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

What is atenolol?
• Atenolol is in a class of drugs called beta-blockers questions about the drug atenolol. Beta-blockers affectthe heart and circulatory system (arteries and veins) questions about the drug atenolol.
• Atenolol is used to lower blood pressure, lower heart rate, reduce chestpain (angina), and to reduce the risk of recurrent heart attacks questions about the drug atenolol.
• Atenolol may also be used for purposes other than those listed in thismedication guide questions about the 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 questions about the 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 questions about the drug atenolol.
• Atenolol is in the FDA pregnancy category D questions about the drug atenolol. This means that atenololis known to have harmful effects on a developing baby questions about the drug atenolol. Low birth weight andother effects have occurred questions about the drug atenolol. Do not take atenolol without first talking to yourdoctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment questions about the drug atenolol.
• Atenolol passes into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby questions about the drug atenolol. Slow heartrates in breast-fed babies have occurred questions about the drug atenolol. Do not take atenolol without firsttalking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby questions about the drug atenolol.

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

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

What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention questions about the drug atenolol.
• Symptoms of an atenolol overdose include a slow heart beat, shortnessof breath, fainting, dizziness, weakness, confusion, nausea, and vomiting questions about the drug atenolol.

What should I avoid while taking atenolol?
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities questions about the drug atenolol. Atenolol may cause drowsiness, dizziness, and blood pressure changes questions about the drug atenolol. If you experience drowsiness or dizziness, avoid these activities questions about the drug atenolol.
• Tell your doctor and dentist that you are taking atenolol before havingsurgery questions about the drug atenolol.
• Use alcohol cautiously questions about the drug atenolol. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and dizzinesswhile taking this medication questions about the 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 questions about the 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) questions about the drug atenolol.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur questions about the drug atenolol. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome questions about the 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 questions about the drug atenolol.
• You may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatmentif you are taking any of the medicines listed above questions about the drug atenolol.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with atenolol oraffect your condition questions about the drug atenolol. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking anyprescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products questions about the drug atenolol.

Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about atenolol written forhealth professionals that you may read questions about the drug atenolol.

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