Atenolol 50mg Tablets
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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 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 Atenolol is and what it is used for
2. Before you take Atenolol
3. How to take Atenolol
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Atenolol
6. Further information
3. How to take Atenolol
Always take Atenolol exactly as your doctor has told you. The doctor, depending on your needs and
the condition being treated, will decide the dose of Atenolol. You should check with your doctor or
pharmacist if you are not sure.
Taking this medicine
• Swallow the tablets with a glass of water.
• You will be started on a low dose of Atenolol. This will gradually be increased by your doctor until your condition is controlled.
• The dose of Atenolol tablets can be varied by your doctor to suit your individual needs. Do not alter the dose unless your doctor has told you to.
• Do NOT stop taking this medicine except on your doctor's advice. In some cases, it may be necessary to stop taking your medicine gradually
• If you have the impression that the effect of Atenolol is too strong or too weak, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
How much to take - adults
1. What Atenolol is and what it is used for
The name of this medicine is Atenolol 25mg Tablets, Atenolol 50mg Tablets or Atenolol 100mg Tablets referred to as Atenolol throughout this leaflet.
High blood pressure
• 25mg tablets:
• 50mg tablets:
• 100mg tablets: the usual dose is two to the usual dose is one to the usual dose is half to four tablets, once a day. two tablets, once a day. one tablet, once a day.
Angina
• 25mg tablets:
• 50mg tablets:
• 100mg tablets:
Irregular heart beats
• 25mg tablets:
• 50mg tablets:
• 100mg tablets:
Atenolol belongs to a group of medicines called ‘beta-blockers' which work by blocking the transmission of certain nerve impulses.
Atenolol has been prescribed for you for one of the following:
• relieve angina pectoris (chest pain)
• control hypertension (high blood pressure)
• control irregular heart beat
• protect the heart from further damage in the early treatment or long term, after a heart attack
2. Before you take Atenolol
Do not take Atenolol if:
• you are allergic (hypersensitive) to atenolol or any of the other ingredients in this medicine (listed in Section 6)
• you suffer from second and third degree heart block (impaired signals to the heart resulting in abnormal heart beats) and do not have a pacemaker
• you have cardiogenic shock (a condition in which your heart is unable to pump enough blood to your body)
• you have a slow heart rate or your heart rate is abnormal because of a condition known as sick sinus syndrome
• you have severe blood circulation problems
• you have low blood pressure
• you have an untreated tumour near the kidney (phaeochromocytoma), which results in high blood pressure.
• you suffer from severe asthma or have severe breathing difficulties
• you suffer from metabolic acidosis (a disorder which causes the blood to become acidic)
• you have heart failure which is not controlled
• you suffer from a tight, painful feeling in the chest in periods of rest (Prinzmetal's angina)
• you are under 18 years of age
Do not take Atenolol if any of the above apply to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Atenolol.
Take special care with Atenolol if:
Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking your medicine if any of the following apply to you. You may need to be given a different dose or a different medicine:
• you are pregnant, might become pregnant or are breast-feeding
• you have heart failure or untreated congestive cardiac failure
• you have or have had breathing problems such as wheezing or asthma, or have difficulty breathing due to narrowing of the airways (obstructive airways disease).
• you have malignant hypertension (severe high blood pressure)
• you have or have had psoriasis
• you have a history of allergic reactions
• you have blood circulation problems
• you suffer from first degree heart block
• you have a thyroid problem (thyrotoxicosis)
• you have kidney problems or undergo dialysis
• you have an ischaemic heart (reduced blood supply to the heart muscle)
• you have diabetes
• you are to have any surgery or receive anaesthetics (even at the dentist)
If any of the above apply to you (or you are not sure), talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Atenolol.
Taking other medicines
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines. This includes medicines obtained without a prescription or herbal medicines. This is because Atenolol can affect the way some other medicines work. Also some other medicines can affect the way Atenolol works.
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following:
• heart medications which depress or stimulate the heart:
• depressants such as chloroform, lignocaine or procainamide
• stimulants such as isoprenaline, verapamil, noradrenaline or adrenaline
• medication to treat high blood pressure or irregular heartbeats including:
• water tablets (diuretics), guanethidine, reserpine or disopyramide.
• medication for diabetes such as insulin or oral anti-diabetic drugs such as chlorpropamide or glibencamide
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as indometacin or ibuprofen, used to relieve pain in muscles, bones and joints
• digitalis glycosides such as digoxin (to treat heart conditions)
• barbiturates, such as phenobarbital, used for insomnia, epilepsy or as an anaesthetic
• phenothiazines, such as chlorpromazine which is used to treat some forms of mental illnesses
• clonidine, for the treatment of high blood pressure and prevention of migraines
• cimetidine, used to treat ulcers.
