An important role in the treatment of hypertension is given to drugs from the category of beta-blockers. They are able to effectively lower blood pressure, preventing its jumps and protecting the heart. One of the most popular drugs in this category is Atenolol. It refers to medicines for the treatment of hypertension.
Indications for the use of "Atenolol" are presented below.
Manufacturer
“Atenolol” is not only the name of the drug, but also its active substance, which is also part of various medicines. On the shelves of pharmacies you can find the medicine "Atenolol", which is produced by a domestic manufacturer. As part of the choice of medicine, you must carefully study the composition. The fact is that for a foreign drug based on atenolol, a person will have to pay a round sum. Russian "Atenolol" is cheaper.
Release form
What is his form of release?
Atenolol produced domestically is only available in tablets. The drug can be found in ordinary blisters for 10 pills or in polymer banks, in which there will be 50 or 100 tablets. The medicine is produced in three dosages: 25, 50 or 200 milligrams of the active ingredient in one tablet. The dosage is selected by the doctor, and it depends on the severity of symptoms, the degree of hypertension and the age of the patients. The most popular tablets are 50 milligrams.
The composition of the drug
So, the main component in the composition of "Atenolol" is the substance atenolol. In addition, it includes forming components in the form of lactose, povidone, starch, talc and silicon dioxide. The tablets are small in size and lack a pronounced taste, they are easy to swallow and need to be washed down with a small amount of liquid. Due to the fact that the drug is packaged in a polymer bottle, it is convenient to take with you. This form of release makes it possible to put the medicine in your pocket or bag and not worry about its safety.
The drug is sold in any pharmacy, everyone can afford this product, since the cost of the largest package with a maximum dosage of the active ingredient does not exceed sixty rubles. Due to its affordable cost, and at the same time high efficiency and excellent tolerance, Atenolol managed to gain wide popularity among patients and doctors. Cardiologists prescribe this medicine either for monotherapy or as part of a combined treatment of hypertension.
Operating principle
The properties of the drug are hypotensive and cardioprotective. The mechanism of action of "Atenolol" is based on blocking receptors that are sensitive to adrenaline and aldosterone. Thanks to these hormones, vascular tone increases. Blocking receptors that are sensitive to pressure-boosting enzymes makes it possible to effectively control its size, avoiding sudden surges.
Increased adrenaline can adversely affect the functioning of the heart in patients with hypertension. Medicines from the beta-blocker group, including atenolol-based medicines, can protect the myocardium from the negative effects of hormones that stimulate an increase in pressure. Due to this property, Atenolol tablets are widely used in the treatment of tachycardia, angina pectoris and various pains in the heart, which are provoked by its insufficiency.
Unlike medicines like Anaprilin, Atenolol is faster and much less likely to cause certain side effects. According to doctors, this drug is almost universal, as it suits most patients. Thus, the effect of "Atenolol" is manifested as follows:
- The effectiveness of reducing pressure.
- Prevention of increased pressure in hypertensive patients.
- Normalization of the heart rhythm.
- Decreased symptoms of angina pectoris.
- Stopping tachycardia.
- Prevention of pathological changes in the myocardium amid increased pressure.
Indications for the use of "Atenolol" are very extensive. Tablets work very quickly, so they can be used to stop a hypertensive crisis, especially if this condition is accompanied by pain in the heart, and in addition, with a rapid heartbeat. The mechanism of action of this drug is as follows:
- Normalization of heart contractions.
- Reduced cardiac output.
- Decreased renin production.
Thus, the presented drug is used to support the heart, and it helps reduce the risk of heart attack in patients. The drug very quickly lowers blood pressure, effectively protecting the heart.
Indications for use
What are the indications for the use of "Atenolol? In what cases is the drug prescribed?
Before taking pills, you need to study the instructions. "Atenolol" can be used only as directed by a doctor. Self-medication leads to dangerous consequences. Taking this medication is advisable in the treatment of the following ailments:
- Therapy of arterial hypertension of the second and third degree.
- Treatment of coronary heart disease.
- Treatment of angina pectoris of any form.
- Prevention of heart attack and arrhythmia.
- Treatment of tachycardia and tremor.
Indications for the use of "Atenolol" - this is a condition that must be strictly observed when prescribing a medicine. The drug is used for hypertensive crisis as an ambulance, and one tablet is prescribed. The drug is also prescribed to patients who have recently suffered a heart attack. In this case, "Atenolol" is used as a means that prevents complications after an attack.
Indications for the use of Atenolol tablets are hypertension of the second or third degree, but this drug is not entirely suitable for continuous use, it is best to replace it with some analogue because of its negative effect on metabolism. It is considered an obsolete drug, which is associated with a large list of contraindications and side effects.
What else does the instruction for Atenolol tell us?
Treatment regimen
The dosage is selected individually, and this is done exclusively by the doctor. It is contraindicated to increase the dose independently because of the risks of adverse reactions and the possible danger of an overdose. From hypertension "Atenolol" is taken in a dosage of 25 milligrams per day. In the absence of the expected effect, you can increase the dosage to 50 milligrams. It is advisable to increase the amount of the drug after a week of using the minimum dosage. This will make it possible to follow the dynamics of blood pressure during drug therapy. Thanks to this, it will be possible to choose the optimal dosage of the drug.
The maximum daily dose is 100 milligrams. But taking large doses of the drug “Atenolol” is constantly impractical, therefore, against the background of ineffective treatment with low dosages, you should consult a cardiologist to select a combination therapy. Given the high risk of adverse reactions, with hypertension, it is better to use a new generation of drugs, and not Atenolol in high doses.
