Drug Name

Tenormin (Atenolol)

Drug Uses

Tenormin is prescribed for patients with high blood pressure (hypertension). It is as well as used to treat chest pain (angina pectoris) related to coronary artery disease. Tenormin is as well as useful in slowing as well as regulating confident types of abnormally rapid heart rates (tachycardias). Other uses for tenormin include the prevention of migraine headaches as well as the treatment of confident types of tremors (familial or hereditary essential tremors).

How Taken

Should be used before meals or at bedtime.

Drug Class as well as Mechanism

Tenormin is a beta-adrenergic blocking agent. Tenormin 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, tenormin reduces the heart rate as well as is useful in treating abnormally rapid heart rhythms. Tenormin as well as reduces the force of heart muscle contraction as well as lowers blood pressure. By reducing the heart rate as well as the force of muscle contraction, tenormin reduces heart muscle oxygen demand. Since angina occurs when oxygen demand of the heart exceeds supply, tenormin is helpful in treating angina.

Missed Dose

Continue to take this medicine even incase you feel well. Do not miss any doses. Incase you miss a dose of this medicine, take as soon as you remember incase it is more than 8 hours before the next dose is due. Incase it is less than 8 hours until your next dose, skip the missed dose as well as return to your common dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Storage

Tablets should be stored at room temperature in a tightly closed container.

Warnings/Precautions

Tenormin can aggravate breathing difficulties in patients with asthma, chronic bronchitis, or emphysema. In patients with existing unhurried heart rates (bradycardias) as well as heart blocks (defects in the electrical conduction of the heart), tenormin can cause dangerously unhurried heart rates, as well as even shock. Tenormin reduces the force of heart muscle contraction as well as can aggravate symptoms of heart failure. Calcium channel blockers, as well as digoxin (Lanoxin) can cause lowering of blood pressure as well as heart rate to dangerous levels when administered together with tenormin. In patients with coronary artery disease, abruptly stopping tenormin can suddenly worsen angina, as well as occasionally precipitate heart attacks. Incase it is essential to discontinue tenormin, its dosage can be reduced gradually over several weeks. Tenormin can mask the beginning warning symptoms of abridged blood sugar (hypoglycemia), as well as should be used with caution in patients receiving treatment for diabetes. It is not habit forming.Do not take this medicine incase you possess had an allergic reaction to it or are allergic to any ingredient in this product. Do not halt using this medicine without checking with your doctor. Some conditions may become worse when the medicine is suddenly stopped. Your dose may need to be slowly lowered to avoid side effects. Keep all doctor as well as laboratory appointments while you are using this medicine. Before you possess any health examination or dental treatments, emergency care, or surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using this medicine. This medicine may cause drowsiness or dizziness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to this medicine. Before having any allergy tests or shots, tell your doctor that you are using this medicine. This medicine may increase your risk for a humorless reaction to the allergy shot. Before using any recent medicine, either prescription or over-the-counter, check with your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any medicines used to treat colds or congestion. Caution is advised when using this medicine in the elderly because they may be more sensitive to the effects of this medicine. For women: this medicine has been shown to cause harm to the human fetus. Incase you plan on becoming pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits as well as risks of using this medicine during pregnancy. This medicine is excreted in breast milk. incase you are or will be breast-feeding while you are using this medicine, check with your doctor or pharmacist to discuss the risks to your baby. For patients with diabetes mellitus: this medicine may mask signs of abridged blood sugar such as a rapid heart rate. Check blood glucose levels regularly.

Likely Side Effects

Tenormin is generally well tolerated, as well as side effects are mild as well as transient. Rare side effects include abdominal cramps, diarrhea, constipation, fatigue, insomnia, nausea, depression, dreaming, memory loss, fever, impotence, lightheadedness, unhurried heart rate, abridged blood pressure, numbness, tingling, chilly extremities, sore throat, as well as shortness of breath or wheezing.

More Information

Incase your doctor has instructed you to check your blood pressure as well as heart rate regularly, be sure to do so. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for help incase you are unsure how to properly measure your blood pressure or pulse. There are several lifestyle changes that may as well as help reduce your blood pressure. Talk with your doctor about appropriate diet as well as exercise programs that may be helpful to you. Do not share this medicine with others for whom it was not prescribed. Do not take this medicine for other health conditions. Keep this medicine out of the reach of children. Incase using this medicine for an extended period of time, obtain refills before your supply runs out.