Hawthorn is a bush, the berries, flowers and leaves of which are used in herbal medicines to help treat chest pain, heart failure and high blood pressure. The active compounds in hawthorn are oligomeric procyanidins and flavonoids, two types of antioxidants. Hawthorn is not safe for everyone to use, so speak with your doctor before taking this supplement.
Atenolol
Atenolol, often sold under the brand name Tenormin, is a medication used to prevent heart attacks and treat chest pain and high blood pressure. It belongs to the group of medications called beta blockers, which affect how blood flows through your veins and arteries. Patients taking atenolol also need to exercise and make dietary changes. Inform your doctor of any medications and herbal supplements you are taking, as some may interact with atenolol.
Hawthorn and Atenolol
Because hawthorn affects the heart, you should not take it with medications used for heart conditions. Using hawthorn with atenolol or other beta blockers can magnify the effects of these medications, potentially causing dangerous side effects, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Use hawthorn and atenolol together only if you are under a doctor's supervision and the doctor recommends it.
Hawthorn Side Effects and Safety
Hawthorn can cause side effects, including fatigue, allergic reaction, nausea, headache, sweating, dizziness, upset stomach, the feeling of your heart racing and sedation. Taking too much hawthorn can cause low blood pressure and irregular heartbeat. Hawthorn also interacts with certain medications, including digoxin, phenylephrine, beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. Pregnant women, women who are nursing, children and those with liver or kidney disease should not take hawthorn.
Considerations
Speak to your doctor before taking hawthorn to ensure that it is safe for you to do so. Do not self-treat your heart condition or high blood pressure with hawthorn or use it in place of the treatment prescribed by your doctor.
