What side effects are possible with this medication?
A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. It can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent, but does not occur in everyone. The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking this medication. If you develop any of these side effects (or any other side effects not listed here) or they change in intensity, speak to your doctor or pharmacist for advice on managing them and on the risks and benefits of the medication.
- cold hands and feet
- depression
- diarrhea
- dizziness or lightheadedness
- dreaming
- drowsiness
- dry mouth
- fatigue or drowsiness
- leg pain
- nausea
- shortness of breath
- slow heart rate
- tiredness
- wheeziness
Click here to learn about serious side effects that can potentially occur with any medication. These examples are provided for information purposes only and are not meant to be exhaustive. Always consult your doctor for sound medical advice specific to your particular medication and treatment.
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online or by phone at 1-800-332-1088.
Are there any other precautions or warnings for this medication?
Before you begin taking a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should take this medication.
Adrenal gland tumor: People with an untreated tumor of the adrenal glands causing high levels of epinephrine (adrenalin) should not take atenolol.
Breathing conditions: People who have asthma and certain other breathing problems should not, in general, take a beta-blocker such as atenolol. Low doses of atenolol may be taken by people with asthma who do not respond to or cannot tolerate alternative treatment. If you have asthma, speak to your doctor about whether it is safe for you to use atenolol.
Drowsiness/reduced alertness: The use of atenolol is unlikely to impair your ability to drive or operate machinery. However, it should be taken into account that dizziness or fatigue may occur.
Heart failure: People with a history of heart failure should be closely monitored by their doctors while taking atenolol, as this medication may make heart failure worse.
Hyperthyroidism (high level of thyroid hormones): Atenolol may reduce the symptoms of hyperthyroidism, giving a false impression of improvement. If you have hyperthyroidism, your doctor should closely monitor you while taking this medication. Stopping the medication suddenly could worsen this condition.
Kidney disease: If you have kidney disease, your doctor should closely monitor you while taking atenolol as you are at increased risk of experiencing side effects.
Low blood sugar: The signs of low blood sugar may not be as noticeable when taking atenolol. If you have diabetes and take insulin or other medications that affect insulin levels in the blood, you should monitor your blood sugar carefully while taking this medication.
Severe allergies: If you have allergies that cause anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction where swelling of the face, lips, and throat make it difficult to breathe), you should talk to your doctor about what to do if you have an allergic reaction. Atenolol may make it more difficult to treat your allergic reaction with epinephrine.
Slow heart rate: People with an abnormally slow pulse should not, in general, take a beta-blocker such as atenolol.
Stopping the medication: Atenolol should not be stopped suddenly. There have been reports of severe worsening of angina and of heart attacks or abnormal heart rhythms occurring in people with angina who have done this.
Surgery: If you are scheduled for surgery, inform all doctors involved in your care that you are taking atenolol.
Pregnancy: This medication should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks. If you become pregnant while taking this medication, contact your doctor immediately.
Breast-feeding: This medication passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking this medication, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.
Children: The safety and effectiveness of this medication have not been established for children.
Seniors: Some seniors may need a lower starting dose of Tenormin. Talk with your doctor about the right dose for you.
What other drugs could interact with this medication?
There may be an interaction between atenolol and any of the following:
- alcohol
- amiodarone
- amlodipine
- anesthetic agents
- anticholinergics (e.g., atropine, hyoscyamine)
- antidiabetes agents (e.g., insulin)
- asthma medications (e.g., theophylline)
- clonidine
- digoxin
- diltiazem
- disopyramide
- epinephrine
- felodipine
- flecainide
- guanethidine
- indomethacin
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- lidocaine
- mexiletene
- monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors (e.g., tranylcypromine, phenelzine) taken within the past 2 weeks
- nifedipine
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs; e.g., ibuprofen)
- other beta-blockers (e.g., propranolol, metoprolol)
- procainamide
- propafenone
- quinidine
- reserpine
- salicylates (e.g., ASA, salsalate)
- verapamil
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If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:
- stop taking one of the medications,
- change one of the medications to another,
- change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
- leave everything as is.
An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.
Medications other than those listed above may interact with this medication. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.