Re: atenolol question

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD-APS on March 26, 1999 at 18:10:27:

In Reply to: atenolol question posted by Jay on March 24, 1999 at 10:42:00:






Im on 50 mg. atenolol at night. Also take Nubain ( nalbuphine hydrochloride )  for sleep/headaches, and am on testosterone therapy. My blood pressure has stayed the same ( 132/84 in the morning, 150-170/86-105 in the evening ), but my heart rate ( resting ) has dropped from 84 to 60 in a month or so so I suppose it is working.
Can you see any possible interactions with my meds? I asked my Doc and he says no but for some reason I dont think he was listening.
Thank you.
Jay




Dear Jay,
There are always potential drug interactions in any person on multiple medications, and it really is patient dependent since it is the individuals liver and kidney that break down and excrete the drug.  There might be some concern that the testosterone therapy is causing the elevation in blood pressure (levels above 140/80 are generally unacceptable, i.e. represent hypertension.)  Don't know much about Nubain (not a drug we use in cardiology very much.)  It really is an individual thing, i.e. what drug combination is best and safest for you; in order for you to be safe, if the same physician is not prescribing all three medications, they each need to be aware of what other medications you are on in order to assess what is the right drug for you.  
Atenolol is one of those drugs that has few if any interactions and I agree it is working if you resting heart rate is 60bpm.  To check yourself, go to a medical library or just ask your doctor to let you see the PDR, physician's desk reference and look up under Nubain, the section called drug interactions.
Your local CVS or Rite Aid pharmacist would also be able to discuss such potential interactions with you.
I hope this information is useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for
general purposes only.  Only your physician can provided specific diagnoses and therapies.
Feel free to write back with further questions. Good luck!