Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved atenolol oral tablet for use in adults to:
This article describes possible side effects of atenolol oral tablet. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for atenolol. Atenolol oral tablet is a generic version of the brand-name drug Tenormin.
You can explore this overview article to learn more about atenolol oral tablet, including the drug’s uses, dosage, ways to save on cost, and more.
Boxed warning
Atenolol has a boxed warning for suddenly stopping the drug in people with coronary artery disease. Boxed warnings are serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
For details, see the “Warnings for atenolol” section below.
More common side effects of atenolol
Atenolol oral tablet may cause mild or serious side effects. Below are some of the more common side effects of this medication.
Commonly reported side effects of atenolol oral tablet include:
- dizziness
- nausea
- slow heart rate
- diarrhea
Mild side effects of atenolol
Atenolol may cause certain mild side effects. Usually, mild side effects are temporary and can be easily managed. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or become bothersome.
Mild side effects of atenolol oral tablet that occurred in studies include:
Atenolol oral tablet may cause more mild side effects than those listed above. For details, see the drug’s prescribing information.
* This side effect wasn’t reported in the drug’s initial studies, but it has been reported since in other studies.
† An allergic reaction is possible with atenolol oral tablet. It’s unclear whether it occurred in the drug’s studies, but it has happened since the drug was approved for use. To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of atenolol in detail” section below.
Serious side effects of atenolol
Atenolol may cause certain serious side effects. If you have any serious side effects from atenolol oral tablet, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911, or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with atenolol oral tablet.
Serious side effects of atenolol oral tablet that occurred in studies include:
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of atenolol in detail” section below.
† Atenolol oral tablet has a boxed warning for this side effect. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To learn more, see the “Warnings for atenolol” section below.
‡ An allergic reaction is possible with atenolol oral tablet. It’s unclear whether it occurred in the drug’s studies, but it has happened since the drug was approved for use.
Common questions about side effects of atenolol
Here are answers to some common questions about side effects of atenolol oral tablet. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
If I stop taking atenolol, will I experience certain side effects?
It’s possible that stopping atenolol can cause certain side effects.
In fact, atenolol has a boxed warning for suddenly stopping the drug in people with coronary artery disease. Boxed warnings are serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To learn more, see the “Warnings for atenolol” section below.
If you have other questions about stopping atenolol, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Are weight gain and hair loss side effects of atenolol?
Weight gain isn’t a known side effect of atenolol, but hair loss may be.
Weight gain and hair loss weren’t reported in atenolol’s studies. But there have been reports of hair loss in people taking atenolol since the drug was approved for use.
As these reports happened outside of controlled studies, it’s not known for sure whether atenolol or other factors caused the hair loss. That said, it does appear hair loss was reversible once atenolol was stopped.
Talk with your doctor if you have concerns about weight gain or hair loss from your medications.
Can I take amlodipine with atenolol? If so, will that cause different side effects?
If your doctor recommends it, you can take amlodipine together with atenolol. Possible side effects of doing so are expected to be the same as with atenolol only.
But taking atenolol together with amlodipine may increase your risk of certain side effects. This includes a drop in blood pressure when standing or sitting up. To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of atenolol in detail” section below.
Talk with your doctor if you have more questions about taking certain medications together with atenolol.
Does atenolol cause long-term side effects?
It’s possible. Long-term side effects reported with atenolol include:
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to learn more about atenolol and possible long-term side effects.
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of atenolol in detail” section below.
† Atenolol oral tablet has a boxed warning for this side effect. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To learn more, see the “Warnings for atenolol” section below.
Coupon for atenolol
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Side effects of atenolol in detail
Below are details on some of the side effects of atenolol oral tablet.
Heart failure
Heart failure is a possible side effect of atenolol. It’s not known how often this side effect occurred in the drug’s studies. That said, atenolol has been in use for a long time. Reports of heart failure since the drug was approved aren’t common.
Symptoms of heart failure include:
Ways to manage
Let your doctor know right away if you develop symptoms of heart failure while taking atenolol. They’ll suggest a treatment for your symptoms and monitor your heart health closely.
If your symptoms of heart failure don’t go away or they worsen, your doctor will likely have you stop taking atenolol. Do not stop taking atenolol unless your doctor recommends it. Your doctor can advise how to slowly lower your dose over time.
