Vasotec vs. Tenormin

• Are Vasotec and Tenormin the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Vasotec?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Tenormin?
• What Is Vasotec?
• What Is Tenormin?
• What Drugs Interact with Vasotec?
• What Drugs Interact with Tenormin?
• How Should Vasotec Be Taken?
• How Should Tenormin Be Taken?

Vasotec (enalapril maleate) and Tenormin (atenolol) (and Tenormin IV) are used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).

Vasotec is also used to treat congestive heart failure, kidney problems caused by diabetes, and to improve survival after a heart attack.

Tenormin (is also used to treat angina, for management of acute myocardial infarction, and occasionally for thyroid storm management.

Vasotec and Tenormin belong to different drug classes. Vasotec is an ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitor and Tenormin is a beta-blocker.

Side effects of Vasotec and Tenormin that are similar include dizziness and lightheadedness.

Side effects of Vasotec that are different from Tenormin include weakness as your body adjusts to the medication.

Side effects of Tenormin that are different from Vasotec include tired feeling, nausea, slow heart rate, depression, decreased sex drive, impotence, difficulty having an orgasm, sleep problems (insomnia), anxiety, nervousness, and mild shortness of breath.

Vasotec may interact with alcohol, gold injections to treat arthritis, lithium, potassium supplements, salt substitutes that contain potassium, aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or diuretics (water pills).

Tenormin may interact with other beta-blockers, allergy treatments (or if you are undergoing allergy skin-testing), amiodarone, clonidine, digoxin, digitalis, disopyramide, guanabenz, indomethacin, MAO inhibitors, diabetes medications, heart medications, blood pressure medications, medicine for asthma or other breathing disorders, cold medicines, stimulant medicines, or diet pills.

Common side effects of Vasotec include:

• dizziness,
• lightheadedness, or
• weakness as your body adjusts to the medication.

Tell your doctor if you have unlikely but serious side effects of Vasotec including:

• dry cough,
• loss of taste sensation,
• loss of appetite,
• drowsiness,
• headache,
• sleep problems (insomnia),
• dry mouth,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• diarrhea, or
• skin itching or rash.
• fainting,
• symptoms of a high potassium blood level (such as muscle weakness, slow/irregular heartbeat, weak pulse, tingly feeling),
• signs of infection (such as fever, chills, persistent sore throat, body aches, flu symptoms),
• changes in the amount of urine,
• swelling, rapid weight gain,
• confusion, increased thirst, loss of appetite, vomiting, pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest,
• pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding,
• fast or uneven heartbeats,
• chest pain, or
• yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice).

Common side effects of Tenormin include:

• dizziness,
• faintness,
• feeling lightheaded,
• lethargy,
• fatigue,
• mild slow heart rate,
• depression,
• insomnia,
• nightmares,
• shortness of breath,
• constipation,
• indigestion,
• dry mouth,
• impotence,
• cold feeling in the hands and feet,
• confusion, and
• swelling

Serious side effects of Tenormin may include:

• irregular heartbeat,
• low blood pressure (hypotension),
• pulmonary emboli,
• chest pain, and
• bronchospasm.

Vasotec (enalapril maleate) is an ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitor used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), congestive heart failure, kidney problems caused by diabetes, and to improve survival after a heart attack.

Tenormin is a beta-blocker used mainly for control of hypertension, angina, for management of acute myocardial infarction and occasionally for thyroid storm management. The brand name drug Tenormin is no longer available in the U.S. It may be available in generic form.

Vasotec may interact with gold injections to treat arthritis, lithium, potassium supplements, salt substitutes that contain potassium, aspirin or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), or diuretics (water pills). Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Vasotec is not recommended for use during pregnancy. It may harm a fetus. This medication passes into breast milk but is unlikely to harm a nursing infant. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Tenormin may interact with heart medications.

Tenormin may also interact with allergy treatments (or if you are undergoing allergy skin-testing), amiodarone, clonidine, digoxin, disopyramide, guanabenz, MAO inhibitors, diabetes medications, medicine for asthma or other breathing disorders, cold medicines, stimulant medicines, or diet pills.

Dose of Vasotec varies depending on the condition being treated.

Tenormin is available in 25, 50 and 100 mg strength tablets; it is also available vials of 5 mg atenolol in ten ml of citrate-buffered solution for intravenous injection. The IV preparation should only be administered by trained personnel. The usual dose for tablets begins at 25 mg once or twice per day and is modified by patient response to the medication. The following information applies to both the tablet and IV forms of atenolol. Use with calcium channel blockers (CCBs) may precipitate bradycardia. This medication should be used during pregnancy only when clearly needed. It may harm an unborn baby. This medication passes into breast milk and may have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Consult the doctor before breastfeeding. Women taking Tenormin should discuss the risks and benefits with their doctor. Safety and effectiveness has not been established in pediatric patients.