eng Oriental Scientific Publishing Company Biomedical and Pharmacology Journal 0974-6242 2026-03-25 19 1 15 33 10.13005/bpj/3334 70981 article Mohammad Shah Amran 1 Nasrin Akhter 1 Fareha Anan Shristy 2 Sumaiya Rahman 1 Runa Akter 1 Mohammad Josim Uddin 1 Department of Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy and Public Health, Independent University, Bangladesh, Bashundhara, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Department of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh. β-blockers retain their authoritative position in the therapy of all phases of ischemic heart disease. β-blockade is regarded as the established therapy for effort, mixed effort, unstable, and rest angina. β-blockers have been shown to significantly lower long-term mortality following a myocardial infarction and provide substantial therapeutic benefit for individuals experiencing congestive heart failure. They are also indicated for hypertension. When administered appropriately, β-blockers are considered to have a favorable safety profile. Atenolol, a second-generation and predominantly β1-selective agent targeting cardiac receptors, represents a key member of this drug class. Originally patented in 1969 and entering clinical use in 1975, atenolol is included on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines and is widely available in generic form. Although developed earlier, it received approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in August 1981 for the treatment of hypertension and coronary artery disease. Its continued relevance is reflected in prescribing patterns; in 2023, atenolol ranked as the 75th most dispensed medication in the United States, with over nine million prescriptions. This review summarizes the pharmacological characteristics of the atenolol, evaluates its position in the local pharmaceutical market, and discusses its clinical importance, as well as associated adverse effects, contraindications, and recommended dosing regimens. https://biomedpharmajournal.org/vol19no1/pharmacology-of-atenolol-a-%ce%b21-selective-adrenoceptor-inhibitor/ Arrhythmia Atenolol β-adrenergic receptor Cardiac disorder Coronary artery disease Hypertension