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Atenolol Drug Interactions

by on May 4, 2012

Atenolol can potentially interact with other medications and substances. These drugs can interfere with the way atenolol works in the body and cause unwanted effects such as abnormally slow heart rate, dramatically low blood pressure and increased risk for side effects.

Make sure that you discuss with your healthcare provider all the drugs (including prescription and non-prescription medications) that you normally take.

Some of the drugs that are known to interact with atenolol include the following:

Aspirin - The use of Aspirin may reduce the effectiveness of Atenolol if used concurrently.

Allergy treatments (or if you are undergoing allergy skin-testing)

  • Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
  • Prednisone

Anti-arrythmic agents (drugs for abnormal heart rhythm)

  • amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone)
  • digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin)
  • disopyramide (Norpace, Norpace CR)
  • lidocaine (Xylocaine)
  • propafenone (Rythmol)
  • quinidine
  • sotalol (Betapace)

Antibiotics

  • Ampicillin (Omnipen, Polycillin, Principen, Totacillin)

 

Anti-diabetic medications

  • insulin: Apidra, Lantus, Victoza, etc
  • glyburide (Diabeta, Micronase, Glynase)
  • glipizide (Glucotrol)
  • chlorpropamide (Diabinese)
  • metformin (Glucophage)

Antihypertensive drugs

  • Alpha Blockers, such as: alfuzosin (Uroxatral), carvedilol (Coreg), doxazosin (Cardura), labetalol (Trandate), phenoxybenzamine (Dibenzyline), phentolamine (Regitine), prazosin (Minipress), tamsulosin (Flomax),  and terazosin (Hytrin)
  • Other Beta Blockers, such as: bisoprolol (Zebeta), carvedilol (Coreg), labetalol (Trandate), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), nadolol (Corgard), nebivolol (Bystolic), propranolol (Inderal), sotalol (Betapace), and timolol (Blocadren)
  • Other Anti-hypertensive drugs, including (but not limited to): clonidine (Catapres), guanabenz (Wytensin) and reserpine (Serpasil)

Cold medicines

Diet pills

Diuretics

  • Lasix (furosemide)

Drugs for asthma or other breathing disorders

  • albuterol (Ventolin, Proventil)
  • bitolterol (Tornalate) metaproterenol (Alupent)
  • pirbuterol (Maxair)
  • terbutaline (Brethaire, Brethine, Bricanyl)
  • theophylline (Theo-Dur, Theolair)

Heart medication specifically Calcium-Channel Blockers

  • nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat)
  • verapamil (Calan, Verelan, Isoptin)
  • diltiazem (Cartia, Cardizem)
  • amlodipine (Norvasc)
  • felodipine (Plendil)
  • isradipine (Dynacirc, Dynacirc CR)
  • nisoldipine (Sular)
  • nicardipine (Cardene, Cardene SR)
  • nimodipine (Nimotop)

MAO inhibitors

  • isocarboxazid (Marplan)
  • tranylcypromine (Parnate)
  • phenelzine (Nardil)
  • selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam)

Muscle relaxants, stimulants and sleep medicines

  • methacholine (Provocholine)
  • Ambien (zolpidem)
  • Xanax (alprazolam)
  • Cymbalta (duloxetine)

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including (but not limited to):    

  • diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren)
  • etodolac (Lodine)
  • ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil)
  • indomethacin (Indocin)
  • ketoprofen (Orudis)
  • ketorolac (Toradol)
  • nabumetone (Relafen)
  • naproxen (Naprosyn) or naproxen sodium (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprelan)
  • oxaprozin (Daypro)
  • celecoxib (Celebrex)
  • meloxicam (Mobic)

Drugs such as reserpine, calcium-channel blockers, antiarrythmic drugs and other beta-blockers potentiate the action of atenolol hence can cause abnormally slow heart beat or low blood pressure as well as increased risk for side effects. Your healthcare provider may recommend close monitoring if taking atenolol along with these medications. Atenolol dosage may be adjusted if necessary.

On the other hand, some drugs are known to decrease the effects of atenolol. These drugs include NSAIDs, ampicillin, diet pills and cold medications.

This is not a comprehensive list of all the drugs that can potentially interact with atenolol. Inform your healthcare provider about all the prescription and non-prescription medications that you take including herbal products, vitamins, minerals, nutritional supplements and medications prescribed by other physicians.

Although the drugs discussed in this article can potentially interact with atenolol, drug interaction is not always certain. Therefore, discuss with your healthcare provider specific drug interactions that may apply in your condition. Most importantly, avoid using any other medications while on atenolol treatment, unless specifically instructed by your healthcare provider.

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