Atenolol Tablets Bp 50mg
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ATENOLOL TABLETS BP 50mg and 100mg
This leaflet has been designed to provide you with information on Atenolol Tablets BP and the way it should be taken to gain the greatest benefit from the product.
Please read this leaflet carefully and follow the instructions given.
If you have any questions or are not sure about anything, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
What is in your medicine?
Atenolol belongs to a class of medicines called the beta-blockers, which are used to control blood pressure and heart rate.
The name of your medicine is Atenolol Tablets BP. Its active ingredient is Atenolol.
The tablets also contain the inactive ingredients ac-di-sol, calcium hydrogen phosphate, cellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, magnesium stearate, povidone, starch and the colouring agents E104, E110 and E171.
There are two strengths of Atenolol Tablets BP available; one printed with A431 on one face - the 50mg tablet; the other printed with A432 on one face - the 100mg tablet.
Atenolol tablets, in each of the strengths, are available in packs containing 28 or 30 tablets.
Marketing Authorisation Holder & Manufacturer:
ZeCare Ltd.
Unit 5 Blenheim Court, Brownfields,
Welwyn Garden City,
Hertfordshire, AL7 1AN, UK.
What is your medicine for?
This medicine is used to lower your blood pressure or to treat your chest pain (angina). It may also help to keep your heart beating regularly or to protect it after a heart attack.
Are there any special precautions to take before using Atenolol Tablets BP?
If you have ever had asthma or wheezing, you should not take this medicine unless you have discussed these symptoms with the prescribing doctor.
You should only take this medicine if your doctor has advised you to.
Before taking Atenolol T ablets BP, ask yourself the following questions. If you answer YES to any of these questions or you are not sure, consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking Atenolol Tablets BP.
■ Has my doctor told me that I have heart disease or have had heart failure (controlled or not under control)?
■ Has my doctor told me that I have Prinzmetals angina, a particular type of chest pain?
■ Have I been told that my heart rate/pulse is less than 45 beats per minute, or that I suffer from sick sinus syndrome?
■ Have I been told that I have a slow heart beat and my pulse is less than 50 - 55 beats per minute? Your doctor should reduce your dose
■ Do I suffer from tiredness or ankle swelling due to a weak heart?
■ Am I diabetic, or do I suffer from thyroid problems (thyrotoxicosis)?
■ Do I have or have I ever suffered from kidney disease?
■ Do I suffer from psoriasis or allergic reactions?
■ Am I currently taking medicine to treat poor circulation?
■ Do I suffer from conditions called metabolic acidosis or phaeochromocytoma? Your doctor will know about these conditions.
■ Have I ever suffered a hypersensitivity reaction to atenolol or any of the other ingredients in the tablets?
• Do I have poor circulation?
• Do I have a history of serious allergic reaction (anaphylactic) which causes difficulty breathing or dizziness? Your usual doses of adrenaline (epinephrine) used to treat allergic reactions may not work.
Special precautions?
Do not suddenly stop taking Atenolol Tablets BP. If you need to stop this medicine, you should do so gradually over a period of 7 - 14 days. You should be monitored by your doctor whilst stopping, especially if you have heart disease.
If you are due to have surgery and your doctor decides to stop your treatment with Atenolol, this should be done at least 24 hours before the operation. (Also see 'Other medicines' and concurrent use with anaesthetics).
Effect on ability to drive
Your medicine is unlikely to affect your ability to drive. However some people may occasionally feel dizzy or tired when taking Atenolol. If this happens ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Pregnancy
If you are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant, you should talk to your doctor about whether or not you can take Atenolol Tablets BP.
Breastfeeding
As this medicine will get into your milk, you should talk to your doctor before breastfeeding.
Other medicines
Always tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking other medicines because taking some medicines in combination with others can be harmful.
Concurrent use of anaesthetics may increase the risk of problems with the heart and low blood pressure (hypotension). You must tell the medical staff that you are taking Atenolol.
