healthsense Atenolol

Generic Name: Atenolol
Product Name: healthsense Atenolol

Indication

Atenolol is used to treat high blood pressure, angina, and abnormal heart rhythms and is also given after a heart attack

Action

Atenolol is a beta-Adrenoceptor blocking agent that acts on beta-receptors in the heart. It slows the heart rate and also reduces the force that the heart must contract with. These two actions reduce the total workload of the heart and help to relieve angina. Atenolol treats cardiac arrhythmias by reduces the sensitivity of conduction cells in the heart to electrical impulses making them less likely to produce abnormal rhythms. The mechanism buy which atenolol lowers blood pressure is unknown

Dose advice

Hypertension

Initial dosing is 50 mg once daily.
This may be increased by 50mg each week to a maximum of 200 mg.
Doses above 100 mg daily should be divided into two equal doses given in the morning and the evening
If blood pressure needs to be reduced further other antihypertensive agents may be added

Angina pectoris

Initial dosing is 50 mg once daily and this may be increased to 100 mg daily if necessary, given as a single dose or two equally divided doses.

Cardiac arrhythmias

50 to 100 mg is given daily

Acute myocardial infarction

50mg of Atenolol is given once daily for one to three years following the myocardial infarction

Schedule

Common side effects

Indigestion
Constipation
Dry mouth
Fatigue
Dizziness
Wheezing

Uncommon side effects

Slowing of the heart rate
Deterioration in pre-existing heart failure
Dizziness, lightheadedness and fainting episodes on standing from a lying position
Cold hands and feet
Rash
Hair loss
Diarrhoea
Impotence
Difficulty walking
Loss of sensation
Ringing ears
Headache
Insomnia
Mood changes, nightmares, hallucinations and depression
Confusion
Dry eyes and visual disturbances
Asthma
Shortness of breath