• hydralazine, used to treat high blood pressure
• anaesthetics
Tests and operations
If you are going to have an operation or any form of surgery (even at the dentist) please inform your doctor in advance and ensure that the anaesthetist or dentist and other relevant medical personnel know that you are taking Atenolol. You doctor may decide to discontinue your Atenolol use gradually over time, ensuring you have not taken Atenolol for at least 24 hours prior to surgery. If in doubt please discuss this with your doctor.
When you first start your treatment with Atenolol and at intervals during your treatment your doctor, in addition to frequently measuring your blood pressure, may wish to test that your kidneys are working properly.
Taking Atenolol with drink
You are advised to avoid alcohol while taking this medicine. If in doubt please discuss this with your doctor.
Pregnancy
Do not take Atenolol if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, unless you have been advised to do so by your doctor.
Breast-feeding
Do not take Atenolol if you are breast-feeding, unless you have been advised to do so by your doctor.
Driving and using machines
Do not drive or operate machines if you feel dizzy, light-headed, tired or have blurred vision all of which are possible side effects of taking Atenolol.
the usual dose is four tablets once a day OR two tablets twice a day. the usual dose is two tablets once a day OR one tablet twice a day. the usual dose is one tablet once a day OR half a tablet twice a day.
the usual dose is two to four tablets, once a day. the usual dose is one to two tablets, once a day. the usual dose is half to one tablet, once a day.
After a heart attack
You will normally be started on Atenolol in hospital after a heart attack, usually by injection.
• 25mg tablets: between 15 minutes and 12 hours after the injection, you will
normally be given two tablets. After a further 12 hours, four tablets. You will then need to take four tablets a day for up to ten days.
• 50mg tablets: between 15 minutes and 12 hours after the injection, you will
normally be given one tablet. After a further 12 hours, two tablets. You will then need to take two tablets a day for up to ten days.
• 100mg tablets: between 15 minutes and 12 hours after the injection, you will
normally be given half a tablet. After a further 12 hours, one tablet. You will then need to take one tablet a day for up to ten days.
Patients with severe kidney problems
If you suffer with kidney problems the dose of Atenolol will be adjusted depending on how well your kidneys are functioning. Kidney function is calculated by testing your blood and urine. The usual doses are:
• 25mg tablets: either two to four tablets once a day OR every second day.
• 50mg tablets: either one to two tablets once a day OR every second day.
• 100mg tablets: either half to one tablet once a day OR every second day.
If you are having dialysis treatment you will normally receive 50mg of Atenolol under hospital supervision, following each dialysis. Your doctor will let you know what your dose should be.
Elderly adults
Your doctor may prescribe you a lower dose to that described above if you are over 65 years of age, especially if you have kidney problems.
Children (less than 18 years of age):
Do not give to children aged less than 18 years of age.
If you take more Atenolol than you should
If you take more Atenolol than you should, talk to a doctor or go to a hospital straight away. Take the medicine pack with you. If possible get someone else to drive you.
If you forget to take Atenolol
• If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is nearly time for the next dose, skip the missed dose
• Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose
If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, Atenolol can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. The following side effects may occur with this medicine.
Stop taking your medicine and see a doctor or go to a hospital straight away, if you notice any of the following serious side effects - you may need urgent medical treatment:
• allergic reaction with symptoms such as difficulty breathing, skin rash, itching, swollen or lumpy skin, blisters, swollen face, lips, tongue or throat
Rare side effects (affects between 1 in 1,000 and 1 in 10,000 patients):
• slowed heartbeats, sleep disturbances
Other side effects:
• coldness of the hands and feet, tired muscles, drowsiness, dizziness, light-headedness, headache
• dry eyes, blurred vision, skin rashes, worsening psoriasis
• dry mouth, nausea (feeling sick), diarrhoea, constipation, pain and cramps in the belly
• difficulty breathing, increase in antinuclear antibodies (found by testing the blood)
If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leafet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
5. How to store Atenolol
• Keep out of the reach and sight of children
• Do not store above 25°C.
• Store in the original container.
• Do not use Atenolol after the expiry date which is stated on the carton after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
• Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required which will help protect the environment.
6. Further information
What Atenolol contains
• The drug substance is atenolol. Each tablet contains 25mg, 50mg or 100mg of the drug substance atenolol.
• The other ingredients are heavy magnesium carbonate, maize starch, microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate, sodium laurilsulfate, talc and gelatin.
What Atenolol Tablets look like and contents of the pack
• Atenolol Tablets are plain, white, round, flat tablets with a scoreline on one side.
Atenolol is only available from your pharmacist on prescription in blister pack sizes of 28, 100 or 250 tablets.
MA Holder: Zanza Laboratories (Holdings) Limited, Unit 2A, Olympic Way, Sefton Business Park, Liverpool L30 1RD, UK
Distributed by: Zanza Laboratories Limited, Liverpool, UK Date leaflet last revised: August 2011
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