Atenolol
Also known as: Tenormin
- **Consistency is Key:** To be effective, your pet must receive all doses exactly as prescribed by your veterinarian. - **Do Not Stop Abruptly:** Never stop this medication suddenly without consulting your veterinarian, as this can cause dangerous spikes in heart rate and blood pressure. If the medication needs to be stopped, it must be withdrawn gradually. - **Monitor for Side Effects:** Notify your veterinarian immediately if your pet becomes unusually lethargic, shows exercise intolerance, develops shortness of breath or a cough, or exhibits a sudden change in behavior or attitude. - **Pill Splitting:** Tablets may be crushed or split into quarters or halves for appropriate dosing as directed.
Dosage must be set by your veterinarian for your specific pet. Never give human medication or another pet’s prescription without veterinary guidance.
What it is used for
- Treatment of hypertension or cardiac conditions (e.g., hypertrophic cardiomyopathy)
- Treatment of hypertension or cardiac conditions
- Treatment of choice for hyperthyroid, hypertensive cats
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- Cardiac arrhythmias, obstructive heart disease, hypertension, myocardial infarction, etc.
- Moderate to severe sub-valvular aortic stenosis (SAS)
- To attempt to decrease syncopal episodes associated with pulmonic stenosis
- Hypertension
How it is given
Possible side effects
- Lethargy
- Hypotension
- Diarrhea
- Bradycardia
- Inappetence
- Depression
- Impaired AV conduction
- Worsening of heart failure
- Hypoglycemia
- Syncope
- Bronchoconstriction (rare at normal doses)
Cautions & contraindications
- Overt heart failure
- Hypersensitivity to beta-blockers
- Greater than first-degree heart block
- Sinus bradycardia
- Cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with accompanying pulmonary edema
- > **Withdrawal Warning:** Exacerbation of symptoms has been reported following abrupt cessation of beta-blockers. It is highly recommended to withdraw therapy gradually in patients who have been receiving the drug chronically. * **Renal Impairment:** Use cautiously in patients with significant renal insufficiency as the drug is primarily excreted unchanged in the urine. * **Endocrine:** Can mask clinical signs associated with hypoglycemia and thyrotoxicosis. Use cautiously in labile diabetic patients as it can cause hypo- or hyperglycemia. * **Cardiac:** Use cautiously in patients with sinus node dysfunction. Non-specific beta-blockers are generally contraindicated in patients with CHF unless secondary to a tachyarrhythmia responsive to beta-blocker therapy.
Drug interactions
- Anesthetics (myocardial depressants): Additive myocardial depression may occur with concurrent use.
- Calcium-Channel Blockers (e.g., diltiazem, verapamil, amlodipine): Concurrent use should be done with caution due to additive negative inotropic effects, particularly in patients with preexisting cardiomyopathy or CHF.
- Clonidine: Atenolol may exacerbate rebound hypertension after stopping clonidine therapy.
- Furosemide, Hydralazine, or other hypotensive drugs: May increase the hypotensive effects of atenolol.
- Phenothiazines: Concurrent use may exhibit enhanced hypotensive effects.
- Reserpine: Potential for additive effects including hypotension and bradycardia.
- Sympathomimetics (e.g., metaproterenol, terbutaline, epinephrine, phenylpropanolamine): May have their actions blocked by atenolol, and they may in turn reduce the efficacy of atenolol.
Frequently asked questions
What is Atenolol used for in pets?
- **Consistency is Key:** To be effective, your pet must receive all doses exactly as prescribed by your veterinarian. - **Do Not Stop Abruptly:** Never stop this medication suddenly without consulting your veterinarian, as this can cause dangerous spikes in heart rate and blood pressure. If the medication needs to be stopped, it must be withdrawn gradually. - **Monitor for Side Effects:** Notify your veterinarian immediately if your pet becomes unusually lethargic, shows exercise intolerance, develops shortness of breath or a cough, or exhibits a sudden change in behavior or attitude. - **Pill Splitting:** Tablets may be crushed or split into quarters or halves for appropriate dosing as directed.
Is Atenolol safe for my pet?
Dosage must be set by your veterinarian for your specific pet. Never give human medication or another pet’s prescription without veterinary guidance.
This article is for general education and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell, please consult a veterinarian.
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