Atenolol
“This page provides important general information for pet owners whose animals have been prescribed Atenolol for pets in Perth during a consultation by Dr Noor.”
(a-ten-oh-lol)
Description:
This medicine is a beta-adrenergic blocker (a type of medicine that blocks certain “adrenaline-like” signals in the body).
Other Names for this Medication:
- Tenormin®
Common Dosage Forms:
- Veterinary: None.
- Human:
- 25 mg tablets
- 50 mg tablets
- 100 mg tablets
This handout does not include every possible detail about this medicine. It is meant to help with common questions, but it does not replace advice from a professional. If you still have questions or need more details about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.
Key Information for Atenolol for pets
- May be given either with food or without food. If your animal throws up or seems unwell after getting the dose on an empty stomach, give the next dose with food or a small treat. If the throwing up continues, contact your veterinarian.
- In dogs, cats, or ferrets, this medicine is used for high blood pressure, or for some heart problems (for example, a heart rate that is too fast).
- This medicine may make your animal seem “sleepy,” low-energy, or less active. If this does not go away or becomes a concern, contact your veterinarian.
- If your animal has been taking this medicine for some time, do not stop giving it all at once unless your veterinarian tells you how to do so.
How is this medication useful?
Atenolol for pets is given to cats, dogs, and ferrets for high blood pressure and for other heart diseases.
This medicine is approved for people, but it is not officially approved for animals. In some situations, the rules allow veterinarians to prescribe a medicine like this for different animal species or for different health problems. You and your veterinarian can talk about why this choice fits your animal.
What should I tell my veterinarian to see if this medication can be safely given?
Many different factors can change how this medicine works for your animal. Talk with your veterinarian about the points below so you can make treatment choices together.
- Other medicines may affect how atenolol works. Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about everything your animal receives, including vitamins, supplements, and herbal products. Also share the dose amount and the time you give each one.
- Tell your veterinarian about any health problems your animal has now, and any your animal had in the past.
- If your animal has been treated before for the same illness or problem, tell your veterinarian what was used and whether it helped or did not help.
- If your animal is pregnant or nursing, discuss with your veterinarian what risks may come with using this medicine.
- Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about any side effects your animal has had from medicines in the past, including allergic reactions, not wanting to eat, diarrhea, itching, or hair loss.
How long until I will know if this medication is working, and how long will the effects of this medication last?
This medicine should begin to act within 1 to 2 hours. Even so, you usually will not be able to see the effects just by watching your animal. Your veterinarian will need to do additional tests to check whether it is working as intended.
This medicine does not last long in the body. Its action ends within 24 hours. However, the helpful effects may last longer if your animal’s kidney and/or liver function is reduced.
When should this medication not be used or be used very carefully?
No medicine is completely safe for every patient. Your veterinarian will talk with you about any special concerns related to your animal.
This drug SHOULD NOT be used in patients:
If your animal fits any of the items listed, talk with your veterinarian about the possible benefits compared with the possible risks.
- Animals that have had an allergy or a strong bad reaction to this medicine, or to similar medicines in the same group (for example, propranolol, metoprolol).
- Animals with severe heart failure.
- Animals with a slow heart rate.
- Animals with a heart problem called heart block.
- Animals that have asthma.
- Animals with diabetes mellitus (diabetes); atenolol can make it hard to get accurate blood sugar readings.
- Animals that have had ulcers in the digestive tract (stomach or intestines) in the past.
This drug should be used WITH CAUTION in patients:
If your animal fits any of the items listed, talk with your veterinarian about the possible benefits compared with the possible risks.
- Animals with congestive heart failure or certain heart problems.
- Animals with advanced kidney disease.
What are the side effects of this medication?
Common, but not serious side effects include:
If you notice the signs below, it is not necessary to panic. However, contact your veterinarian if the signs are severe, get worse, or do not go away.
- When treatment first starts, it is common for animals to have low energy or seem tired.
- Throwing up and diarrhea can happen.
Side effects that may be serious or indicate a serious problem:
If you see any of the signs below, contact your veterinarian right away.
- A very slow heartbeat, trouble breathing, or collapsing (fainting). These are not common. They usually mean the dose is too high.
If my animal gets too much of this medication (an overdose), what should I do?
Too much atenolol can be dangerous. If you see an overdose happen, or you think it may have happened, contact your veterinarian immediately or call an animal poison control service for instructions.
How should this medication be given?
For this medicine to work properly, give it exactly the way your veterinarian directed. Always read the prescription label so you confirm you are giving it correctly.
- You may give this medicine with food or without food. If throwing up or not wanting to eat becomes an issue, give it with food. If throwing up or poor appetite continue, contact your veterinarian.
- If giving the medicine is difficult, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist for ideas to make dosing easier and to lower stress during medicine time.
- This medicine may be used for different lengths of time. Make sure you clearly understand how long your veterinarian wants your animal to keep taking it. You may need prescription refills before the full course of treatment is finished.
- Do not stop this medicine suddenly. Speak with your veterinarian before stopping, because there may be important reasons to keep using it.
What should I do if I miss giving a dose of this medication?
If you forget a dose, give it as soon as you remember. Then wait the usual amount of time between doses that your veterinarian recommended before giving the next one. Do not give two doses at once and do not give extra doses.
How should I store this medication?
- Keep this medicine at room temperature. Store it in the original child-resistant, light-protecting prescription container, or in an approved dose organizer (such as a pill minder).
- If your veterinarian or pharmacist has prepared a custom-made version (a compounded form) for your animal, follow the storage directions and the expiration date written for that product.
- Store it where children and other animals cannot reach it.
Can handling this medication be hazardous to me, my family, or other animals?
No special handling steps are needed unless you are allergic to this medicine. After touching any medicine, wash your hands.
How should I dispose of this medication if I don’t use it all?
- Do not put this medicine into the toilet and do not pour it into a sink drain. If there is a community medicine “take-back” program, use that.
- If there is no take-back option, combine the medicine with coffee grounds or cat litter so it is unpleasant to children and animals and not recognizable to someone searching through trash. Put that mixture into a sealable plastic bag so it will not leak, and then place it in the household trash.
- Do not keep extra medicine for later use, and do not give it to anyone else.
What other information is important for this medication?
- Your animal will probably need follow-up visits so your veterinarian can confirm the medicine is working and is not causing problems. Do not skip these follow-up appointments.
- Some animal competitions may not allow the use of this medicine. Check the rules before entering a competition while your animal is receiving it.
- If you have more questions about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.
“Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided as general educational material only. Every animal’s health situation is unique, and treatment decisions must be based on a full veterinary assessment. Always follow the specific instructions given during your consultation, and contact the prescribing veterinarian if you have any concerns.”