can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol

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 can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol. Stopping atenolol abruptly may cause your condition to becomeworse can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol.
• Call your doctor immediately if you experience shortness of breath can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol.
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol. Atenolol may cause dizziness or drowsiness can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol. If you experience dizzinessor drowsiness, avoid these activities can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol.

What is atenolol?
• Atenolol is in a class of drugs called beta-blockers can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol. Beta-blockers affectthe heart and circulatory system (arteries and veins) can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol.
• Atenolol is used to lower blood pressure, lower heart rate, reduce chestpain (angina), and to reduce the risk of recurrent heart attacks can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol.
• Atenolol may also be used for purposes other than those listed in thismedication guide can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol.

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 can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol.
• 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 can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol.
• Atenolol is in the FDA pregnancy category D can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol. This means that atenololis known to have harmful effects on a developing baby can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol. Low birth weight andother effects have occurred can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol. Do not take atenolol without first talking to yourdoctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol.
• Atenolol passes into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol. Slow heartrates in breast-fed babies have occurred can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol. Do not take atenolol without firsttalking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol.

How should I take atenolol?
• Take atenolol exactly as directed by your doctor can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol. If you do not understandthese directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol.
• Atenolol can be taken with or without food can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol.
• Take atenolol at the same time everyday whenever possible can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol.
• Do not crush, break, or chew the tablets can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol. Swallow them whole can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol.
• Do not stop taking atenolol abruptly unless you are directed to do soby your doctor can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol. Stopping atenolol abruptly may cause your condition to becomeworse can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol.
• Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol.

What happens if I miss a dose?
• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol. However, if it is almosttime for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularlyscheduled dose can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol. Do not take a double dose of this medication can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol.

What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol.
• Symptoms of an atenolol overdose include a slow heart beat, shortnessof breath, fainting, dizziness, weakness, confusion, nausea, and vomiting can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol.

What should I avoid while taking atenolol?
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol. Atenolol may cause drowsiness, dizziness, and blood pressure changes can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol. If you experience drowsiness or dizziness, avoid these activities can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol.
• Tell your doctor and dentist that you are taking atenolol before havingsurgery can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol.
• Use alcohol cautiously can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and dizzinesswhile taking this medication can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol.

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 can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol.
• 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) can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol.

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 can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol.
• You may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatmentif you are taking any of the medicines listed above can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with atenolol oraffect your condition can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking anyprescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol.

Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about atenolol written forhealth professionals that you may read can you drink alcohol when taking atenolol.

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