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Atenolol
Atenolol (Tenormin)
Atenolol
(ah-TEN-oh-lohl)
Pregnancy Category: C Apo-Atenol Dom-Atenolol Gen-Atenolol Med-Atenolol Novo-Atenol Nu-Atenol Scheinpharm Atenolol Taro-Atenolol Tenolin Tenormin (Rx)

Classification: Beta-adrenergic blocking agent

See Also: See also Beta-Adrenergic Blocking Agents.

Action/Kinetics: Predominantly beta-1 blocking activity. Has no membrane stabilizing activity or intrinsic sympathomimetic activity. Low lipid solubility. Peak blood levels: 2-4 hr. t1/2: 6-9 hr. 50% eliminated unchanged in the feces.

Uses: Hypertension (either alone or with other antihypertensives such as thiazide diuretics). Angina pectoris due to hypertension, coronary atherosclerosis, and AMI. Investigational: Prophylaxis of migraine, alcohol withdrawal syndrome, situational anxiety, ventricular arrhythmias, prophylactically to reduce incidence of supraventricular arrhythmias in coronary artery bypass surgery.

Special Concerns: Dosage not established in children.

How Supplied: Injection: 0.5 mg/mL; Tablet: 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg

Dosage
•Tablets Hypertension.
Initial: 50 mg/day, either alone or with diuretics; if response is inadequate, 100 mg/day. Doses higher than 100 mg/day will not produce further beneficial effects. Maximum effects usually seen within 1-2 weeks.
Angina.
Initial: 50 mg/day; if maximum response is not seen in 1 week, increase dose to 100 mg/day (some clients require 200 mg/day).
Alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
50-100 mg/day.
Prophylaxis of migraine.
50-100 mg/day.
Ventricular arrhythmias.
50-100 mg/day.
Prior to coronary artery bypass surgery.
50 mg/day started 72 hr prior to surgery.
Adjust dosage in cases of renal failure to 50 mg/day if creatinine clearance is 15-35 mL/min/1.73 m² and to 50 mg every other day if creatinine clearance is less than 15 mL/min/1.73 m².
•IV Acute myocardial infarction.
Initial: 5 mg over 5 min followed by a second 5-mg dose 10 min later. Begin treatment as soon as possible after client arrives at the hospital. In clients who tolerate the full 10-mg dose, give a 50-mg tablet 10 min after the last IV dose followed by another 50-mg dose 12 hr later. Then, 100 mg/day or 50 mg b.i.d. for 6-9 days (or until discharge from the hospital).