Blood pressure becomes elevated due to alpha mediated vasoconstriction. This is followed by reflex bradycardia and occaisionally arrhythmias.The bronchodilator effects of adrenaline are inhibited.
Atenolol is not affected by alcohol intake.
Concurrent use of atenolol and antacids showed a drop in the bioavailability of atenolol. Results are variable for other beta blockers.
Bradycardia, cardiac arrest, and ventricular fibrillation have been reported.
Serum atenolol concentrations were reduced by concurrent administration of ampicillin given in doses of 1g by mouth in 6 healthy subjects.
Concurrent use has resulted in hypotension, bradycardia, conduction defect, and cardiac failure.
The anti-hypertensive effects of betablockers may become impaired when taken with NSAIDS.
This is not technically a side-effect. When patients taking beta blockers were taken for a 201 thallous chloride scan their was a marked reduction in the quality of the thallium scans.
In a study of 50 patients, given 100mg atenolol and 360mg verapamil daily over a ten months, showed that 40 of the patients experienced fewer anginal episodes whilst taking both drugs. 16 Patients needed to reduce dosage or withdrawal. 3 had bradyarrhytmias (drugs withdrawn) and 7 experienced dysponea (4 withdrawals and 3 dosage reductions) presummed secondary to left ventricular failure. Other complications were tiredness (2 patients), postural hypotension (1 patient) and dizziness (1 patient), all of which were dealt with by reducing the dosage.