Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide
About
Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide belongs to a class of medicines known as blood pressure-lowering medicine. Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide is primarily used to treat high blood pressure. Hypertension or high blood pressure is a chronic condition in which the force exerted by the blood against the artery wall is high. As a result, it leads to heart diseases, irregular heartbeat, and other complications.
Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide contains two medicines: atenolol and hydrochlorothiazide which collectively lowers blood pressure. Atenolol is a beta-blocker that works specifically on the heart to slow down the heart rate. Hydrochlorothiazide (diuretic) works by increasing the amount of urine passed out from the kidneys. It effectively reduces excess fluid overload in the body and treats edema (swelling) associated with heart, liver, kidney, or lung disease. This reduces the heart's workload and makes the heart more efficient at pumping blood throughout the body. Thus, collectively, both help lower high blood pressure, reducing heart attack, or stroke chances.
Take Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide as prescribed by your doctor. You are advised to take Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide for as long as your doctor has prescribed it for you depending on your medical conditions. You may experience headache, nausea, fatigue, cold extremities (hand and feet become cold), dizziness, decreased potassium level in the blood, increased blood uric acid, slow heart rate, glucose intolerance, decreased sodium level in the blood, increased calcium level in the blood, decreased magnesium level in the blood, increased blood lipid level. Most of these side effects of Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects are persistent, reach out to your doctor.
Before starting Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide, please inform your doctor if you have an allergy with Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide or any ingredient of Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide. Try not to stop taking Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide of your own. Let your doctor know about this, as it may cause a rise in blood pressure and can increase the risk of getting heart diseases and stroke. Inform your doctor if you are suffering from any kidney or liver or heart disease. Immediately inform your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. It is not recommended to drive after taking Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide as it may cause drowsiness. Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide is not recommended for children.
Uses of Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide
Medicinal Benefits
Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide is an anti-hypertensive medicine that treats high blood pressure (hypertension). It contains two anti-hypertensive medicines, namely: Atenolol, and Hydrochlorothiazide. Atenolol is a beta-blocker and is used to treat high blood pressure, angina (chest pain) and uneven heartbeats (arrhythmias). It blocks the action of some substance such as epinephrine or adrenaline that is released during extreme emotions. This helps in lowering the blood pressure, heart rate, and strain on the heart. It reduces the heart rate and makes the heart pump blood effectively throughout the body. Atenolol is also used to protect the heart during treatment of a heart attack. Hydrochlorothiazide belongs to the class of diuretics (water pill) with antihypertensive activity. It inhibits sodium reabsorption from absorbing in the kidneys and increases the excretion of sodium, potassium electrolytes, water, and hydrogen ions. Hydrochlorothiazide effectively treats high blood pressure, fluid retention in patients with congestive heart failure, cirrhosis (chronic damage) of the liver, kidney disorders, or edema caused by steroids or estrogen therapy.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide
- Headache
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Cold extremities (hand and feet become cold)
- Dizziness
- Decreased potassium level in the blood
- Increased blood uric acid
- Slow heart rate
- Glucose intolerance
- Decreased sodium level in the blood
- Increased calcium level in the blood
- Decreased magnesium level in the blood
- Increased blood lipid level
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Avoid the use of Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide in case you have low blood pressure, diabetes, gout, glaucoma, lupus (immune system disorder), hyperkalemia (high potassium levels), heart problems, undergone heart bypass surgery, edema (fluid overload), asthma, muscle disorders (myasthenia gravis), breathing problems (asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema), blood circulation problems let your doctor know about this. If you are undergoing treatment with heart-related medicine called epinephrine, please inform your doctor before using Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide. Avoid potassium supplements with Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide as it may lead to high potassium levels in the blood. Too much sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting while using Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide may lead to dehydration; hence it is advised to drink enough fluids. Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide can affect and harm the developing baby during pregnancy. Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide is also excreted into the breast milk. Consult your doctor before using Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide if you are a pregnant or breastfeeding mother. Avoid consumption of alcohol with Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide as it may increase the risk of low blood pressure. Take Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide 4 hours before bedtime to avoid frequent urination during the night.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide may interact with other blood pressure treating medicines (amlodipine, aliskiren, benazepril, lisinopril), water pills (furosemide), drugs treating mood disorders (alprazolam, lithium), stomach acid treating medicines (esomeprazole), vitamins (cholecalciferol), pain killers (naproxen, ibuprofen), multiple sclerosis treating drugs (fingolimod), vomiting medicine (dolasetron), drugs treating abnormal heart rhythms (dofetilide), fits medicine (pregabalin), cholesterol-lowering drugs (cholestyramine, colestipol), birth control pills (drospirenone), and cough and cold products.
