Atenolol is a drug prescribed to heart patients. Atenolol tablet is used to control blood pressure.
Let us know what is the use of atenolol tablet, what are the side effects of atenolol and how atenolol work.
Atenolol Tablet Uses
1) In reducing blood pressure
2) In reducing the pain of Angina
3) To control irregular heartbeat
4) In reducing the stress on the heart after a heart attack
5) In preventing stroke
6) In preventing migraine
7) In reducing the risk of heart attack
8) In kidney disease
Mode of Action of Atenolol Tablet
Atenolol is a beta-blocker drug. Beta receptors are found throughout our bodies.
Beta receptors are mainly of two types, beta-1 receptors, and beta-2 receptors.
Beta-1 receptors are mainly found in the heart and when stimulated, the heart rate and blood pressure increase.
Beta-2 receptors are found throughout the body.
Adrenaline works by stimulating beta-1 receptors. Adrenaline binds to beta receptors and stimulates them.
Beta blockers prevent adrenaline from acting on beta-1 receptors.
Because of this adrenaline is not able to do its work on these receptors and there is no pressure on the heart.
It is due to adrenaline that the veins shrink and blood pressure increases.
When adrenaline is not able to do its work, then our blood veins get relaxed and the blood pressure decreases.
Beta-blockers also reduce the rate at which the heart beats, making it easier for the heart to pump blood.
Common Side Effects of Atenolol Tablet
1) Dizziness
2) Cold hands and feet
3) Headache
4) Being constipated
5) Diarrhea
6) Difficulty in breathing
7) Feeling more tired
8) Pain in feet
9) Decreased blood pressure
10) Impotence
The side effects of this medicine are not felt by most people.
People who feel the side effects of Atenolol, get cured automatically in 2 or 3 days.
Contact your doctor if the side effects do not improve within 3 days.
Contact your doctor immediately if you are having trouble breathing, increasing anxiety, or having an abnormal heartbeat after taking the medicine.
Atenolol Interactions With Other Drugs
When atenolol is given with some medicines, its effect can be increased or decreased.
1) Brain medicines especially MAOIs increase its effect like Isocarboxazid, Phenelzine, Selegiline, Tranylcypromine, etc.
2) Your heart rate can be further reduced when given Atenolol to control the heartbeat, such as Digitails, Amiodarone, Disopyramide, etc.
3) Calcium channel blockers are also given to reduce blood pressure. Its potency increases further when given with atenolol.
Therefore, do not take these two medicines on your own without a doctor’s advice. Calcium channel blockers are Amlodipine, Diltiazem, Felodipine, Verapamil, Nisoldipine, Nifedipine, etc.
4) Alpha-blockers are also given to control blood pressure. When given beta-blockers (Atenolol) they reduce blood pressure very much like Methyldopa, Prazosin, Clonidine, etc.
5) Painkillers also interact with Atenolol and they reduce the effect of Atenolol. such as indomethacin
6) Atenolol also interacts with some diabetes and asthma medications, so be sure to tell your doctor if you have diabetes or asthma.
Pharmacokinetics of Atenolol
The bio availability of atenolol drug is 50%. The maximum amount of this medicine in our blood comes after 2 to 4 hours.
If it is given as an IV, it becomes 50% bio available within 5 minutes.
Atenolol is excreted through the urinary tract and has a half-life of 7 hours.
Atenolol does not dissolve easily with fat, so it does not have much effect on our brain and this drug also does not cross the blood-brain barrier easily.
What Precautions Should be Taken by Kidney and Liver Patients While Taking Atenolol
Atenolol is metabolized in the liver only 5% so it is safe for patients with liver disease and there is no need to change the dose.
Kidney patients need to take care of their dosage. No dosage adjustment is required if the patient has a creatinine clearance of 30 mL/minute.
If the patient’s creatinine clearance is between 10 to 30 mL/minute, then a maximum of 50 mg of medicine can be given in a day.
If the patient’s creatinine clearance is less than 10 mL/minute, then a maximum of 25 mg of medicine can be given in a day.
How Safe is Atenolol in Pregnancy
Atenolol is not given during pregnancy. It is not safe and comes in category D.
How Long Does it Take for Atenolol to Start Working
Atenolol takes 2 to 3 hours to show its effect. Before that, it doesn’t work.
Why Amlodipine and Atenolol Tablets are given together
Amlodipine and atenolol are medicines used to lower high blood pressure and reduce the pain of angina.
It is a combination of two medicines in which Amlodipine 5 mg and Atenolol 50 mg are mostly used.
Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker and it works by relaxing the nerves of the heart to reduce the strain on the heart and control blood pressure.
The combination of these two medicines is given because it controls high blood pressure better and reduces the pain of angina.
This combination helps prevent heart attack, and stroke and reduces the stress on the heart after a heart attack.
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