Atenolol is a drug belongs to a group called ‘Beta-Blockers’, generally it:
- Treats high blood pressure (hypertension) and irregular heartbeats (arrhythmia).
- Is used to prevent chest pain caused by Angina.
If you are taking Atenolol because of hypertension; it’ll help you prevent future heart disease, heart attacks and stroke.
Atenolol acts by:
- Slowing your heart rate
- Makes it easier for your heart to pump blood around your body
Take your very first dose of atenolol at bedtime as it can make you feel dizzy. If you didn’t feel dizzy afterwards, then you can take it in the morning. Try to keep a gap of 10-12 hours if you are taking 2 doses per day. You can take your medicine with or without food as it doesn’t make your stomach upset but try to do the same every day. (If you want to know what diet we recommend to help you manage high blood pressure you can read about it here.)
If you forgot to take your dose then take it as soon as you remember unless it’s nearly time for your next dose. In this case, just skip the missed dose and take the next dose as scheduled.
Never take 2 doses at the same time because you may experience overdose side effects. Some of the common mild side-effects are:
- feeling sleepy, tired or dizzy
- cold fingers or toes
- feeling sick (nausea)
- diarrhea
- constipation
You should NOT stop taking Atenolol suddenly especially If you have a heart condition because it can worsen.
