Introduction

Name

• Atenolol.

Class of drug

• Beta-1 adrenoceptor antagonist (beta blocker).

Uses

Indications

• Cardiac arrhythmias:
  • Atrial fibrillation Heart: atrial fibrillation.
  • Premature ventricular depolarization Ventricular tachycardia.
  • Supraventricular tachycardia Ventricular tachycardia.
• Hyperthyroidism.
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy Heart: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).
• Aortic stenosis Heart: aortic stenosis.
• Hypertension Hypertension.

Administration

Precautions

Interactions

with other drugs

• May have their beta-effects blocked by atenolol.
• Thus, the unopposed alpha effects may result in severe hypertension and a decreased heart rate.

• Hypotensive effect of atenolol enhanced.

• There is an increased risk of bradycardia, severe hypotension, heart failure and AV block if used concurrently with atenolol.

• Concurrent administration potentiates bradycardia.

• Accelerate metabolism of atenolol thus reducing its effect.

• Atenolol dose may need to be decreased when initiating therapy with carbimazole.

• Oral preparations reduce atenolol absorption.

• May decrease the metabolism of atenolol, thereby increasing its blood levels.

• Effects enhanced by atenolol.

• Hepatic enzyme induction by these drugs may increase the rate of metabolism of atenolol.

• May prolong the hypoglycemic effects of insulin therapy.

• Increased rate of lignocaine toxicity when administered with atenolol due to a reduction in lignocaine clearance.

• The bronchodilatory effects may be blocked by atenolol.

Adverse Reactions

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.

Other sources of information

• Based on Small Animal Formulary. Tennant, Bryn (1999) 3rd edn. Cheltenham: BSAVA.