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atenolol vs terazosin

Side-by-side comparison of atenolol and terazosin. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

Terazosin has been used concomitantly in at least 50 patients on the following drugs or drug classes: analgesic/anti-inflammatory (e.g., acetaminophen, aspirin, codeine, ibuprofen, indomethacin); antibiotics (e.g., erythromycin, trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole); anticholinergic/sympathomimetics (e.g., phenylephrine hydrochloride, phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride, pseudoephedrine hydrochloride); antigout (e.g., allopurinol); antihistamines (e.g., chlorpheniramine); cardiovascular agents (e.g., atenolol, hydrochlorothiazide, methyclothiazide, propranolol); corticosteroids;...

Recommendation: Your doctor might need to adjust your dose. Watch for signs of dizziness or lightheadedness, especially when you first start taking them together.

Drug Class
atenolol Beta-1 Selective Blocker
terazosin Alpha-1 Blocker
Type
atenolol Prescription
terazosin Prescription
Summary
atenolol

Atenolol is a medicine that lowers blood pressure. It can also help with chest pain and after a heart attack.

terazosin

Terazosin is a medicine that can help men with enlarged prostate and also treat high blood pressure. It works by relaxing certain muscles in your body.

What It Treats
atenolol

Atenolol is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of strokes and heart attacks. Atenolol is also used long-term for chest pain (angina) caused by narrowed arteries. It can also help people who have had a heart attack.

terazosin

Terazosin is used to treat enlarged prostate in men. An enlarged prostate can cause problems with urination. Terazosin helps improve urine flow and reduce symptoms. It is also used to treat high blood pressure, either alone or with other medicines.

How It Works
atenolol

Atenolol is a beta-blocker that mainly affects the heart. It works by blocking the effects of certain chemicals in your body that raise heart rate and blood pressure. This helps your heart beat slower and with less force, lowering blood pressure.

terazosin

Terazosin belongs to a class of drugs called alpha-1 blockers. It works by relaxing the muscles in the prostate and bladder neck, making it easier to urinate. It also relaxes blood vessels, which helps to lower blood pressure.

Common Side Effects
atenolol
  • Dizziness
  • Tiredness
  • Fatigue
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
terazosin
  • Feeling weak or tired
  • Dizziness
  • Stuffy nose
  • Headache
FAERS Reports
atenolol
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 7,812
  • Feeling very tired 7,573
  • Loose, watery stools 6,995
  • Difficulty breathing 6,277
  • Feeling lightheaded or unsteady 6,249
terazosin
  • Tiredness 466
  • Diarrhea 395
  • Feeling dizzy 385
  • Difficulty breathing 383
  • Weakness 351
Serious Warnings
atenolol

You should not take atenolol if you have a very slow heart rate, a serious heart block, cardiogenic shock, or heart failure. Atenolol can make these conditions worse. Tell your doctor right away if you feel dizzy or lightheaded, or if your heart rate becomes very slow.

terazosin

Be careful when you first start taking terazosin, as it can cause your blood pressure to drop too low. This can lead to dizziness or fainting. Take your first dose at bedtime and be careful when standing up.

Pregnancy
atenolol

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if atenolol will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking atenolol while pregnant or breastfeeding.

terazosin

It is not known if terazosin can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if terazosin passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This atenolol vs terazosin Comparison

atenolol is classified in the Beta-1 Selective Blocker drug class, while terazosin sits within the Alpha-1 Blocker class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, atenolol has 34,906 submissions while terazosin has 1,980. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to both of these medications work to lower blood pressure. using them together can cause your blood pressure to drop more than if you took only one.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between atenolol and terazosin - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.