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Before Using
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Pediatric
Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of atenolol in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established .
Geriatric
Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatrics-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of atenolol in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related liver, kidney, or heart problems, which may require caution and an adjustment of dosage in patients receiving atenolol .
Pregnancy
| Pregnancy Category | Explanation | |
|---|---|---|
| All Trimesters | D | Studies in pregnant women have demonstrated a risk to the fetus. However, the benefits of therapy in a life threatening situation or a serious disease, may outweigh the potential risk. |
Breastfeeding
There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.
Drug Interactions
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Albuterol
- Amiodarone
- Arformoterol
- Bambuterol
- Bitolterol
- Broxaterol
- Clenbuterol
- Clonidine
- Colterol
- Diltiazem
- Dronedarone
- Fenoldopam
- Fenoterol
- Fentanyl
- Formoterol
- Hexoprenaline
- Isoetharine
- Levalbuterol
- Metaproterenol
- Pirbuterol
- Procaterol
- Reproterol
- Rimiterol
- Ritodrine
- Salmeterol
- Terbutaline
- Tretoquinol
- Tulobuterol
- Verapamil
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Acarbose
- Acetohexamide
- Alfuzosin
- Amlodipine
- Arbutamine
- Benfluorex
- Bunazosin
- Chlorpropamide
- Digoxin
- Disopyramide
- Doxazosin
- Felodipine
- Gliclazide
- Glimepiride
- Glipizide
- Gliquidone
- Glyburide
- Guar Gum
- Insulin
- Insulin Aspart, Recombinant
- Insulin Glulisine
- Insulin Lispro, Recombinant
- Lacidipine
- Lercanidipine
- Manidipine
- Metformin
- Mibefradil
- Miglitol
- Moxisylyte
- Nicardipine
- Nifedipine
- Nilvadipine
- Nimodipine
- Nisoldipine
- Nitrendipine
- Phenoxybenzamine
- Phentolamine
- Pranidipine
- Prazosin
- Quinidine
- Repaglinide
- St John's Wort
- Tamsulosin
- Terazosin
- Tolazamide
- Tolbutamide
- Trimazosin
- Troglitazone
- Urapidil
Other Interactions
Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.
Other Medical Problems
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Bradycardia (slow heartbeat) or
- Heart block or
- Heart failure or
- Pheochromocytoma (adrenal gland tumor), untreated—Should not use in patients with these conditions .
- Diabetes or
- Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) or
- Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)—May cover up some of the signs and symptoms of these diseases, such as a fast heartbeat .
- Kidney disease—Use with caution. The effects may be increased because of slower removal from the body .
- Lung disease (e.g., asthma, bronchitis, emphysema)—May cause difficulty with breathing in patients with this condition .
