ATENOL® Atenolol

ATENOL ® is an Atenolol-based drug

THERAPEUTIC GROUP: Beta-blockers

Indications ATENOL ® Atenolol

ATENOL ® is indicated in the treatment of arterial hypertension, also of renal origin, of angina pecotirs and arrhythmias, and in the early intervention of acute myocardial infarction.

Mechanism of action ATENOL ® Atenolol

Atenolol, administered with ATENOL ® is rapidly absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, reaching the maximum plasma concentration from 2 to 4 hours after its intake. The high hydrophilicity makes the pharmacokinetics of this active ingredient somewhat linear and constant between various individuals, reducing to a minimum the hepatic metabolism and the passage through biological barriers (membranes).
The therapeutic action of atenolol is due to its cardioselective beta-blocking capabilities. At low doses, in fact, it can exert an inhibitory effect on beta 1 cardiac receptors, reducing contractility and heart rate (negative inotropic and chronotropic effect). Furthermore, the work of the heart decreases thanks to a significant reduction in cardiac output, which is generally accompanied by an increase in diastolic filling time and an improvement in the coronary vascularization of the myocardium.
Atenolol does not exhibit intrinsic sympathomimetic or membrane stabilizing action. After a plasma half-life of 6/9 hours, atenolol is generally excreted unchanged in the urine.

Studies carried out and clinical efficacy

"ATENOLOL REDUCES SEXUAL CAPACITIES" IN HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS

Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2002 Jun; 58: 177-80. Epub 2002 May 1.

Effect of antihypertensive treatment with valsartan or atenolol on sexual activity and plasma testosterone in hypertensive men.

Fogari R, Preti P, Derosa G, Marasi G, Zoppi A, Rinaldi A, Mugellini A.

This study, conducted on 110 men with hypertension, evaluates the effects of antihypertensive therapy on sexual activity and plasma testosterone concentrations. After 8 weeks of treatment with atenolol, there was a worsening of sexual activity accompanied by a significant reduction in blood testosterone levels.

2.ATENOLOL AND CARDIOVASCULAR RISK IN DIABETIC PATIENTS

Lancet. 2002 Mar 23; 359: 1004-10.

Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes in the Losartan Intervention For Endpoint reduction in hypertension study (LIFE): a randomized trial against atenolol.

Lindholm LH, Ibsen H, Dahlöf B, Devereux RB, Beevers G, de Faire U, Fyhrquist F, Julius S, Kjeldsen SE, Kristiansson K, Lederballe-Pedersen O, Nieminen MS, Omvik P, Oparil S, Wedel H, Aurup P , Edelman J, Snapinn S; LIFE Study Group.

Very important study investigating the antihypertensive and cardioprotective effects of atenolol.
It is known that antihypertensive therapy has as its main purpose the reduction of mortality linked to the incidence of cardiovascular events. Atenolol, while ensuring a good blood pressure reduction, does not seem to be as effective in reducing the associated mortality, thus justifying the reduced use in common clinical practice.

3. ATHENOLOL IN THE TREATMENT OF ESSENTIAL HYPERTENSION

Am J Cardiol. 1994 Jan 27; 73: 50A-54A.

Amlodipine versus atenolol in essential hypertension.

Frishman WH, Brobyn R, Brown RD, Johnson BF, Reeves RL, Wombolt DG.

The antihypertensive efficacy of atenolol has been demonstrated by several studies published in the literature.
This study, in detail, shows the effects of atenolol in the treatment of essential hypertension in 125 patients treated with 100mg of atenolol daily. The reduction in blood pressure was approximately 13 mmHg, with a high response rate estimated at around 64%.
The efficacy of this drug was enhanced by the good tolerability observed.

Method of use and dosage

ATENOL ® 100 mg tablets of atenolol:

• For the treatment of arterial hypertension, including that of renal origin, it is recommended to take one tablet a day. The maximum therapeutic effect is observed after approximately 2 weeks of treatment; therefore, therapeutic optimization should not occur before this period. In case of reduced therapeutic efficacy of the aforementioned dosage in monotherapy, the simultaneous intake of other antihypertensive drugs, such as diuretics, could be used.
• For the treatment of angina pectoris the dosage of 100mg / day seems to be the most used and effective.
• For the treatment of arrhythmias it is possible to resort to the use of injectable ampoules, then providing for the maintenance with daily doses of 50 / 100mg of atenolol in oral form.

IN ANY CASE, BEFORE TAKING ATENOL ® Atenolol - YOU NEED THE PRESCRIPTION AND CONTROL OF YOUR DOCTOR.

Warnings ATENOL ® Atenolol

The administration of ATENOL ® should be carried out with particular care in patients suffering from renal insufficiency or bradycardia, for whom it is necessary to adjust the therapeutic dosage in order to minimize the side effects while preserving the therapeutic ones.
The cardioselective effects and the absence of inhibitory activity against salbutamol and isoprenaline on bronchodilation make atenolol one of the few Beta-inhibitors that can also be administered to asthmatic or bronchial patients.
In diabetic patients, however, this drug may mask some signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia.
Anaphylactic reactions related to the intake of ATENOL ® may be more frequent in subjects predisposed to the development of allergies and not responsive to adrenaline therapy.
The drug does not appear to interfere with the patient's normal perceptual functions; therefore, it does not affect the ability to drive vehicles and use machines.

PREGNANCY AND BREASTFEEDING

Despite the absence of clinical trials showing the teratogenic and mutagenic effect of atenolol on the fetus, its intake during pregnancy is not recommended.
Atenolol can be secreted into breast milk; therefore, given the absence of studies in the pediatric field, it is advisable to discontinue breastfeeding during therapy with ATENOL ®

Interactions

ATENOL ® should not be administered concomitantly with class I antiarrhythmic drugs, verapamil and clonidine.
In these cases, before starting the intake of atenolol, it would be necessary to stop the therapy for at least 48 hours.
Moreover, given the negative inotropic and chronotropic action of atenolol, the choice of sedative and anesthetic therapy, during surgery, should also be made on the basis of the reduced negative inotropic activity of these drugs.

Contraindications ATENOL ® Atenolol

Given the negative inotropic and chronotropic action, the administration of ATENOL ® is contraindicated in case of bradycardia, atrioventricular block, uncontrolled heart failure and hypersensitivity to one of its active ingredients.

Undesirable Effects - Side Effects

The undesirable effects observed following administration of ATENOL ® were generally transient and clinically insignificant.
The most common ones include cold in the extremities, fatigue and mental confusion, nausea, headache and visual hallucinations.
Less frequent were cases of thrombocytopenia, bradycardia, granulocytopenia, decreased cardiac function, alopecia and hypersensitivity reactions, for which it was necessary to discontinue therapy.
In any case, the discontinuation of treatment with atenolol should take place gradually, especially in those patients with deterioration of cardiac function.

Note

ATENOL ® can only be sold under medical prescription.
The use of ATENOL ® in athletes, in the absence of therapeutic need, to reduce the physiological response to stress and the related symptoms (tremor of the limbs, increase in blood pressure, increase in emotional tension, etc.) constitutes a DOPANTE practice.

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