When two or more
medicines are taken together, it can change how the medicines work and increase the risk of side-effects. In medical terms, this is called as a
Drug Interaction.
Atenolol interacts with
disopyramide, which is used in the treatment of irregular heartbeat. The patients who use
Atenolol in combination with disopyramide are at an increased risk to develop severely reduced heartbeat, lack of tissue
contraction from the heart muscles (asystole), and heart failure.
There may be an interaction of
Atenolol with
calcium channel blockers, which are used to treat high blood pressure. Patients who are on treatment with
Atenolol along with
calcium channel blockers such as
verapamil or
diltiazem are at an increased risk of reduced heartbeat and heart block as well as left ventricular end diastolic pressure, which is an important measure of ventricular performance. Particularly the patients with existing problems with conduction of heart are at increased risk.
Atenolol may interact with catecholamine-depleting drugs such as
reserpine, which is used to treat high blood pressure and mental illness (
psychosis). Reserpine has an additive effect when given in combination with
Atenolol and may result in low blood pressure and reduced heartbeat that can further lead to
vertigo,
fainting, and fall in blood pressure when a person stands. Patients who are on treatment with both
Atenolol and reserpine should be monitored carefully for these
side-effects.
Your doctor's guidelines may need to be followed while taking this medicine along with
clonidine, which is used to treat a variety of problems such as high blood pressure,
anxiety,
migraine,
diarrhea, and certain
pain conditions. The patients who are on both beta blockers and clonidine may experience rebound high blood pressure during withdrawal of clonidine. When beta blockers such as
Atenolol is given in combination with clonidine, the withdrawal of beta blockers should be done several days before the withdrawal of clonidine. If clonidine is to be replaced by
beta-blocker therapy, the starting therapy of beta-blockers should be postponed for some days after the use of clonidine is stopped.
Special instructions need to be followed while taking this medicine along with
amiodarone, which is used to treat increased or decreased heartbeats. Use of
Atenolol with amiodarone may have an enhancing effect on conduction of the electrical impulses throughout the atria of the heart and induce the weakening of heart muscle contractions.
Your doctor's guidelines may need to be followed while taking this medicine along with
insulin, which is used to treat high blood
sugar levels. Use of
Atenolol with
insulin and other antidiabetic drugs may result in increased blood
sugar lowering effects of these drugs. Also, the symptoms of lowered blood sugar (
hypoglycemia) and increased heartbeat may be masked. Take necessary precautions while using
Atenolol in diabetic patients.
Special instructions need to be followed while taking this medicine along with
adrenaline, is a neurotransmitter which is used to treat serious allergic symptoms. The patients who are on treatment with
Atenolol and
ephedrine may experience a decrease in blood lowering effect of
Atenolol.
Atenolol interacts with dihydropyridines such as
nifedipine, which is used to manage chest
pain and high blood pressure. Patients who are on treatment with
Atenolol and
nifedipine are at an increased risk of low blood pressure, heart failure in patients with the insufficient flow of blood.
There may be an interaction of
Atenolol with digitalis glycosides, which are used to increase the force of the heart and decrease its rate of contractions. Patients who are on treatment with
Atenolol and digitalis glycosides are at an increased risk to develop reduced heartbeats, slow atrioventricular conduction and decreased heart rate.
Atenolol may interact with prostaglandin synthase blocking drugs such as
indomethacin, which is used to treat
pain, swelling,
fever and inflammation. The use of prostaglandin synthase
preventing drugs in patients who are on therapy with beta blockers such as
Atenolol may result in decreased blood pressure lowering effect.
Atenolol may interact with
anesthetic agents, which are used to produce a temporary loss of sensation. Use of
beta-blockers with anesthetic drugs may result in increased risk of fast heartbeat and low blood pressure conditions. Such patients should use caution while selecting an anesthetic. Anesthetist should be informed that the patient is on treatment with
Atenolol and the anesthetic must be an agent that has little weakening action on contractions of heart (negative inotropic activity) as possible.
This page does not contain all the possible interactions of Atenolol. Share a list of all medicines that you use with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any
medicines without the approval of your doctor.