Atenolol 50mg Tablets
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PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER
ATENOLOL TABLETS 25 mg, 50 mg & 100 mg
[Atenolol]
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine.
• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor, health care provider or pharmacist.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.
• If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
In this leaflet:
1. What are Atenolol Tablets and what are they used for
2. Before you take Atenolol Tablets
3. How to take Atenolol Tablets
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Atenolol Tablets
6. Further information
1. WHAT ARE ATENOLOL TABLETS AND WHAT ARE THEY USED FOR
Atenolol is one of a group of medicines called beta-blockers. These medicines work by blocking the beta-adrenoreceptors mainly in heart.
Atenolol Tablets may be used for:
• high blood pressure
• relief of chest pain (angina)
• controlling heart beats which are irregular or too fast
• protecting the heart after a heart attack.
2. BEFORE YOU TAKE ATENOLOL TABLETS Do not take Atenolol Tablets if you
• have heart or blood vessel disease including untreated heart failure (due to recent heart attack), slow heart beat or low blood pressure
• have disturbances in heart rhythm including sick sinus syndrome or heart block
• have high blood pressure due to a tumour near the kidney (phaeochromocytoma)
• have ‘metabolic acidosis' abnormal chemical levels in the blood such as potassium, sodium, calcium and urea
• have ever had an allergic reaction to Atenolol Tablets or any of the ingredients in the tablet. An allergic reaction may include a rash, itching, difficulty breathing or swelling of the face, lips, throat or tongue
• have very poor circulation.
Take special care with Atenolol tablets
Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking Atenolol Tablets
if you:
• have heart failure or disease that is being controlled
• have chest pain (Prinzmetal's angina)
• If you have ever had asthma or wheezing, you should not take this medicine unless you have discussed these symptoms with the prescribing doctor.
• Have Raynaud's disease (poor circulation causing cold hands)
• have liver or kidney problems
• have thyrotoxicosis (a condition caused by an overactive thyroid gland). Atenolol may hide the symptoms of thyrotoxicosis
• have diabetes
• suffer from allergies
• have psoriasis ( a common skin condition which has thickening patches of red inflamed skin, often covered by silvery scales)
• Attend hospital or the dentist for surgery involving anesthetic. Atenolol may need to be stopped before you have a general anaesthetic.
Taking other medicines
Check with your doctor if you are taking or likely to be taking any of
the following medicines
• Medicines used to treat high blood pressure including clonidine, alfuzosin, nifedipine, verapamil, diltiazem
• General anaesthetics used in operations, inform your doctor or anaesthetist
• Medicines to treat an irregular heart-beat (Anti-arrhythmics), such as disopyramide, quinidine, amiodarone, lidocaine, procainamide, flecainide
• Medicines used to treat diabetes such as insulin and metformin
• Medicines used to treat heart conditions such as digoxin
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) used to treat pain and inflammation such as ibuprofen and indometacin
• Pseudoephedrine which is used to treat colds and comes in many cold preparations
• Adrenaline (epinephrine) and isoprenaline which are heart stimulants
• noradrenaline (norepinephrine) and dobutamine which are used to treat heart attacks
• Medicines to treat depression such as amitriptyline and imipramine
• Medicines called Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) which are used to treat depression (e.g. phenelzine)
• Barbiturates such as phenobarbital which is used to treat epilepsy
• Medicines to treat mental illness such as chlorpromazine
• Mefloquine which is used to prevent malaria
• Medicines used to treat headache and migraine (e.g ergotamine and methysergide)
• Aldesleukin which is used to treat kidney cancer
• Alprostadil used to treat erection problems
• Baclofen and Tizanidine which is used to relax muscles
• Levodopa used to treat Parkinson's Disease
• Phenothiazines used in psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia.
• Moxisylyte used to treat Raynaud's syndrome (a circulatory problem)
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
Taking Atenolol Tablets with alcohol
Alcohol may cause your blood pressure to drop too low. You should avoid or limit how much alcohol you drink whilst taking this medicine. Discuss this with your doctor if you have any concerns.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Your doctor will only prescribe Atenolol Tablets if the benefits to you outweigh the risks of the unborn child. Breast feeding is not recommended whilst taking Atenolol Tablets. Check with your doctor if you are unsure.
Driving and using machines
Atenolol Tablets may make you feel tired or dizzy. Make sure you are not affected before you drive or operate machinery.
Other precautions you should take:
If you see another doctor, attend hospital or the dentist for surgery involving an anaesthetic, let them know what medicines you are taking. Atenolol may need to be stopped before you have a general anaesthetic.
3. HOW TO TAKE ATENOLOL TABLETS
Always take Atenolol exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. Follow your doctor's instructions. Check the pharmacy label to see how many tablets to take and how often to take them. If you are still unsure ask your pharmacist or doctor.
Your doctor will start you on a low dose and increase it as required. You must not stop taking atenolol abruptly; your doctor will reduce your dosage gradually.
The tablets should be swallowed whole with water.
