Drug interactions
Atenolol + Pilocarpine
Severity: Moderate
Atenolol and Pilocarpine: moderate interaction.
Last updated
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
Systemic pilocarpine has cholinergic effects that may slow conduction, and beta-blockers can add to this. Conduction disturbances or bradycardia are possible, and the labeling advises caution with this combination.
What this interaction means in plain words
Atenolol and Pilocarpine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Atenolol belongs to Cardiovascular; Pilocarpine belongs to Miscellaneous.
Why it happens
Additive effects on cardiac conduction from muscarinic agonism plus beta-adrenergic blockade.
What to do
Monitor pulse and blood pressure when oral pilocarpine is started in patients taking atenolol. Reduce or stop pilocarpine if symptomatic bradycardia or conduction block occurs.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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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 Pilocarpine
- Amitriptyline + Pilocarpine Moderate
- Atenolol-chlorthalidone + Pilocarpine Moderate
- Atropine + Pilocarpine Moderate
- Betaxolol + Pilocarpine Moderate
- Bethanechol + Pilocarpine Moderate
- Bisoprolol + Pilocarpine Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Atenolol with Pilocarpine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Atenolol and Pilocarpine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Systemic pilocarpine has cholinergic effects that may slow conduction, and beta-blockers can add to this. Conduction disturbances or bradycardia are possible, and the labeling advises caution with this combination.
How serious is the interaction between Atenolol and Pilocarpine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor pulse and blood pressure when oral pilocarpine is started in patients taking atenolol. Reduce or stop pilocarpine if symptomatic bradycardia or conduction block occurs.
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.
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