The drug can not be replaced with new medicines only if high doses of the drug are well tolerated by the patient, and there are no side effects. Against the background of angina pectoris and other functional disorders of the myocardium, a daily intake of 25 milligrams of the drug is practiced. The duration of the course of therapy depends on the severity of the symptoms. Life-long administration of this drug is sometimes practiced in order to normalize the heart rhythm.
Against the background of a hypertensive crisis, one tablet of the medicine - 25 milligrams - should be placed under the tongue and wait for dissolution. Twenty minutes later, the pressure should be measured. If there is no improvement, then an hour later take another 25 milligrams of the drug.
After a heart attack, the medicine is taken for ten days. The dosage is selected solely by the doctor in order to avoid negative consequences. The drug is not contraindicated in elderly patients, but in this case, you should try to monitor your health and be treated with small doses. In the event that after ten days of taking "Atenolol" with a dose of 25 milligrams, there are no adverse reactions, the amount of this medication can be doubled.
Side effects of "Atenolol"
A large number of side effects of this drug is due to the fact that it belongs to obsolete drugs. In the event of deterioration of well-being during treatment with this medicine, one should immediately stop taking it and consult a doctor to replace Atenolol with some analogue.
Often, patients who have taken this medication may experience a sharp drop in pressure and bradycardia. This is due to the rapid effect of the drug on the human body. Quite often, while taking this medication, a decrease in heart rate along with respiratory failure and migraine is noted. Against the background of treatment with this medicine, symptoms of acute heart failure may appear.
A sharp decrease in pressure can lead to the development of shock, and in addition to orthostatic collapse, fainting, hypoxia, and so on. This is a dangerous symptom that requires discontinuation of the drug. Starting to take this medication may be accompanied by diarrhea, dry mouth, or nausea. These symptoms usually disappear on their own after a few days and often do not require treatment or drug replacement.
The drug negatively affects the nervous system and has a depressing effect. This may be accompanied by loss of strength, emotional lability or drowsiness. Often, taking "Atenolol" leads to the occurrence of asthenic syndrome. During treatment, insomnia is observed along with impaired coordination of movements and lethargy. In this regard, it is necessary to abandon driving a car for the duration of Atenolol therapy. In men, while taking this drug, erectile dysfunction may appear. In the event of such a violation, you should refuse to take the medicine.
Contraindications
In the treatment of "Atenolol" contraindications primarily relate to acute heart failure. The drug should not be taken on the background of bradycardia, since there are risks of complete cardiac arrest due to the active substance of the tablets.
Among the absolute contraindications, cardiogenic shock is listed along with a history of angioedema. The medicine is not suitable for treating children. Against the background of hypotension, taking this medication can lead to the development of coma or to cardiac arrest.
In more detail about precautionary measures and various contraindications it is necessary to consult a doctor. Despite the fact that kidney failure is not considered an absolute contraindication to taking this medication, the drug can adversely affect the work of this body, therefore, either a dosage reduction or a replacement of the medication with an analogue is required.
Symptoms of an overdose
An overdose of this drug can manifest itself as symptoms of hypotension or orthostatic collapse, bradycardia, bronchospasm, a sharp decrease in blood glucose levels, heart failure, fainting, and respiratory failure.
Because of the risks of lowering glucose, this drug is prescribed with great care to patients with diabetes. If symptoms of an overdose appear, you should immediately consult a doctor. In the case of a rapidly decreasing heart rate, you must call an ambulance. An overdose can develop with the use of more than 200 milligrams of the drug, but in patients with hypersensitivity, this symptomatology may also appear against the background of a smaller amount of the drug taken.
When symptoms of overdose appear, gastric lavage is practiced along with symptomatic therapy. If any ailment associated with taking this drug appears, you need to consult a doctor about the drug withdrawal and selection of an analogue.
Analogs of "Atenolol"
When replacing, the analog is selected only by the doctor. Among modern drugs from the beta-blocker category, preference is given to medicines such as Betaloka ZOK, Lokrena, Biprol and Concor.
Such drugs very rarely cause certain side effects. In addition, they do not provoke a sharp drop in pressure, which may be accompanied by a breakdown, and in addition, a number of specific symptoms. All of the above drugs are much less likely to affect the nervous system. Men who have experienced erectile dysfunction during treatment with the drug in question should consult a doctor about the possibility of continuing therapy with one of the listed “Atenolol” analogues.
In the case of low effectiveness of the use of beta-blockers as an independent drug for the treatment of hypertension, combined therapy is recommended, including the use of inhibitors and diuretics. Such medications cause far fewer side effects and show good results in eighty percent of cases.
Reviews about "Atenolol" are available in large numbers.
Reviews
Reviews about the drug are quite controversial. Patients noted the effectiveness of this drug in the process of stopping a hypertensive crisis. People also write that they are satisfied with the cost of this drug, which is quite affordable.
But nevertheless, in view of the significant number of adverse reactions, most hypertensive patients are forced to switch to more modern, and at the same time, less dangerous analogues. I must say that almost all complaints about this drug are associated with its side effects. Reviews about "Atenolol" also testify to this.
Thus, only a cardiologist should deal with any changes in the treatment regimen for hypertension, and in addition, dosage adjustments and drug selection. Independently conducted drug therapy in the presence of hypertension of the second and third degree in the best case will not give the expected results, and in the worst it will cause dangerous consequences, up to the onset of death.