Warnings and Precautions With Atenolol

• Atenolol can interact with certain medications (see Drug Interactions With Atenolol).
   
• This medication may hide certain signs of hyperthyroidism. Do not stop taking atenolol suddenly, as this can cause serious symptoms of hyperthyroidism to appear severely and without warning. Make sure to talk with your healthcare provider about stopping the drug in a safe manner.
   
• Atenolol may cause extreme low blood pressure and/or a slow heart rate. Symptoms can include dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting. If you develop any of these symptoms, contact your healthcare provider and stop taking the medicine. Extreme low blood pressure is more likely to occur in people who are taking a diuretic, who are on dialysis, or who have diarrhea or vomiting.

Also, make sure not to drive, operate any heavy machinery, or perform any other tasks that require alertness before you know how atenolol affects you.

• People who have severe heart failure and are taking atenolol are at an increased risk of worsening heart failure. Therefore, if you have severe heart failure and your healthcare provider prescribes this drug, it is because he or she believes that the benefits of atenolol outweigh the potential risks. Your healthcare provider may choose to monitor your situation more closely.
   
• Using beta blockers such as atenolol for a long time can, in some cases, lead to heart failure. If you notice any of the following symptoms while taking this drug, contact your healthcare provider:

• Unexplained weight gain
• Swelling of the ankles, feet, or legs
• Cough
• Shortness of breath (see Symptoms of Congestive Heart Failure for more signs and symptoms).

• People taking atenolol should not stop it abruptly. In clinical studies, this has been shown to increase a person's chances of developing angina (chest pain), heart attack, or serious irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias). This risk is even greater in people with existing heart disease.
   
• If you have kidney disease or kidney failure, your body may metabolize atenolol differently than intended. Therefore, your healthcare provider will monitor your situation more closely.
   
• For people with allergies, taking atenolol may increase the reaction to the specific allergens, and your body may not respond to the usual doses of epinephrine.
   
• Atenolol is a pregnancy Category D medicine, which means it has clear health risks to an unborn child. Prior to taking this drug, let your healthcare provider know if you are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking atenolol, contact your healthcare provider immediately (see Atenolol in Pregnancy for more information).
   
• Atenolol is known to pass through breast milk. Therefore, most women are advised to stop taking the drug when nursing. Talk with your healthcare provider about your particular situation (see Atenolol and Breastfeeding for more information).
   

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