Indications
Atenolol is indicated for: Hypertension, Angina pectoris, Cardiac arrhythmia, Myocardial infarction
Therapeutic Class
Beta-adrenoceptor blocking drugs, Beta-blockers
Pharmacology
The synthesis of atenolol resulted from attempts to produce a β-adrenoceptor antagonist that would competitively block β1 (cardiac) receptors but have no effect on β2-receptors. It is classified as a β1 selective (cardioselective) β-adrenergic receptor antagonist with no membranestability activity and no partial agonist activity. It is markedly the most hydrophilic of the currently available β- blockers and thus penetrates the lipid of cell membranes poorly
Dosage & Administration
Hypertension: 50 mg once daily, the daily dose can be raised to 100 to 200 mg.
Angina pectoris: 50 to 100 mg daily.
Cardiac arrhythmia: Atenolol in low dose, 25-50 mg once daily, can be used in combination with digoxin to control the ventricular rate in atrial fibration or atrial flutter which is refractory to digoxin alone.
Interaction
Catecholamine-depleting drugs (e.g., Reserpine) and Calcium channel blockers may have an additive effect when given with Atenolol. Clonidine and aspirin may have some drug reactions.
Contraindications
Atenolol is contraindicated for: Second and third degree heart block, Untreated heart failure, Overt cardiac failure, Cardiogenic shock
Side Effects
In general, atenolol is well tolerated although in a small number of patients (approximately 2-3%) therapy must be withdrawn because of troublesome symptomatic adverse effects. The commonest of these are cold extrimities, fatigue, vivid dreams, insomnia, diarrhoea, constipation, impotence and paraesthesia. Bronchospasm has been occurred with atenolol although this is very much less common than with the non-selective β-blockers
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