Atenolol: Price, Dosage & Where to Buy

Atenolol is a beta-blocker used mainly to treat high blood pressure, helping to reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks through blood pressure control. It is also used for long-term management of angina and in selected patients with an acute heart attack, and it is a medicine that requires a prescription in the United Kingdom.

Atenolol is indicated for high blood pressure, also called hypertension. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of cardiovascular events, particularly strokes and heart attacks. Treatment may form part of broader cardiovascular risk management, and atenolol may be used alongside other blood pressure medicines.

It is also indicated for long-term management of angina caused by coronary atherosclerosis, where narrowing of the arteries supplying the heart causes chest pain. Another indication is a definite or suspected acute heart attack in patients whose circulation is stable, with the aim of reducing cardiovascular mortality. Treatment in this setting depends on the patient's clinical condition and suitability for beta-blockade.

The label lists oral tablets containing 25 mg, 50 mg and 100 mg. The usual starting dose is 50 mg once daily for hypertension. The label lists an increase to 100 mg once daily if the response is inadequate, with further increases unlikely to provide additional blood pressure benefit.

The usual starting dose is 50 mg once daily for angina. The label lists 100 mg once daily for an inadequate angina response, with some patients requiring 200 mg once daily. The label lists a lower starting dose of 25 mg once daily for some elderly patients or patients with impaired kidney function being treated for hypertension.

Kidney function and clinical response influence dose selection, and severe kidney impairment requires adjustment. Acute heart attack treatment follows a separate hospital regimen with monitoring of blood pressure, heart rate and the heart's electrical activity. Planned withdrawal in patients with angina is gradual, with careful observation.

Atenolol belongs to the beta-blocker class. These medicines block some of the effects of adrenaline and related chemical signals on the heart. This slows the heartbeat and reduces the force of contraction, helping to lower blood pressure and reduce the heart's demand for oxygen.

A lower oxygen demand can help control angina. Atenolol acts preferentially on beta receptors in the heart, but this selectivity is not absolute, so effects on the airways can still occur.

Atenolol can cause fetal harm and crosses the placenta. Use starting in the second trimester has been associated with babies being small for gestational age. No studies have been performed on use in the first trimester, and fetal injury cannot be excluded.

Babies whose mothers receive atenolol around delivery or while breastfeeding may be at risk of low blood glucose and a slow heartbeat. Use during pregnancy or breastfeeding requires caution and discussion with a doctor.

A missed dose can interrupt the regular effect of beta-blocker treatment. Follow the dispensing label or ask a pharmacist for advice about resuming the schedule, particularly if the next dose is approaching.

Do not double a dose to compensate. Atenolol should not be stopped abruptly, especially in people with coronary artery disease.

The label specifies storage at 20° to 25°C. Keep atenolol and all other medicines out of the reach of children. The unit-dose packages described in the label are not child resistant.