Your doctor may prescribe atenolol as a beta-blocker to treat hypertension (high blood pressure). As a beta-blocker, atenolol can relax your blood vessels and slow your heart rate while lowering your blood pressure. The National Instututes of Health states the drug also combats angina (pain in the chest) and can help you survive after a heart attack. It is sometimes prescribed for migraine headache prevention and during alcohol addiction withdrawal. It causes a number of possible side effects along with its medicinal properties.
Drowsiness
Taking atenolol may make you feel drowsy and cause you to have difficulty staying alert. The Drugs.com website warns against taking the drug while driving or doing any other activity that requires you to be awake and alert. The drowsiness and loss of quick reactions and even confusion is worsened by drinking alcohol or taking antihistamines.
Gastrointestinal Problems
You may become nauseous while taking atenolol. The National Institutes of Health states nausea and diarrhea are among the possible side effects of taking the drug. The Drugs.com website states about 3 percent of patients taking atenolol experienced nausea and about 3 percent reported diarrhea after taking the drug.
Loss of Libido
You may have difficulty achieving orgasm if you are taking atenolol. The Drugs.com website cautions that those who took the drug complained of a loss of sex drive and inability to achieve climax during sex.
Dizziness, Vertigo, Depression
Some who took atenolol complained of having lightheadedness while taking the drug. The Drugs.com website states about 13 percent of patients taking the drug experienced dizziness and 2 percent had vertigo. About 12 percent of patients reported problems with depression after taking the drug.
Temptation to Overdose
You may not feel the symptoms of hypertension or the medicinal qualities of atenolol and be tempted to take more than the recommended dose. The National Institutes of Health warns that taking too much can cause an allergic reaction (with facial swelling, trouble breathing or fainting). Other side effects that could indicate you have taken too much atenolol include shaking, numbness or tingling, fluctuating heartbeat, blurred vision and fainting. The website states it may take a couple of weeks for the drug to take effect, and you should make no changes in doses unless directed by your physician.
Cold Extremities
Some who took atenolol complained of feeling cold in their arms and legs. Drugs.com reports about 12 percent of patients from the United States and Europe complained of feeling cold in their extremities after taking the drug.
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