Atenolol is a beta-blocker which is often used in the treatment of high blood pressure and heart problems. In plain language, a beta-blocker works by assisting the patient’s blood to flow through his veins and throughout his circulatory system.
Although atenolol is an excellent medication for its purpose, it can cause serious complications if it is not used properly, or if it is used when contraindications are present. This is the reason why it is necessary for your physician to have full knowledge of your medical history and conditions, and for you to be cooperative with his recommended use of this medication.
A beta-blocker is not usually the drug-of-choice for a patient who has conditions such as liver, kidney, or thyroid disease, diabetes, consistently low blood pressure; and it should not be used by a patient who is or may become pregnant. Atenolol should also not be used if the patient is breast-feeding, because this drug can cause serious harm to the baby. If you fall into any of these categories, it is unlikely that your physician will prescribe atenolol, but will give you a different type of medication instead which will not pose the possibility of harm or complications.
Atenolol can cause a number of side-effects. The side-effects associated with this beta-blocker include impairments in reacting, alertness, or thinking, and drowsiness. If you are using atenolol, you should avoid using alcohol, as alcohol can significantly increase these types of side-effects.
Whether your physician has prescribed atenolol as a treatment for your heart problem or for high blood pressure, the use of this medication will be even more effective if you also follow your doctor’s recommendations for other important aspects of your overall treatment program. This will usually include making and sticking to healthy adjustments in your diet and your exercise program. A good, healthy routine will help your medication to be the most effective.
If your physician has not already informed you of this, it is essential for you to cease your use of atenolol prior to having any surgery. Keep in mind, however, that it is not safe for you to simply stop using this medication on your own, it is necessary for your physician to monitor your reactions and symptoms when and if he decides that you should stop using it. There can be extremely serious complications if you stop taking atenolol without your physician knowing about it and monitoring the effects.
As with any type of prescription medication, atenolol can be highly effective in treating the condition for which it is competently prescribed; but it also has the potential of causing serious harm or damage if it is not used correctly. Upon knowing your health history, if your physician has recommended use of atenolol, he will then brief you on precisely when and how to take this medication, what types of possible side-effect symptoms you should be on the alert for, and what you should do in the event that any such symptoms do occur.