Prescription medication · Beta-1 Selective Blocker
atenolol
Also sold as Tenormin. Atenolol is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 130,943
- FDA reportsHeavily reported
- 14
- InteractionsSeveral interactions
- 99% less
- Generic vs brandHuge savings
- $12.82
- Brand price (NADAC)
What the data shows
atenolol (Tenormin) is a prescription Beta-1 Selective Blocker, more reported than roughly 9 in 10 tracked drugs (130,943 FDA reports), whose generic costs a fraction of the brand (about 99% less).
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
atenolol (Tenormin) is a prescription Beta-1 Selective Blocker. Atenolol is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).
Atenolol is a medicine that lowers blood pressure. It can also help with chest pain and after a heart attack.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$12.82/unit
Generic Price
$0.04/unit
Generic Savings
99%
Generic Available
Yes (11 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
NADAC price trail: ATENOLOL 100 MG TABLET
Same CMS presentation as the headline generic unit price above (2 effective dates). Adjacent % compares consecutive NADAC releases for this description only, not a patient out-of-pocket quote. Latest step: -8.2% vs prior release.
| Effective | NADAC / unit | vs prior | NDCs |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 17, 2024 | $0.0390/EA | - | 2 |
| December 18, 2024 | $0.0358/EA | -8.2% | 16 |
What it does
Atenolol is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).
Common side effects
Dizziness, Tiredness, Fatigue
Key warnings
You should not take atenolol if you have a very slow heart rate, a serious heart block, cardiogenic shock, or heart failure.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from atenolol's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
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.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 130,943 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for atenolol, by number of reports
- Nausea
Nausea
7,813 reports
- Fatigue
Fatigue
7,573 reports
- Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea
6,999 reports
- Dyspnoea
Dyspnoea
6,276 reports
- Dizziness
Dizziness
6,246 reports
- Headache
Headache
5,886 reports
- Pain
Pain
5,642 reports
- Asthenia
Asthenia
4,952 reports
- Fall
Fall
4,631 reports
- Arthralgia
Arthralgia
4,586 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for atenolol each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where atenolol sits
atenolol has more FDA adverse-event reports than 90% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is atenolol; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 130,943 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2002–2025.
Total Reports
130,943
Reports Mentioning Death
11,138
8.5% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
47,314
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | NAUSEA | 7,813 |
| 3 | FATIGUE | 7,573 |
| 4 | DIARRHOEA | 6,999 |
| 5 | DYSPNOEA | 6,276 |
| 6 | DIZZINESS | 6,246 |
| 7 | HEADACHE | 5,886 |
| 8 | PAIN | 5,642 |
| 9 | ASTHENIA | 4,952 |
| 10 | FALL | 4,631 |
| 11 | ARTHRALGIA | 4,586 |
| 12 | MALAISE | 4,236 |
| 13 | VOMITING | 4,177 |
| 14 | HYPERTENSION | 4,057 |
| 16 | PAIN IN EXTREMITY | 3,733 |
| 17 | HYPOTENSION | 3,689 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
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.
Known Drug Interactions
Information on concurrent usage of atenolol and aspirin is limited. Data from several studies, i.e., TIMI-II, ISIS-2, currently do not suggest any clinical interaction between aspirin and beta-blockers in the acute myocardial infarction setting.
Mechanism: Current medical studies do not show a clear way these two drugs interfere with each other when used for heart attacks.
albuterol, systemic and inhaled mebendazole amoxicillin medroxyprogesterone ampicillin, with or without sulbactam methylprednisolone atenolol metronidazole azithromycin metoprolol caffeine, dietary ingestion nadolol cefaclor nifedipine co-trimoxazole (trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole) nizatidine diltiazem norfloxacin dirithromycin ofloxacin enflurane omeprazole famotidine prednisone, prednisolone felodipine ranitidine finasteride rifabutin hydrocortisone roxithromycin isoflurane Sorbitol (purgative doses do not inhibit theophylline absorption) isoniazid sucralfate isradipine terbutaline,...
Mechanism: Atenolol is a beta-blocker that can interfere with how theophylline works to open your airways. It may also slow down the process of your body removing theophylline from your blood.
Beta-blockers may exacerbate the rebound hypertension which can follow the withdrawal of clonidine. If the two drugs are coadministered, the beta-blocker should be withdrawn several days before the gradual withdrawal of clonidine. If replacing clonidine by beta-blocker therapy, the introduction of beta-blockers should be delayed for several days after clonidine administration has stopped.
Mechanism: Stopping clonidine can cause a sudden, dangerous rise in blood pressure, and taking a beta-blocker can make this reaction even worse.
Amiodarone is an antiarrhythmic agent with negative chronotropic properties that may be additive to those seen with beta-blockers.
Mechanism: Both of these medicines slow down your heart rate, so taking them at the same time can make your heart beat too slowly.
Such patients may be unresponsive to the usual doses of epinephrine used to treat the allergic reaction.
Mechanism: Atenolol can block the effects of epinephrine, which means the usual dose of epinephrine might not work during a severe allergic reaction.
This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
Common Questions
Can I stop taking atenolol suddenly?
Will atenolol cure my high blood pressure?
Can I drink alcohol while taking atenolol?
Does atenolol interact with other medicines?
What should I do if I feel dizzy while taking atenolol?
Can atenolol cause weight gain?
How long does it take for atenolol to start working?
Can I exercise while taking atenolol?
Will atenolol affect my ability to drive?
What if atenolol doesn't lower my blood pressure enough?
What are the common side effects of atenolol?
Does atenolol interact with other medications?
What drug class is atenolol?
Is there a generic version of atenolol?
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for atenolol?
Related Medications in Beta-1 Selective Blocker
Other drugs grouped near atenolol - same-class peers and common alternatives.
acebutolol
Sectral
Acebutolol is a medicine that helps lower blood pressure and control irregular heartbeats.
Compare with atenolol →
aliskiren
Tekturna
Tekturna is a medicine used to treat high blood pressure.
Compare with atenolol →
amiloride
Midamor
Amiloride is a water pill that helps your body hold onto potassium.
Compare with atenolol →
amlodipine
Norvasc
Amlodipine (Norvasc) is a drug that lowers blood pressure and treats chest pain.
Compare with atenolol →
amlodipine/benazepril
Lotrel
Lotrel is a combination medicine that contains amlodipine and benazepril.
Compare with atenolol →
Compare beyond drug class
Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share
Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for atenolol: nearest FDA FAERS report volume and nearest death-report share among drugs with at least 1,000 logged reports, excluding same-class neighbors listed above. Counts reflect reporting volume, not proven individual harm.
Similar FAERS report volume
Nearest drugs by total FAERS reports. This record: 130,943.
Similar death-report share
Nearest drugs by FAERS death-report share. This record: 8.51%.
- cephalexin Δ 0.03 pts · 20,636 reports · First-Generation Cephalosporin 8.48%death share
- lacosamide Δ 0.05 pts · 35,350 reports · Anticonvulsant 8.56%death share
- ofloxacin Δ 0.05 pts · 7,063 reports · Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic 8.45%death share
- propylthiouracil Δ 0.07 pts · 1,982 reports · Anti-Thyroid Agent 8.58%death share
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for atenolol
The FDA label for atenolol (sold under brand names such as Tenormin) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Beta-1 Selective Blocker class. Atenolol is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Official labeling lists 5 commonly reported side effects, including Dizziness, Tiredness, Fatigue.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 130,943 voluntary reports. The database also lists 14 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.04 versus $12.82 for the brand - a 99% generic savings.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.
Last updated: November 26, 2024
PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages