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