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What are the Different Uses of Atenolol Tablets?

Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Atenolol tablets are usually used to treat conditions that affect the heart and circulatory system. For example, some of the different uses of atenolol tablets include treating patients who have high blood pressure, or hypertension. These tablets are also prescribed for the treatment of angina. Additionally, the different uses of atenolol tablets include the prevention of heart attacks.

When considering the different uses of atenolol tablets, the main use is for the treatment of high blood pressure, which is also called hypertension. High blood pressure can be damaging to the heart as well as to the blood vessels of the brain and the kidneys. Having high blood pressure increases a person’s risk of having a heart attack or a stroke. It also increases the risk of kidney failure.

Atenolol tablets may be used to treat angina.
Atenolol tablets may be used to treat angina.

Atenolol tablets work by changing the effects of certain nerve signals on the body. When this drug affects the response of the heart to nerve signals, it leads to a slowing of the heart rate and the lowering of the patient’s blood pressure. This lowering of the blood pressure facilitates an increase in the blood and oxygen the heart receives.

The treatment of angina is also among the different uses of atenolol tablets. Angina is a condition in which a person’s heart does not get an adequate amount of blood flow. As a result, the patient may experience pain and pressure in the chest. In some cases, a person with this condition may have severe enough discomfort that he believes he is having a heart attack. Atenolol tablets may be used in treating stable angina, which means the chest pain is not a sign of a heart attack, as it works to relax the blood vessels and improve the flow of blood to the heart.

When atenolol is used for treating arrhythmias, it works by slowing heart rhythms. This makes it less likely that a person will experience an arrhythmia. Unfortunately, however, it does not make arrhythmias impossible altogether.

Atenolol tablets may be prescribed for high blood pressure.
Atenolol tablets may be prescribed for high blood pressure.

It is important for a person who takes atenolol tablets to understand that the drug cannot cure him of his condition. Instead, these pills help to control heart- and blood pressure-related conditions. In the event that the patient stops taking atenolol tablets, the effects of his condition will likely return. For example, if a person is taking atenolol to control his blood pressure and misses doses of the medication, there is a good chance that a rise in blood pressure will result.

Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a WiseGEEK writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.

Learn more...
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a WiseGEEK writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

fify

I'm on atenolol for high blood pressure and high heart rate too. Actually, my high blood pressure is caused by my anxiety. I have chronic anxiety and panic attacks which causes my heart rate to go up and I have heart palpitations a lot too. So in a way, atenolol is part of my anxiety treatment. It's not directly affecting my anxiety but it's helping me deal with the side effects.

I've heard that people with social anxiety use atenolol too. For example, if someone has social anxiety and has problems speaking in front of an audience, he or she can take a dose of atenolol before the speech to prevent a racing heart and other symptoms of high blood pressure.

I don't know how safe that is though. As far as I know, atenolol is meant to be used daily but maybe it's allowed in some situations.

turquoise

What the article said is true, unfortunately atenolol is not a cure. It's a medication that needs to be used regularly to get results.

I've been using atenolol for high blood pressure for several years. At my last doctor's visit, my blood pressure was very low and so I stopped taking atenolol. The next day, I checked my blood pressure and it was high again. Now I'm taking a smaller dose which seems to be working just right.

It's amazing how my body has become dependent on this medication for my blood pressure to be normal. I would be completely out of balance without it.

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    • Atenolol tablets may be used to treat angina.
      By: nebari
      Atenolol tablets may be used to treat angina.
    • Atenolol tablets may be prescribed for high blood pressure.
      By: niyazz
      Atenolol tablets may be prescribed for high blood pressure.
    • Atenolol is sometimes used in the prevention of heart attacks.
      By: steheap
      Atenolol is sometimes used in the prevention of heart attacks.
    • Angina causes chest pain due to lack of blood and oxygen to the chest muscles.
      By: kmiragaya
      Angina causes chest pain due to lack of blood and oxygen to the chest muscles.