atenolol medication
(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 medication. Stopping atenolol abruptly may cause your condition to becomeworse atenolol medication.
• Call your doctor immediately if you experience shortness of breath atenolol medication.
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities atenolol medication. Atenolol may cause dizziness or drowsiness atenolol medication. If you experience dizzinessor drowsiness, avoid these activities atenolol medication.
What is atenolol?
• Atenolol is in a class of drugs called beta-blockers atenolol medication. Beta-blockers affectthe heart and circulatory system (arteries and veins) atenolol medication.
• Atenolol is used to lower blood pressure, lower heart rate, reduce chestpain (angina), and to reduce the risk of recurrent heart attacks atenolol medication.
• Atenolol may also be used for purposes other than those listed in thismedication guide atenolol medication.
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 medication.
• 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 medication.
• Atenolol is in the FDA pregnancy category D atenolol medication. This means that atenololis known to have harmful effects on a developing baby atenolol medication. Low birth weight andother effects have occurred atenolol medication. Do not take atenolol without first talking to yourdoctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment atenolol medication.
• Atenolol passes into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby atenolol medication. Slow heartrates in breast-fed babies have occurred atenolol medication. Do not take atenolol without firsttalking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby atenolol medication.
How should I take atenolol?
• Take atenolol exactly as directed by your doctor atenolol medication. If you do not understandthese directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you atenolol medication.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water atenolol medication.
• Atenolol can be taken with or without food atenolol medication.
• Take atenolol at the same time everyday whenever possible atenolol medication.
• Do not crush, break, or chew the tablets atenolol medication. Swallow them whole atenolol medication.
• Do not stop taking atenolol abruptly unless you are directed to do soby your doctor atenolol medication. Stopping atenolol abruptly may cause your condition to becomeworse atenolol medication.
• Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat atenolol medication.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember atenolol medication. However, if it is almosttime for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularlyscheduled dose atenolol medication. Do not take a double dose of this medication atenolol medication.
What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention atenolol medication.
• Symptoms of an atenolol overdose include a slow heart beat, shortnessof breath, fainting, dizziness, weakness, confusion, nausea, and vomiting atenolol medication.
What should I avoid while taking atenolol?
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities atenolol medication. Atenolol may cause drowsiness, dizziness, and blood pressure changes atenolol medication. If you experience drowsiness or dizziness, avoid these activities atenolol medication.
• Tell your doctor and dentist that you are taking atenolol before havingsurgery atenolol medication.
• Use alcohol cautiously atenolol medication. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and dizzinesswhile taking this medication atenolol medication.
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 medication.
• 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 medication.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur atenolol medication. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome atenolol medication.
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 medication.
• You may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatmentif you are taking any of the medicines listed above atenolol medication.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with atenolol oraffect your condition atenolol medication. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking anyprescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products atenolol medication.
Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about atenolol written forhealth professionals that you may read atenolol medication.
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