Atenolol

Medically Reviewed by Harshi Dhingra, M.D.

Last Reviewed: Jun 17, 2022

Warnings

What are the risks of taking atenolol (Tenormin)?

Atenolol can cause serious health problems, especially in certain high-risk patients. Talk to your healthcare professionals about other treatment options for high blood pressure and chest pain if these are a concern for you.

CHEST PAIN OR HEART ATTACK: Suddenly stopping atenolol can worsen chest pain and increase the risk of a heart attack. Talk to your doctor before you stop taking atenolol. Your doctor will reduce your dose gradually.
HEART FAILURE: A small number of people can develop heart failure while taking atenolol. The risk is higher in people treated with diuretics (water pills) and digoxin for congestive heart failure. Tell your doctor if you notice swollen feet or ankles, a fast or irregular pulse, or shortness of breath with exercise or lying down.
SLOW HEART RATE: Atenolol can slow your heart rate and make you feel dizzy or lightheaded. The risk is greater if you take medicines like calcium channel blockers that lower the heart rate. Arise slowly from a sitting or lying position to prevent falls. This side effect should go away in a few weeks as your body adjusts to the medication. If it does not, tell your doctor. If your heart rate drops too low, seek immediate medical attention.
DIFFICULTY BREATHING: Atenolol and other beta blockers are not usually recommended for people with asthma or other bronchospastic diseases because they can cause difficulty breathing. Tell your doctor if you have a history of asthma. Your doctor may prescribe atenolol to you under careful supervision (it has a lower chance of causing breathing trouble compared to other beta blockers).
MAY WORSEN AN ALLERGIC REACTION: If you have allergies, atenolol can make allergic reactions to different substances worse. Also, you may not respond to the usual doses of injectable epinephrine for the treatment of severe allergies.
MAY MASK SYMPTOMS OF LOW BLOOD SUGAR: People with diabetes taking atenolol may not notice symptoms of low blood sugar such as fast heart rate, shakiness, sweating, and dizziness. Talk to your doctor about how often you should check blood sugar levels while on atenolol.
MAY MASK SYMPTOMS OF OVERACTIVE THYROID: People with hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) who are taking atenolol may not recognize the signs of this condition, such as a fast heart rate. Do not suddenly stop taking atenolol without talking to your doctor - this can cause a potentially life-threatening condition called a thyroid storm.

What should I tell my doctor before starting atenolol (Tenormin)?

Tell your doctor if you have an allergy to atenolol, any active or inactive ingredients in atenolol tablets, or any other medication. Your pharmacist can give you a list of ingredients.

Give your doctor a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, dietary supplements, vitamins, and herbal/natural products. Doing so can help avoid serious drug interactions.

Tell your healthcare professional about all your medical conditions. Atenolol may not be suitable for people with certain health conditions. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have or have ever had asthma or other lung diseases, hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), diabetes, severe allergies, pheochromocytoma (a tumor that causes fast heartbeat and high blood pressure), heart disease, circulation problems, or kidney disease.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, could be pregnant, or plan to become pregnant. Also, tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

What precautions should I take while on atenolol (Tenormin)?

Keep all your appointments with your healthcare provider. Your doctor may want to check your blood pressure at regular intervals to see how you respond to atenolol. If your doctor asks you to check your pulse rate (heart rate), ask them or your pharmacist to show you the correct way to do this. Tell your doctor if your pulse is slower or faster than the normal range.

Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while on atenolol.

Tell your healthcare providers that you take atenolol before having any surgery, including dental surgery.

Write down a list of all your medications. Bring this list with you to every healthcare appointment.

What are atenolol (Tenormin) interactions?

Taking atenolol with certain medications can affect how the drugs work or increase the risk of severe side effects. Your physician may choose a different medication for you, change the dose or frequency of one or both medicines, and/or monitor you carefully for side effects if there are known drug interactions between atenolol and your other medicines.

Atenolol can have drug interactions with the following medications:

Calcium channel blockers (Cardizem, Dilacor XR, Cartia XT, Tiazac, Calan, Verelan, Covera-HS)
Clonidine (Catapres, in Clorpres, Kapvay)
Reserpine
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (Indocin, Tivorbex)

This list does not describe all possible atenolol interactions. Give your healthcare provider a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, dietary supplements, vitamins, and natural or herbal products. Also, tell your healthcare provider if you smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs because some of these substances can cause serious health complications when used with prescription medications.

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