In this video, you’ll learn the side effects of atenolol and atenolol’s mechanism of action. This is a super simple way to learn pharmacology faster and easier in nursing school. It will help you understand the critical thinking and WHY behind the side effects, and how Atenolol actually works inside the body.
Mechanism of Action of Atenolol:
Atenolol decreases the blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiac conductivity. It does this by stimulating or occupying beta-1, or myocardial adrenergic receptor sites. These receptor sites are usually occupied by catecholamines like epinephrine and norepinephrine. When they are blocked by Atenolol it blocks their effect. Epinephrine, norepinephrine, and catecholamines usually cause an increase in cardiac conductivity, and since the effects are being blocked, it decreases the conductivity from the SA and AV node, which decreases heart rate and contractility of the heart.
Blocking these receptor sites also decreases the renin release which will decrease blood pressure as well. Since renin cannot be released from the kidneys, it prevents the renin angiotensin aldosterone system which would normally increase blood pressure, but since it is blocked it decreases blood pressure. There are also beta-2 receptor sites located in the lungs. They are usually not affected by atenolol since it blocks the stimulation of beta-1, not beta-2.
Side Effects of Atenolol:
Bradycardia, hypotension, dizziness, weakness and fatigue are common side effects of atenolol.
Atenolol is blocking the beta-1 adrenergic receptor sites in the heart. An easy way to remember side effects of a medication is to consider it working too well, in this case the heart rate and blood pressure have lowered TOO much, leading to those side effects.
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Intro
0:46 Trade Names, Generic Names, Classes, and Indications
1:07 Mechanism of Action and Therapeutic Effect
2:23 Side Effects
2:56 Nursing Assessment
3:24 Contraindications
3:59 Patient Education and Nursing Considerations
5:27 MEDICATION DATABASE
