How Long Does It Take Atenolol to Lower Heart Rate? Answers to 6 Atenolol FAQs

Atenolol (Tenormin) is a commonly prescribed beta blocker. It’s FDA approved to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) and chest pain (stable angina). It’s also approved to help lower the risk of death after a heart attack. Like other medications in its class, atenolol slows your heart rate to help take stress off the heart.

Many beta blockers start working within hours of taking a dose. But what about atenolol? How long does it take to lower heart rate? Below, we’ll answer this and five other frequently asked questions about atenolol.

1. How long does it take atenolol to lower heart rate?

Atenolol works relatively quickly. It may start lowering heart rate within 1 hour after you take a tablet. This effect peaks about 2 to 4 hours after a dose. And it should keep working for at least 24 hours.

Promotion disclosure

Atenolol

Avg retail price

$4.00(Save Free%)

GoodRx discount

$4.00

See all discounts

How it works

Use GoodRx to find medications, pharmacies, and discounts.

GoodRx discounts can help you pay less for your prescription.

Bring your free coupon or savings card to the pharmacy.

Consistency is key, though. In order for it to be effective, you have to take atenolol every day as prescribed. It’s not a medication that’s usually prescribed “as needed.” And it’s typically taken long term. The conditions atenolol is approved to manage are chronic conditions or require consistent use to help lower risks of serious complications.

2. How long does atenolol last in your system?

Atenolol has a half-life of around 6 to 7 hours. A medication’s half-life is how long it takes your body to clear about half of it. It generally takes about five half-lives for your body to fully clear a medication. This means there may be small amounts of atenolol in your system for about 30 to 35 hours (a little more than 1 day).

3. How does atenolol work?

The short answer is that atenolol works by slowing your heart rate. But how atenolol slows down your heart rate requires a slightly longer answer.

As mentioned earlier, atenolol belongs to a medication class called beta blockers. Their class name is based on the fact that they block beta receptors (binding sites) in your body. There are two specific receptors that these medications can impact: beta-1 and beta-2 receptors.

Beta-1 receptors are mainly found in your heart. Beta-1 receptors play a role in how quickly your heart beats and the amount of blood it pumps with each beat.

Beta-2 receptors are primarily located in the airways. The receptors in this area play a role in how relaxed or tight your airways are. There are also some beta-2 receptors found in your heart, muscles, and on certain immune cells, among other places.

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

• Beta blocker list: Atenolol is one of many available beta blockers. Learn how it compares to other medications in its class.

• What to expect: Read about atenolol’s potential side effects — from fatigue to diarrhea — and how to manage them.

• Interactions to consider: There are a number of medications that interact with atenolol. Read about how these interactions are typically managed.

Beta blockers that block both beta-1 and beta-2 receptors are called non-selective beta blockers. Examples of non-selective beta blockers include propranolol (Inderal LA) and carvedilol (Coreg).

Beta blockers that mainly block beta-1 receptors are called selective, or “cardioselective,” beta blockers. Atenolol is a selective beta blocker. By primarily blocking beta-1 receptors, it slows your heart rate. This reduces strain on your heart, causing it to beat with less force.

4. What is atenolol used for?

Atenolol is FDA approved to:

• Treat hypertension

• Treat stable angina caused by coronary heart disease

• Lower the risk for death following a heart attack

In addition, atenolol also has several off-label uses. A few examples include:

• Arrhythmias (an irregular heartbeat) — more on this below

• Migraine prevention

• Prevention of an additional heart attack after you’ve already had one

Does atenolol treat an irregular heartbeat?

Healthcare professionals sometimes prescribe atenolol off-label to treat an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). By slowing your heart rate, this can help stabilize your heart’s rhythm.

There are different types of arrhythmias, which all have different recommended treatments. Atenolol may be useful for:

• Treating ventricular arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats in the heart’s lower chambers)

• Managing atrial fibrillation (an irregular heartbeat in the heart’s upper chambers)

5. Does atenolol help anxiety?

Possibly, but more research is needed to say for sure. Atenolol isn’t approved to treat anxiety. But it’s sometimes prescribed off-label for this purpose.

A small review looked at 92 people who took atenolol for symptoms of anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Of those who took atenolol for anxiety, 81% reported a “positive effect” on their symptoms. Keep in mind that this study was a retrospective review, meaning it looked at people who had already taken the medication. This type of research study isn’t the best for confirming cause and effect.

Since anxiety is an off-label use of atenolol, there is no standard dosage for treating it. Be sure to follow your healthcare professional’s instructions for taking it.

6. Is atenolol safe if you have asthma?

Healthcare professionals will often avoid prescribing beta blockers, including atenolol, to people with asthma. This is because non-selective beta blockers can tighten the airways due to their effect on beta-2 receptors. Although atenolol is a selective beta blocker, many healthcare professionals will avoid prescribing it if you have asthma just to be on the safe side.

However, research suggests that atenolol and other selective beta blockers don’t raise the risk of asthma flare-ups. So if you need to take a beta blocker, atenolol may be a safer option. If you have asthma, it’s a good idea to discuss the risks and benefits of taking atenolol with your healthcare professional. They can let you know if it’s the best choice for you.

How to save on atenolol

There are ways to save on atenolol, which is available as both a brand-name and generic medication. GoodRx can help you save up to 90% off the average retail price of the generic version. Atenolol’s price at certain pharmacies is as low as $4.00 with a free GoodRx discount.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Alex Brewer, PharmD, MBA

Alex Brewer, PharmD, MBA, is a licensed pharmacist specializing in chronic disease and health and wellness. Upon completing his residency, he worked in the managed care field, conducting medication therapy management and adherence counseling sessions with Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance patients, before transitioning to a career in medical writing.

Edited by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

Reviewed by:

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS, is a licensed pharmacist in Arizona, Colorado, and Rhode Island. He has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 10 years and currently serves as a pharmacy editor for GoodRx.

Our editorial standards

Meet our experts