Drug interactions
Atenolol + Disopyramide
Severity: Major
Atenolol and Disopyramide: major interaction.
Last updated Sources: US FDA label
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Both drugs depress myocardial contractility, and disopyramide also slows conduction and has strong anticholinergic and negative inotropic effects. Together they can precipitate hypotension, bradycardia, AV block or worsening heart failure, especially in patients with reduced ventricular function.
What this interaction means in plain words
Atenolol and Disopyramide can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for.
Atenolol belongs to Cardiovascular; Disopyramide belongs to Cardiovascular.
Why it happens
Additive negative inotropic and negative chronotropic/dromotropic effects through beta-blockade and sodium channel blockade.
What to do
Avoid the combination in patients with left ventricular dysfunction or conduction disease; otherwise monitor ECG, heart rate, blood pressure and signs of heart failure, starting with low doses.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Does the benefit of taking both outweigh the risk in my case?
- Do I need any blood test, ECG or other check while on both?
- What early warning signs should I watch for, and what should I do if they appear?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Atenolol and Disopyramide, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.
References
Other interactions of Atenolol
- Amifostine + Atenolol Major
- Amiodarone + Atenolol Major
- Atenolol + Atenolol-chlorthalidone Major
- Atenolol + Betaxolol Major
- Atenolol + Bisoprolol Major
- Atenolol + Carvedilol Major
Other interactions of Disopyramide
- Amisulpride + Disopyramide Contraindicated
- Desipramine + Disopyramide Contraindicated
- Disopyramide + Dronedarone Contraindicated
- Disopyramide + Itraconazole Contraindicated
- Disopyramide + Ketoconazole Contraindicated
- Disopyramide + Maprotiline Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Atenolol with Disopyramide?
MediHelp rates the interaction as major. Atenolol and Disopyramide can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for. Both drugs depress myocardial contractility, and disopyramide also slows conduction and has strong anticholinergic and negative inotropic effects. Together they can precipitate hypotension, bradycardia, AV block or worsening heart failure, especially in patients with reduced ventricular function.
How serious is the interaction between Atenolol and Disopyramide?
MediHelp rates it major, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid the combination in patients with left ventricular dysfunction or conduction disease; otherwise monitor ECG, heart rate, blood pressure and signs of heart failure, starting with low doses.
What other medicines interact with Atenolol?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Atenolol with, for example, Amifostine, Amiodarone, Atenolol-chlorthalidone. The full list is on the Atenolol page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
