Atenolol
(Tenormin brand name) is used to lower hypertension
(high blood pressure). It also is used to prevent angina (chest pain), irregular heartbeats and heart attacks.
This medicine works by relaxing your blood vessels so your heart doesn't have to pump as hard.
Atenolol is a beta-adrenergic blocking agent. It blocks the action of
the sympathetic nervous system, a portion of the involuntary nervous
system. The sympathetic nervous system stimulates the pace of the heart
beat. By blocking the action of these nerves, this medicament reduces
the heart rate and is useful in treating abnormally rapid heart rhythms.
Atenolol also reduces the force of heart muscle contraction and lowers
blood pressure. By reducing the heart rate and the force of muscle
contraction, it reduces heart muscle oxygen demand. Since angina occurs
when oxygen demand of the heart exceeds supply, this medicine is helpful
in treating angina.
SIDE EFFECTS: Atenolol is generally well tolerated, and side
effects are mild and transient. Rare side effects include abdominal
cramps, diarrhea, constipation, fatigue, insomnia, nausea, depression,
dreaming, memory loss, fever, impotence, lightheadedness, slow heart
rate, low blood pressure, numbness, tingling, cold extremities, sore
throat, and shortness of breath or wheezing.
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