The usual adult dose is :
• High blood pressure: 50mg - 100mg daily
• Angina: 100mg once daily or 50mg twice daily
• Irregular heartbeats: 50-100mg daily, given as a single dose
• After a heart attack: Initial treatment will usually be by injection, followed by 50mg by mouth 15 minutes after the injection, a further 50mg 12 hours later and then 100mg 12 hours later to be given once daily.
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* Elderly: The above dosages may sometimes be reduced especially if you have damaged kidneys.
* Patients with kidney disease: You will usually be given a lower dose depending on how severe your kidney damage is. Patients on haemodialysis should be given 50mg by mouth after each dialysis.
Children under 12 years
Not recommended.
* Swallow these tablets with a glass of water at the same time(s) each day.
* Take this medicine for as long as your doctor tells you to, it may be dangerous to stop without their advice. Beta-blockers should not be stopped suddenly.
If you take more Atenolol Tablets than you should
If you (or someone else) swallow a lot of the tablets at the same time, or if you think a child has swallowed any of the tablets, contact your nearest hospital casualty department or your doctor immediately. If an overdose has been taken there may be signs such as slow or irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, difficulty breathing and fainting.
If you forget to take Atenolol Tablets
If you forget to take a tablet take one as soon as you remember, unless it is nearly time to take the next one.
Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
Take the remaining doses at the correct time.
4. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Like all medicines, Atenolol can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
If you experience any of the following side effects contact your doctor immediately:* All medicines can cause allergic reactions, although serious allergic reactions are very rare. STOP TAKING YOUR TABLETS and tell your doctor straight away if you get any sudden wheeziness, difficulty in breathing, swelling of the eye lids, face or lips, rash, reddening of the skin or itching (especially affecting your whole body).
* Liver problems such as liver disease (yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes).
* Increased bruising or bleeding from the nose or gums
* Worsening of heart failure or heart attack (symptoms of heart pain worsening generally on an already diagnosed condition)
Common side effects (occur in less than 1 in 10 patients):
* Feeling sick or being sick
* Diarrhoea
* Stomach cramps
* Constipation.
* Coldness and blueness of the fingers
* Slow heart rate
* Fatigue (tiredness)
Uncommon side effects (occur in less than 1 in 100 patients)
* Sleep disturbances such as insomnia and nightmares
* Visual disturbances such as impaired vision
* Sore eyes
* Increases in a liver enzyme called transaminase in the blood, measured by a blood test.
Rare side effects (occur in less than 1 in 1000 patients):
* Dizziness
* Headaches
* Dry eyes
* Conjunctivitis (eye infection)
* Rash which can be itchy, blood spots, bruising and discolouring to the skin (purpura).
* Worsening of psoriasis (skin condition)
* Hair loss (alopecia)
* Pins and needles
* Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not real)
* Confusion
* Depression (feeling low)
* Impotence
* Dry mouth
* Mood changes
* Breathing difficulty
* Mental disorders such as schizophrenia
* Heart block a common disorder of the heartbeat
* Low blood pressure and feeling faint on standing
* Leg cramps, pain and numbness made worse
* Raynaud's phenomenon-poor circulation causing cold hands
* Temporary tightening of the chest that may occur in patients with asthma or a history of asthma
* Problems with the bile and liver leading to jaundice (yellowing of skin and whites of eyes)
Very rare side effects (occur in less than 1 in 10,000 patients)
* An increase in some white blood cells that would be measured by a blood test
Other side effects also reported (frequency too low to be
estimated):
* Changes in heart rhythm
* Low blood pressure (fainting on standing)
* Worsening of heart failure (where the heart cannot pump blood around the body properly) or heart attack
* Muscle tiredness
* Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia).
* High blood sugar (hyperglycaemia)
* Overactive thyroid, your doctor may identify this in a blood test.
* There may be changes in the proteins in your blood; your doctor may identify this from a blood test.
* Dyspnoea (shortness of breath)
* Malaise (general feeling of being unwell)
* Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) with symptoms of sweating, weakness, hunger, dizziness, trembling, headache, flushing or paleness, numbness, having a fast, pounding heartbeat.
If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
5. HOW TO STORE ATENOLOL TABLETS
Keep out of the reach and sight of children.
Do not store above 25° C.
Store in the original container Keep container in the outer carton.
REMEMBER that this medicine is for YOU only. NEVER give it to anyone else. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.
Do not use Atenolol tablets after the expiry date which is stated on the label. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Do not use Atenolol tablets if you notice visible signs of deterioration.
Medicines should not be disposed of via waste water or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
6. FURTHER INFORMATION What Atenolol Tablets contains
The active substance(s) is Atenolol BP/Ph.Eur.
What Atenolol Tablets looks like and contents of the pack
Description:
Atenolol tablets 25 mg, 50 mg & 100 mg: Circular, white, flat tablet scored on one side.
Contents of pack:
Atenolol tablets 25 mg, 50 mg & 100 mg: 14 tablets in a blister and 2 such blisters in a carton
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer Co-Pharma Limited
Unit 4, Metro Centre,
Tolpits Lane, Watford, Herts.
UK, WD 18 9SS Tel: 01923 255580 Fax: 01923 255581
This leaflet was last amended in {01/2011}.
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