Drug-Food Interaction: Minimize high potassium foods intake and avoid over-the-counter potassium supplements, grapefruit, or juice. Alcohol may increase the side effects of Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide. It is also advised to avoid drinking apple and orange juices within 4 hours of taking Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide since they prevent your body from fully absorbing atenolol in Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide.
Drug-Disease Interaction: People with low blood pressure, kidney or liver problems, severe dehydration, diabetes, gout, lupus, oedema, hyperkalemia, heart diseases, asthma, breathing problems (asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema), heart rhythm problems (slow heartbeat, second or third-degree atrioventricular block), and blood circulation problems (Raynaud's disease, peripheral vascular disease) should consult the doctor before taking Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeYou are recommended not to consume alcohol along with Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide to avoid unpleasant side-effects.
Pregnancy
cautionIt is not known whether this Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide will harm an unborn baby. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
Breast Feeding
unsafeAtenolol+hydrochlorothiazide may excrete into the breast milk. It is not recommended to use Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide during breastfeeding. Please consult your doctor for more information before taking Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide if you are a nursing mother.
Driving
unsafeIt is not recommended to drive after taking Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide as it may cause drowsiness or fatigue.
Liver
cautionLet your doctor know if you have any history of liver diseases before taking Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide. The dosage will be initiated in lower doses and will be further increased in patients with liver diseases. However, Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide is not recommended in patients with severe hepatic impairment.
Kidney
cautionAtenolol+hydrochlorothiazide may affect the kidney functioning. Hence it is advised to seek doctor advice before starting Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide if you have kidney problems. However, it is not recommended in patients with severe renal impairment.
Children
unsafeAtenolol+hydrochlorothiazide is not recommended for children. So, it is not safe for children.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Keep your weight under control with BMI (Body Mass Index) 19.5-24.9.
- Do regular physical activity or exercise for at least 150 minutes per week, or about 30 minutes most days of the week. Doing this can help you to lower your raised blood pressure by about 5 mm of Hg.
- Opt for a diet rich in whole grains, fruits, veggies, and low-fat dairy products.
- If you are taking alcohol, then only one serving for women and two servings for men is advisable.
- Quitting smoking is the best strategy to lower the risk of heart disease.
- Avoid chronic stress as it can raise your blood pressure. Try to enjoy and spent time with your loved ones to cope with stress and practice mindfulness techniques.
- Monitor your blood pressure daily and if there is too much fluctuation then immediately contact your doctor.
- Try to include heart-healthy omega 3 fatty acids containing food drinks in your daily diet. You can also use low-fat cooking oil like olive oil, soybean oil, canola oil, and coconut oil can help in lowering your elevated blood pressure.
Special Advise
Limit intake of sodium chloride (table salt) in your daily diet to 2300 mg per day or less than 1500 mg is ideal for most adults.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Hypertension: It is a chronic condition when blood pressure is too high. This condition can lead to hardened arteries (blood vessels), decreasing the blood and oxygen flow to the heart. Blood pressure is the measurement of the force that our heart uses to pump blood to all parts of the body. Raised blood pressure can cause chest pain (angina) and heart attack (when blood supply to the heart is blocked). Additionally, high blood pressure also causes brain damage (stroke) and kidney failure. High blood pressure can be diagnosed with the help of a blood pressure monitor or sphygmomanometer. Systolic pressure is the pressure when the heart pumps blood out. On the other hand, diastolic pressure is the pressure when your heart is at the resting stage between heartbeats. If your blood pressure is 140/90 mm of Hg, it means the systolic pressure is 140 mm of Hg and, diastolic pressure is 90 mm of Hg. Ideal blood pressure should be between 90/60 mm of Hg and 120/80 mm of Hg.
FAQs
Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide consists of anti-hypertensive/ blood pressure-lowering drugs: Atenolol, and Hydrochlorothiazide. These medicines collectively lower the blood pressure by preventing the fluid build-up, improving the excretion of electrolytes and water from the body, and widening the blood vessels. Thus together, it helps lower increased blood pressure, prevent heart attack, angina, and prevents edema (swelling due to fluid overload).
Yes, Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide can make you feel dizzy. Dizziness usually occurs when you suddenly stand up from a lying or sitting position. Try rising slowly when you change your posture to relieve dizziness. If the side effect persists longer, please seek medical help.
Do not stop using Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide even if you feel better. It should be strictly used as advised by your doctor to avoid the recurrence of symptoms and worsening of the disease.
Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide may cause frequent urination since it is composed of a diuretic (water pill), Hydrochlorothiazide that increases the urination. It is advised to take Atenolol+hydrochlorothiazide at least 4 hours before bedtime to avoid waking up in the night to urinate. Also, take enough fluids to cope up with the dehydration caused by frequent urination.
An unhealthy diet is a risk factor for increasing blood pressure. A high-fat diet, high-calorie, and a diet that is excessively high in salt raises your risk of increasing blood pressure.
