Atenolol Side Effects

Atenolol is a beta blocker drug that is widely used for a number of medical conditions, especially, the cardiovascular ones. The drug atenolol is commonly known as 'Tenormin', which is one of its brand names. This drug is mainly prescribed for cardiovascular conditions, like, coronary heart disease, angina, arrhythmia and high blood pressure. It is also used for treating some other medical conditions like migraine, Grave's disease and asthma. In some cases, atenolol is also used as an antithyroid medication. However, there are some possible side effects of this drug that makes it not suitable for some people. Atenolol side effects may include drug interactions and many other problems.

Side Effects of Atenolol

It is a common fact that some drugs are associated with side effects. Some people can be more prone to such side effects, due to their physical conditions and other factors. One such drug with possible side effects is atenolol, which is mainly used in the treatment of high blood pressure and other cardiac problems. The following are some of the common, but minor side effects of this drug.

• Diarrhea, indigestion or constipation
• Nausea, dizziness and drowsiness
• Confusion, anxiety and depression
• Dry mouth and cold fingers and toes
• Headache, lightheadedness, tiredness
• Difficulty in sleeping and nightmares
• Hair loss
• Shortness of breath and tightness in the chest
• Blurred vision and sweating

These are some of the common and less serious atenolol side effects. However, if these symptoms persist or are causing severe discomfort, you must consult your doctor for a solution.

Major Side Effects

• Atenolol for blood pressure and cardiac problems may cause cardiovascular side effects, like slow heart rate (known as brachycardia) and heart failure. Use of atenolol may also cause low blood pressure and claudication of the legs (pain while walking or exercising), which is an early warning sign of peripheral vascular disease.
• Another serious side effect is the worsening of symptoms in asthma patients. In some cases, asthma patients may experience bronchospasm that is characterized by severe breathing trouble, caused by constriction of the airways. Such people need immediate medical attention, if they don't have an inhaler.
• Symptoms of low blood sugar or hypoglycemia may not be experienced by patients. This makes this drug unsuitable for people with diabetes. It is also said that atenolol side effects include the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
• It has been observed that side effects like low blood pressure is common in people, who undergo routine dialysis. In such cases, the timing of dialysis has to be fixed before the intake of the medicine. However, it is best to act as per the instructions of your doctor.
• Severe allergic reactions may be experienced by some people, after intake of atenolol. These reactions include hives, skin rash and breathing trouble. In such cases, immediate medical attention is needed.
• Other severe atenolol side effects include hallucinations, difficulty in hearing and speaking, pins and needles sensation in limbs, unsteady walking and worsening of psoriasis.
• Even some rare side effects like blood in urine (hematuria), loss of appetite, weight gain, increase in thirst and swelling of face, fingers and toes, may also happen.

Even overdose of this drug can cause problems. Atenolol overdose effects include extreme weakness, headache, anxiety and depression, breathing problems, seizures, coma and drowsiness. While severe ones need immediate medical attention, minor side effects of atenolol have to be reported to the doctor, if they are persistent or are causing discomfort. It will be better to discuss your health problems, especially, asthma, diabetes, kidney diseases, liver diseases, thyroid problems, depression and problems related to blood circulation, before taking atenolol. If you are taking atenolol regularly, you should not stop this medicine without consulting your doctor, as it may also worsen your condition. In short, atenolol may not cause side effects in all users. Some people may experience atenolol side effects and among them too, some may have severe side effects that require medical attention. It is also not recommended to take this drug without a doctor's prescription.