenolol and pregnancy. If you experience dizzinessor drowsiness, avoid these activities atenolol and pregnancy.
What is atenolol?
• Atenolol is in a class of drugs called beta-blockers atenolol and pregnancy. Beta-blockers affectthe heart and circulatory system (arteries and veins) atenolol and pregnancy.
• Atenolol is used to lower blood pressure, lower heart rate, reduce chestpain (angina), and to reduce the risk of recurrent heart attacks atenolol and pregnancy.
• Atenolol may also be used for purposes other than those listed in thismedication guide atenolol and pregnancy.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking atenolol?
• Before taking atenolol, tell your doctor if you have
· asthma;
· heart problems such as low blood pressure, a slow heart rate, heartblock, sick sinus syndrome, a pacemaker, heart failure, or any other heart problems;
· diabetes;
· depression;
· thyroid disease;
· kidney disease;
· liver disease; or
· any type of circulatory disease atenolol and pregnancy.
• You may not be able to take atenolol, or you may require a dosage adjustmentor special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listedabove atenolol and pregnancy.
• Atenolol is in the FDA pregnancy category D atenolol and pregnancy. This means that atenololis known to have harmful effects on a developing baby atenolol and pregnancy. Low birth weight andother effects have occurred atenolol and pregnancy. Do not take atenolol without first talking to yourdoctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment atenolol and pregnancy.
• Atenolol passes into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby atenolol and pregnancy. Slow heartrates in breast-fed babies have occurred atenolol and pregnancy. Do not take atenolol without firsttalking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby atenolol and pregnancy.
How should I take atenolol?
• Take atenolol exactly as directed by your doctor atenolol and pregnancy. If you do not understandthese directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you atenolol and pregnancy.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water atenolol and pregnancy.
• Atenolol can be taken with or without food atenolol and pregnancy.
• Take atenolol at the same time everyday whenever possible atenolol and pregnancy.
• Do not crush, break, or chew the tablets atenolol and pregnancy. Swallow them whole atenolol and pregnancy.
• Do not stop taking atenolol abruptly unless you are directed to do soby your doctor atenolol and pregnancy. Stopping atenolol abruptly may cause your condition to becomeworse atenolol and pregnancy.
• Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat atenolol and pregnancy.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember atenolol and pregnancy. However, if it is almosttime for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularlyscheduled dose atenolol and pregnancy. Do not take a double dose of this medication atenolol and pregnancy.
What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention atenolol and pregnancy.
• Symptoms of an atenolol overdose include a slow heart beat, shortnessof breath, fainting, dizziness, weakness, confusion, nausea, and vomiting atenolol and pregnancy.
What should I avoid while taking atenolol?
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities atenolol and pregnancy. Atenolol may cause drowsiness, dizziness, and blood pressure changes atenolol and pregnancy. If you experience drowsiness or dizziness, avoid these activities atenolol and pregnancy.
• Tell your doctor and dentist that you are taking atenolol before havingsurgery atenolol and pregnancy.
• Use alcohol cautiously atenolol and pregnancy. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and dizzinesswhile taking this medication atenolol and pregnancy.
What are the possible side effects of atenolol?
• If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop takingatenolol and call your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical treatment:
· an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat;swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; hives);
· wheezing or shortness of breath;
· an unusually slow or irregular heart beat;
· swelling of your feet and/or lower legs;
· leg pain or cramping;
· sudden weight gain (more than 2 pounds in one day or 5 pounds in oneweek);
· chest (heart) pain;
· cold or blue feet and hands; or
· skin rash atenolol and pregnancy.
• If you experience any of the following less serious side effects, continuetaking atenolol and talk to your doctor:
· fatigue or confusion;
· headache or dizziness;
· weak pulse or mildly slow heart rate;
· diarrhea, constipation, gas, nausea, or vomiting;
· depression;
· nightmares; or
· impotence (difficulty obtaining or maintaining an erection) atenolol and pregnancy.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur atenolol and pregnancy. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome atenolol and pregnancy.
What other drugs will affect atenolol?
• Before taking atenolol, tell your doctor if you are taking
· a heart medication such as nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), reserpine(Serpasil), verapamil (Calan, Verelan, Isoptin), diltiazem (Cardizem, DilacorXR), clonidine (Catapres), digoxin (Lanoxin), doxazosin (Cardura), guanadrel(Hylorel), prazosin (Minipress), or terazosin (Hytrin);
· a diabetes medication such as insulin, glyburide (Micronase, Glynase,Diabeta), glipizide (Glucotrol), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), or metformin (Glucophage);
· a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen (Motrin,Advil, others), naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), ketoprofen (Orudis,Orudis KT, Oruvail), and others;
· a respiratory medication such as albuterol (Ventolin, Proventil, Volmax,others), bitolterol (Tornalate), metaproterenol (Alupent, Metaprel), pirbuterol(Maxair), terbutaline (Brethaire, Brethine, Bricanyl), or theophylline (Theo-Dur,Theochron, Theolair, others);
· the stomach medication cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB); or
· prescription or over-the-counter cough medicines, cold medicines, ordiet pills atenolol and pregnancy.
• You may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatmentif you are taking any of the medicines listed above atenolol and pregnancy.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with atenolol oraffect your condition atenolol and pregnancy. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking anyprescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products atenolol and pregnancy.
Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about atenolol written forhealth professionals that you may read atenolol and pregnancy.
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