Patient was educated on contraindications for using Atenolol as follows:
- Avoid using Atenolol along with any other medications that can cause slowdown of heart rate, such as, calcium channel blockers. Using them together can result in extreme slowdown of heart rate and can present an emergency.
- Exercise extreme caution using Atenolol in patients with compromised cardiac muscle function, such as, individuals with history of myocardial infarction or cardiomyopathy, as Atenolol further reduces the cardiac muscle contraction.
- Atenolol use is contraindicated in individuals with abnormally slow heart rates, such as, in individuals with damaged natural pacemaker of the heart.
- Atenolol is mainly metabolized in the liver. If liver function is deficient, the metabolism of Atenolol can suffer. This can lead to increased blood levels of the medication for longer periods of time, resulting in toxicity and severe side effects. So, these medications should be used with caution in individuals with hepatic dysfunction.
- Atenolol is mainly excreted by the kidneys. Individuals with renal disease cannot excrete Atenolol normally. These drugs can stay in circulation for longer time and can be toxic. So, these medications should be used with caution in individuals with compromised renal function.
