Tenormin Side Effects

Depression, tiredness, and shortness of breath are a few common side effects of Tenormin. Some of the medicine's uncommon side effects include allergic reactions, headache, unexplained rash, and an increase in liver enzymes. There are also some Tenormin side effects that you should report to your healthcare provider immediately, including difficulty breathing, chest pain, and irregular heartbeat. Make sure to talk with your healthcare provider if you develop any side effects, as well as anything that "just does not seem right," while taking Tenormin.

 

Tenormin Side Effects: An Introduction

As with any medicine, there are possible side effects with Tenormin® (atenolol). However, not everyone who takes Tenormin will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate Tenormin well. When people do develop Tenormin side effects, in many cases they are minor, meaning they require no treatment or are easily treated by you or a healthcare provider. Serious side effects are a lot less common but can still occur.
 
(The Tenormin side effects discussed below are not a complete list of side effects reported with Tenormin. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list of side effects with you.)
 

Common Tenormin Side Effects

Tenormin has been studied extensively in people with
 high blood pressure, people with angina, and people who have recently had a heart attack. In these clinical studies, side effects are always documented and compared to those that occur in a similar group of people not taking the medicine. Based on these studies, the most common Tenormin side effects include:
 
  • Tiredness -- up to 26 percent
  • Dizziness -- up to 13 percent
  • Depression -- up to 12 percent (see Atenolol and Depression)
  • Shortness of breath -- up to 6 percent
  • Cold, tingling, or numbness in the hands or feet -- up to 12 percent.
     
Other common side effects of Tenormin (occurring in more than 1 percent of people and more often in the group taking Tenormin) include but are not limited to:
 
  • Slow heart rate (bradycardia)
  • A decrease in blood pressure when going from a lying-down or sitting position to standing
  • A spinning sensation (vertigo)
  • Lightheadedness
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea.
     
(Tenormin Side Effects Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;