Atenolol Side Effects

Please note - some side effects for Atenolol may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA.

Side Effects of Atenolol - for the Consumer

Atenolol/Chlorthalidone

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Atenolol/Chlorthalidone:

Cold fingers or toes; diarrhea; dizziness; drowsiness; headache; lack of energy; lightheadedness; nausea; tiredness.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); blue fingernails, toenails, or palms; decreased urination; fainting; fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; increased thirst; mental or mood changes (eg, depression); muscle pain, cramps, or weakness; restlessness; severe joint pain (especially in the big toe); severe or persistent dizziness, drowsiness, or weakness; severe or persistent nausea, vomiting, or dry mouth; sluggishness; swelling of the hands or feet; trouble breathing; unusual bruising or bleeding; yellowing of the skin and eyes.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

Atenolol

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Atenolol: Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Atenolol:

Cold fingers and toes; diarrhea; dizziness; drowsiness; nausea; tiredness or weakness.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); blue fingernails, toenails, or palms; decreased sexual ability; fainting; mental or mood problems; persistent dizziness or lightheadedness; shortness of breath; sudden, unusual weight gain; swelling of hands, ankles, or feet; unusual bruising or bleeding; unusually slow heartbeat.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

Atenolol Tablets

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Atenolol Tablets: Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Atenolol Tablets:

Cold fingers and toes; diarrhea; dizziness; drowsiness; nausea; tiredness or weakness.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); blue fingernails, toenails, or palms; decreased sexual ability; fainting; mental or mood problems; persistent dizziness or lightheadedness; shortness of breath; sudden, unusual weight gain; swelling of hands, ankles, or feet; unusual bruising or bleeding; unusually slow heartbeat.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

Side Effects by Body System - for Healthcare Professionals

Cardiovascular

Cardiovascular side effects occur in less than 3% of patients and include bradycardia, hypotension, precipitation of heart failure, and cold extremities. Less than 1% of patients report flushing symptoms. These side effects may require discontinuation of therapy or dosage reduction. The use of atenolol may be associated with reduced HDL cholesterol and increased total cholesterol. These changes may be deleterious in some patients with heart disease.

Profound hypotension following atenolol administration for malignant hypertension has been reported.

Nervous system

Nervous system side effects such as complaints of sleep disturbances, depression, and headache occur in up to 4% of patients. Nervous system side effects are less common than with some beta-blockers due to the more hydrophilic properties of atenolol. A single case of organic anxiety syndrome has been associated with rapid withdrawal of atenolol therapy.

Neurologic side effects are less common with atenolol than with some other beta-blockers because it is less lipophilic and, therefore, less able to penetrate the central nervous system. At least three cases of acute central nervous system disturbances have been attributed to atenolol therapy. In one case, the ratio of the serum to CSF atenolol levels was 2:1, which is much lower than previously reported ratios of 14:,1 indicating that there was significant CSF penetration.

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal side effects have included diarrhea and nausea in 2% and 4% of patients, respectively. Retroperitoneal fibrosis has rarely been associated with atenolol.

A 68-year-old woman with hypertension developed vomiting, abdominal pain, and progressive renal failure associated with extensive retroperitoneal fibrosis and ureteral obstruction during atenolol therapy. While the patient was also taking oral iron preparations, metoclopramide, and ibuprofen, the authors of this case report implicate atenolol due to previous associations of the retroperitoneal fibrosis with other beta-blockers.

Hypersensitivity

Hypersensitivity reactions are rare.

Hepatic

Hepatic dysfunction has rarely been associated with atenolol.

A single case of reversible liver dysfunction and a single case of cholecystitis have been associated with atenolol. The mechanism of toxicity is not known, and is considered to be idiosyncratic.

Dermatologic

A 71-year-old woman with unstable angina developed multiple erythematous, subcutaneous nodules over the metacarpal-phalanx and interphalanx joints of both hands. The patient also developed an increase of CD8+ T lymphocytes (cytotoxic suppressor lymphocytes) and the presence of antinuclear antibodies. The lesions resolved by 90 days after atenolol was withdrawn. Subsequent use of atenolol lead to a similar sequelae.

Dermatologic side effects are rare. A case of septal panniculitis is reported, thought to be due to an immunologic mechanism.

Endocrine

Endocrine side effects including slightly decreased T3 concentrations among patients with hyperthyroidism have been reported, although T4 concentrations were not affected.

Genitourinary

Breast pain, swelling, and tenderness developed in a 54-year-old woman after starting therapy with atenolol 25 mg daily. Symptoms resolved following discontinuation of therapy.

In one study, postmenopausal women reported a reduction in libido after receiving atenolol 50 to 100 mg daily.

Genitourinary side effects have included decreased libido and at least one case of breast pain, swelling, and tenderness.

Metabolic

The mechanism by which atenolol induces weight gain is unknown. Some investigators have reported a 4% to 9% reduction in total energy expenditure and a 25% reduction in thermogenic response to food during beta-blocker treatment.

Metabolic side effects have included weight gain.

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