ATENOLOL-CHLORTHALIDONE (atenolol/chlorthalidone)


Drug overview for ATENOLOL-CHLORTHALIDONE (atenolol/chlorthalidone):

Generic name: atenolol/chlorthalidone (a-TEN-oh-lol/klor-THAL-i-done)
Drug class: Diuretics
Therapeutic class: Cardiovascular Therapy Agents

Atenolol is a beta1-selective adrenergic blocking agent (beta-blocker). Chlorthalidone, which is structurally and pharmacologically similar to the thiazides, is a diuretic and antihypertensive agent.

Atenolol is used for the management of hypertension, angina, and acute myocardial infarction (MI). The drug also has been used for the management of supraventricular and ventricular tachyarrhythmias+, management of acute alcohol withdrawal (in conjunction with a benzodiazepine)+, and prophylaxis of migraine headache+. The choice of a beta-adrenergic blocking agent (beta-blocker) depends on numerous factors, including pharmacologic properties (e.g., relative beta-selectivity, intrinsic sympathomimetic activity, membrane-stabilizing activity, lipophilicity), pharmacokinetics, intended use, and adverse effect profile, as well as the patient's coexisting disease states or conditions, response, and tolerance.

While specific pharmacologic properties and other factors may appropriately influence the choice of a beta-blocker in individual patients, evidence of clinically important differences among the agents in terms of overall efficacy and/or safety is limited. Patients who do not respond to or cannot tolerate one beta-blocker may be successfully treated with a different agent. In the management of hypertension or chronic stable angina pectoris in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or type 1 diabetes mellitus, many clinicians prefer to use low dosages of a beta1-selective adrenergic blocking agent (e.g., atenolol, metoprolol), rather than a nonselective agent (e.g., nadolol, pindolol, propranolol, timolol).

However, selectivity of these agents is relative and dose dependent. Some clinicians also will recommend using a beta1-selective agent or an agent with intrinsic sympathomimetic activity (ISA) (e.g., pindolol), rather than a nonselective agent, for the management of hypertension or angina pectoris in patients with peripheral vascular disease, but there is no evidence that the choice of beta-blocker substantially affects efficacy.
DRUG IMAGES
  • ATENOLOL-CHLORTHALIDONE 50-25
    ATENOLOL-CHLORTHALIDONE 50-25
  • ATENOLOL-CHLORTHALIDONE 100-25
    ATENOLOL-CHLORTHALIDONE 100-25
The following indications for ATENOLOL-CHLORTHALIDONE (atenolol/chlorthalidone) have been approved by the FDA:

Indications:
Hypertension


Professional Synonyms:
Elevated blood pressure
Essential hypertension
Hyperpiesia
Hyperpiesis
Hypertensive disorder
Systemic arterial hypertension