March 23, 2007

Hypertension Beta Blocker - Atenolol

Atenolol - pronounced as (a TEN oh lole). This type of beta blocker for hypertension blocks chemicals that stimulate the body.

Common Brand Names
U.S. Brand Names: Tenormin®
Canadian Brand Names: Apo-Atenol®; Gen-Atenolol; Novo-Atenol; Nu-Atenol; PMS-Atenolol; RAN™-Atenolol; Rhoxal-atenolol; Riva-Atenolol; Sandoz-Atenolol; Tenolin; Tenormin®
Mexican Brand Names: Blotex; Tenormin

Pharmacologic Category: Beta Blocker, Beta1 Selective

Any warnings to watchout before taking this medicine?
Do not suddenly stop taking this medicine. To avoid side effects, you will want to slowly stop it.

When not to this beta blocker medicine
• Any allergic to atenolol or any other part of this medicine.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.
• If you have any of the following conditions: Severely weakened heart or slow heartbeat without a working pacemaker.
• If you are more than 12 weeks pregnant.

Uses for this beta blocker hypertension medicine
• Used after a heart attack to prevent proceeding heart attacks and lengthen life.
• Prevention of essential tremor.
• Prevention of migraine headaches.
• Prevention of performance anxiety.
• Prevention rebleeding from esophageal varices in cirrhosis.
• Treatment of aggressive behavior.
• Treat chest pain or pressure.
• Treatment of fast heartbeat.
• Hypertension treatment.
• Treat side effects caused by mood-stabilizing medicine.

Most effective use of this medicine
• Take at a similar time of day if possible.
• Can be with or without food. Eat something if it causes an upset stomach.
• Tablet can be crushed and mixed with food or liquid.
• Adhere to diet plan and develop an exercise routine as recommended by healthcare provider.

What do I do if I miss a dose? (does not apply to patients in the hospital)
• Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your regular schedule.
• Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
• Do not change dose or stop medicine. Talk with healthcare provider.

Precautionary measure when taking this medicine
• Never run out of this medicine.
• Wear disease medical alert identification.
• Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.
• If you are diabetic and have low blood sugar, talk with healthcare provider. This medicine hides the signs of low blood sugar except sweating.
• If you have lung disease, talk with healthcare provider.
• If you have a weakened heart, talk with healthcare provider.
• Tell dentists, surgeons, and other healthcare providers that you use this medicine.
• If you are taking this medicine and have high blood pressure, talk with healthcare provider before using over-the-counter products that may increase blood pressure. These include cough or cold remedies, diet pills, stimulants, ibuprofen or like products, and certain natural products or supplements.
• You may not be alert. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities until you see how this medicine affects you.
• Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor) or other medicines and natural products that slow your actions and reactions. These include sedatives, tranquilizers, mood stabilizers, antihistamines, and other pain medicine.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant.
• Use birth control that you can trust to prevent pregnancy while taking this medicine.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are breast-feeding.

Possible side effects of this medicine
• Lightheaded, sleepiness, blurry vision, or a change in thinking clearly. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities that require you to be alert or have clear vision until you see how this medicine affects you.
• Feeling dizzy. Rise slowly over several minutes from sitting or lying position. Be careful climbing.
• Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.
• Diarrhea.
• Decreased sexual libido or desire. This is usually reversible.

Things to monitor when taking this medicine
• Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the same?
• Check blood pressure and heart rate regularly.

Reasons to call healthcare provider immediately
• If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center immediately or dial 911.
• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Severe dizziness or passing out.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Feeling extremely tired or weak.
• Any rash.
• No improvement in condition or feeling worse.

Storage
• Store tablets at room temperature.
• Protect tablets from light.
• Protect tablets from moisture. Do not store in a bathroom or kitchen.

General statements
• If you have a life-threatening allergy, wear allergy identification at all times.
• Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's medicine.
• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
• Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, natural products, supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician assistant).
• Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter, natural products, or vitamins.