My cat has been prescribed Atenolol is it OK to ...?

i'm sure it would be but you might not get your cat to eat it.

if you're scared to give them to kitty, sit the cat in between your legs and open its mouth and take the pull and put it all the way to the back of its throat and kind of push it down the throat. remember to be gentle!!!!!!!!!

Overview

Atenolol is a cardiac (heart) drug used in animals to control their heart rate, lower blood pressure and control rhythm disturbances of the heart. It does this by blocking certain nervous system impulses (adrenaline and noradrenaline) on the heart.

The autonomic (involuntary) nervous system is divided into the sympathetic (flight or fight response) and parasympathetic branches.

Sympathetic activity is communicated to tissues through involuntary (autonomic) nerve impulses and through the blood.

Cells contain targets, called receptors, which are stimulated by chemicals released from nerves or glands. In the sympathetic system, the chemical transmitter released by nerves is called norepinephrine (noradrenaline). The transmitter chemical released by the adrenal glands is called epinephrine or adrenaline. The receptors for these

chemicals are the alpha and beta-adrenergic receptors.

Atenolol is specific for blocking the beta receptors.

The effects of beta-adrenergic receptor stimulation that are blocked by atenolol include an increase in blood sugar and a faster heart rate, stronger heart contraction and increase in oxygen consumption. This often results in an increase in blood pressure.

Atenolol belongs to a general class of drugs known as beta-blocking drugs. Other related drugs in this class include esmolol (Brevibloc®), metoprolol (Lopressor®) and propranolol hydrochloride (Inderal®). These drugs block or reduce the above effects of beta-receptor stimulation. The effects of beta-blockers are especially prominent in the heart though other organs also can be affected.

Atenolol and other beta-blockers control the heart rate, lower blood pressure and suppress abnormal cardiac rhythms.

Atenolol is a prescription drug and can only be obtained from a veterinarian or by prescription from a veterinarian.

This drug is not approved for use in animals by the Food and Drug Administration but it is prescribed legally by veterinarians as an extra-label drug.