Atenolol is a drug belonging to the group of beta blockers, a class of drugs used primarily in cardiovascular diseases. Introduced in 1976, Atenolol was developed as a replacement for propanolol in the treatment of hypertension. Hypertension is a risk factor for stroke, myocardial infarction (heart attack), and serious renal damage. Atenolol is a so-called beta1-selective (or 'cardioselective') drug. That means that it exerts greater blocking activity on myocardial beta1-receptors than on beta2 ones in the lung.

Atenolol can be used to treat cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, arrhythmias, and treatment of myocardial infarction after the acute event. Patients with compensated congestive heart failure may be treated with Atenolol as a comedication (usually together with an ACE inhibitor, a diuretic and a digitalis-glycoside, if indicated). In patients with congestive heart failure, it reduces the need for and the consumption of oxygen of the heart muscle. It is very important to start with low doses, as atenolol reduces also the muscular power of the heart, which is an undesired effect in congestive heart failure. The drug is also used to treat other conditions, including dysautonomia, anxiety and hyperthyroidism (overfunction of the thyroid gland).

In patients with normal renal function, the daily dose is 25 to 100 mg (in one dose or in two divided doses) depending on the indication and severity of the disease. In most patients, the physician will start with a low initial dose and make increments in weekly intervals as tolerated.

Before taking any prescription medicine, it is important that you consult your doctor!