Drop in blood pressure when standing or sitting up
With atenolol treatment, you may experience a drop in blood pressure when standing or sitting up. This condition is called orthostatic hypotension. It’s a common side effect of medications that lower blood pressure, including atenolol.
This side effect itself isn’t necessarily dangerous. But it can cause dizziness and lead to falls, which can result in serious injury, such as broken bones.
Ways to manage
Let your doctor know if you experience orthostatic hypotension while taking atenolol. They may suggest ways to treat this side effect, or they may suggest stopping treatment with atenolol.
Allergic reaction
For some people, atenolol oral tablet can cause an allergic reaction. It’s unclear whether this occurred in the drug’s studies, but it has happened since the drug was approved for use.
Symptoms can be mild or serious, and they may include:
- itchiness
- skin rash
- swelling under the skin, usually affecting eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
- swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
- flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
Ways to manage
For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.
For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to atenolol oral tablet, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.
Warnings for atenolol
Below are some factors you may want to discuss with your doctor before taking atenolol oral tablet.
Boxed warning: Suddenly stopping atenolol in people with coronary artery disease
Atenolol has a boxed warning for suddenly stopping the drug in people with coronary artery disease. Boxed warnings are serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
You should not suddenly stop taking atenolol if you have coronary artery disease. Doing so can cause severe side effects, including severe chest pain, heart attack, and abnormal heart rhythm.
Instead, talk with your doctor if you’re interested in stopping treatment with atenolol. Do not stop taking the drug unless your doctor recommends it.
If you both agree that you’ll stop taking atenolol, your doctor will advise how to slowly lower your dose over time. This is called a dose taper. It helps prevent the serious side effects that may occur if you suddenly stop taking atenolol.
Other warnings
It may not be safe for you to take atenolol oral tablet if you have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Other things may also affect whether atenolol oral tablet is a safe treatment option for you.
Before taking atenolol oral tablet, tell your doctor about your health and medications you take. Things to consider include those listed below.
Certain heart conditions. Doctors generally won’t prescribe atenolol for people with certain heart conditions. This is because atenolol could severely worsen certain heart conditions, including:
Breathing or lung condition. If you have a breathing or lung condition, taking a beta-blocker could worsen your condition. Keep in mind that atenolol is a beta-blocker. An example of these conditions includes asthma.
If your doctor thinks that atenolol is safe for you to take, they’ll likely prescribe the lowest dose possible that effectively treats your condition. They’ll also provide instructions for keeping your rescue inhaler nearby and using it properly if you have trouble breathing.
Diabetes. Beta-blockers, including atenolol, can hide certain symptoms of low blood sugar. This can make it difficult to notice if your blood sugar becomes low. It can also raise your risk of severely low blood sugar.
Atenolol is usually safe for people with diabetes. But your doctor may suggest monitoring your blood sugar more often than usual during treatment.
Pheochromocytoma. You should not take atenolol if you have a pheochromocytoma that isn’t being treated. A pheochromocytoma is a type of adrenal gland tumor. Talk with your doctor to learn more about a medication other than atenolol that may be safer for you.
Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to atenolol oral tablet or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe this medication. Ask them about other treatment options that may be better for you.
Atenolol and pregnancy
Atenolol may cause harm if taken during pregnancy, according to the drugmaker. Talk with your doctor about safer treatment options for your condition during pregnancy.
Atenolol and breastfeeding
Atenolol is known to pass into breast milk. It may also cause a significantly slowed heart rate in a child who is breastfed.
Talk with your doctor about safe feeding options for your child if you’re taking atenolol. Ask your doctor if there are other treatment options that may be safe to take while breastfeeding.
Atenolol and alcohol
Atenolol oral tablet is known to interact with alcohol.
It may be best to avoid or minimize alcohol consumption while you’re taking atenolol. Both alcohol and atenolol can lower your blood pressure. Combining the two drugs raises your risk for a drop in blood pressure when standing or sitting up. This can cause lightheadedness or fainting.
If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it during your treatment with atenolol oral tablet.
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of atenolol in detail” section above.
What to ask your doctor
This article describes common and serious side effects of atenolol oral tablet. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they can discuss possible side effects with you. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about treatment with this medication.
Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- Do any of my other medications place me at higher risk of side effects of atenolol?
- How do side effects of atenolol compare with other beta-blockers that may treat my condition?
- If atenolol is managing my condition, but also causes side effects, is there a lower dose I can try?
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
