Tenormin: profile and news

Pharmacist is Outraged at Cost of Drugs May 12, 2006
A: There are growing concerns about the value of beta blockers like atenolol (Tenormin) as first-line treatments for hypertension. ... - International News Service,

Drug costs outrage pharmacist May 11, 2006
There are growing concerns about the value of beta blockers like atenolol (Tenormin) as first-line treatments for hypertension. ... - Bradenton Herald,

Other information

Indication
For the management of hypertention and long-term management of patients with angina pectoris

Pharmacology
Atenolol, a competitive beta(1)-selective adrenergic antagonist, has the lowest lipid solubility of this drug class. Although it is similar to metoprolol, atenolol differs from pindolol and propranolol in that it does not have intrinsic sympathomimetic properties or membrane-stabilizing activity. Atenolol is used alone or with chlorthalidone in the management of hypertension and edema.

Mechanism Of Action
Like metoprolol, atenolol competes with sympathomimetic neurotransmitters such as catecholamines for binding at beta(1)-adrenergic receptors in the heart and vascular smooth muscle, inhibiting sympathetic stimulation. This results in a reduction in resting heart rate, cardiac output, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and reflex orthostatic hypotension. Higher doses of atenolol also competitively block beta(2)-adrenergic responses in the bronchial and vascular smooth muscles.

Drug Category
Sympatholytics; Antihypertensive Agents; Antiarrhythmic Agents; Adrenergic Agents; ATC:C07AB03; ATC:C07AB11

Brand Names/Synonyms
Aircrit; Alinor; Altol; Anselol; Antipressan; Apo-Atenolol; Atcardil; Atecard; Atehexal; Atenblock; Atendol; Atenet; Ateni; Atenil; Atenol; Atenol 1a Pharma; Atenol Acis; Atenol Al; Atenol Atid; Atenol Cophar; Atenol Ct; Atenol Fecofar; Atenol Gador; Atenol Genericon; Atenol Gnr; Atenol Heumann; Atenol Msd; Atenol Nm Pharma; Atenol Nordic; Atenol Pb; Atenol Quesada; Atenol Stada; Atenol Tika; Atenol Trom; Atenol von Ct; Atenol-Mepha; Atenol-Ratiopharm; Atenol-Wolff; Atenolin; Atenolol; Atenomel; Atereal; Aterol; Betablok; Betacard; Betasyn; Betatop Ge; Blocotenol; Blokium; CCRIS 4196; Cardaxen; Cardiopress; Corotenol; Cuxanorm; Duraatenolol; Duratenol; Evitocor; Farnormin; Felo-Bits; HSDB 6526; Hipres; Hypoten; Ibinolo; Internolol; Jenatenol; Juvental; Lo-Ten; Loten; Lotenal; Myocord; Normalol; Normiten; Noten; Oraday; Ormidol; Panapres; Plenacor; Premorine; Prenolol; Prenormine; Prinorm; Scheinpharm Atenol; Seles Beta; Selobloc; Serten; Servitenol; Stermin; Tenidon; Teno-Basan; Tenobloc; Tenoblock; Tenolol; Tenoprin; Tenoretic; Tenormin; Tenormine; Tensimin; Tredol; Unibloc; Uniloc; Vascoten; Vericordin; Wesipin; Xaten

Dosage Forms
Tablets as 25, 50 and 100 mg tablets for oral adminstration, I.V. Injection

Absorption
oral dose if rapid and consisten but incomplete. Approximately 50% of an oral dose is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, the remainder being excreted unchanged in the feces.

Interactions
Interactions for Atenolol:

Catecholamine-depleting drugs (eg, reserpine) may have an additive effect when given with beta-blocking agents. Patients treated with TENORMIN plus a catecholamine depletor should therefore be closely observed for evidence of hypotension and/or marked bradycardia which may produce vertigo, syncope, or postural hypotension.

Calcium channel blockers may also have an additive effect when given with TENORMIN .

Beta blockers may exacerbate the rebound hypertension which can follow the withdrawal of clonidine. If the two drugs are coadministered, the beta blocker should be withdrawn several days before the gradual withdrawal of clonidine. If replacing clonidine by beta-blocker therapy, the introduction of beta blockers should be delayed for several days after clonidine administration has stopped.

Concomitant use of prostaglandin synthase inhibiting drugs, eg, indomethacin, may decrease the hypotensive effects of beta blockers.

Information on concurrent usage of atenolol and aspirin is limited. Data from several studies, ie, TIMI-II, ISIS-2, currently do not suggest any clinical interaction between aspirin and beta blockers in the acute myocardial infarction setting.

While taking beta blockers, patients with a history of anaphylactic reaction to a variety of allergens may have a more severe reaction on repeated challenge, either accidental, diagnostic or therapeutic. Such patients may be unresponsive to the usual doses of epinephrine used to treat the allergic reaction.

Chemical IUPAC Name
2-[4-[2-hydroxy-3-(1-methylethylamino)propoxy]phenyl]ethanamide

Chemical Formula
C14H22N2O3

Half Life
6-7 hours

Drug Type
Approved Drug

# Accession No
APRD00172

CAS Registry Number
29122-68-7