Uses
of AtenololUses
of AtenololThe main uses of Atenolol are anti-hypertension and against coronary heart disease.
Like other anti hypertension drugs Atenolol lowers the systolic and diastolic blood pressure by 15 to 20% in a single drug treatment. In a long-term treatment it has the ability to reduce cardiovascular mortality.
For
chronic Angina Pectoris the frequency of attacks, the occurrence of silent Ischemiae
and the risk of infarction are greatly reduced. For an acute myocardial infarction
the extension of the infarction can be greatly reduced if therapy is begun within
the first twelve hours. A long term treatment after infarction can reduce the
risk of reinfarction and cardiovascular mortality.
Atenolol has a selective effect on B1-receptors and it can therefore be considered cardioselective. It does not have any intrinsic sympathomimetic effects. Atenolol reduces both maximal and submaximal heart rates and delays atrioventricular contraction. Atenolol can lead to a reduction in peripheral blood flow and to an increase of plasma triglycerides and total cholesterol as well as to reduced high density lipoprotein cholesterol values.
Fatigue and cold extremities have been observed in 10 to 20% of treated subjects. Complaints of bradycardia, dizziness and gastrointestinal symptoms are less frequent. Atenolol can also cause bronchospasms in asthma patients. There are also many rarely observed side effects such as sleep disturbances, depression, Paresthesiae, impotence, Exanthema and Arthropathies. Atenolol should not be withdrawn suddenly from patients with coronary heart disease as this causes a danger of increased Ischemiae.
Atenolol reduces myocardial contractility, intravenous administration is permitted in the earliest twenty-four hours of the drug being withdrawn there is however a danger of acute heart failure. The effects of Atenolol on blood pressure are reduced by anti-inflammatory agents.