If you are taking verapamil, diltiazem or nifedipine for high blood pressure or chest pain, it may cause severe low blood pressure, slow heart beat and heart failure.
If you are taking digitalis glycosides, such as digoxin, it may increase your heart beat rate.
If you are taking clonidine for high blood pressure or migraine, it may make your high blood pressure worse when you stop taking clonidine. If you are taking clonidine and atenolol together, do not stop taking clonidine unless your doctor tells you to do so. If you have to stop taking clonidine, your doctor will give you careful instructions about how to do it.
If you are taking anti-arrhythmic medicines for an irregular heartbeat, such as disopyramide and amiodarone, it may affect your heart beat.
If you are taking adrenaline (epinephrine), a medicine which stimulates the heart, it may decrease the effect of atenolol
If you take insulin or oral medicines for diabetes, the risk of developing low blood sugar levels (hypoglycaemia) may be increased. Betablockers, such as atenolol may mask certain symptoms which occur when low blood sugar levels (hypoglycaemia) develop, in particular, a faster heart beat
If you take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents such as ibuprofen or indometacin,for pain and inflammation, the blood pressure lowering (antihypertensive) effect may be reduced.
When you take your Medicine
Follow your doctor's directions about when and how to take your medicine. Your pharmacist will also help you if you are not sure.
Normal dosage is:
Adults
100mg Atenolol daily as a single dose.
Angina:
100mg Atenolol once daily or 50mg twice daily.
Dysrhythmias:
50 to 100mg Atenolol daily as a single dose.
Myocardial infarction:
15 minutes after the intravenous dose, the normal dose is 50mg atenolol followed by a further 50mg dose 12 hours after the intravenous dose.
Normally, after an additional 12 hours, 100mg atenolol is taken once daily.
Elderly patients
Your doctor may reduce the dosage especially if you suffer from poor kidney function.
Children
Atenolol Tablets BP should not be taken by children.
Patients with kidney disease
If you suffer from kidney disease the dosage will be adjusted.
Your doctor will advise you of the appropriate dosage to suit your condition.
Try to take the tablet at the same time every day.
Swallow the tablets whole with water.
Keep taking your medicine until your doctor tells you to stop.
If you forget to take your medicine, take your dose when you remember and then your next dose at the usual time. It is important however NOT to take two doses at the same time. If you are worried ask your doctor or pharmacist.
What should you do if you take too many Atenolol Tablets BP?
If you take too many tablets, contact your doctor or local hospital without delay. Always take any remaining tablets and the container, so that the medicine can be identified.
Symptoms of an overdose include slow heart beat, feeling dizzy, light-headed or fainting (due to severe low blood pressure), breathing problems, short lived attacks of breathlessness, tiredness, and weakness (due to heart failure)
Are there any side effects?
Like all medicines, atenolol can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them.
Allergic reactions:
If you have an allergic reaction, see a doctor straight away. The signs may include itchy rash or swelling of your face or throat.
Other possible side effects:
Common (affects less than 1 in 10 people)
• Slower heart beat
• Cold hands and feet.
• Diarrhoea.
• Feeling tired.
Uncommon (affects less than 1 in 100 people)
• Disturbed sleep.
• Increase in liver enzyme levels (detected through blood tests)
Rare (affects less than 1 in 1,000 people)
• Heart block (which can cause dizziness, abnormal heart beat, tiredness or fainting)
• Poor blood circulation which makes the toes and fingers numb and pale
• Mood changes
• Nightmares
• Feeling confused
• Changes in personality (psychoses), seeing or hearing things that are not real (hallucinations)
• Headache.
• Dizziness (particularly when standing up).
• Light-headedness, fainting or dizziness especially when going from sitting or lying position to standing up
• Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
• Being unable to get an erection (impotence).
• Dry mouth.
• Dry eyes.
• Disturbances of vision.
• Hair loss
• Skin rash
• Reduced numbers of platelets in your blood, which may increase the risk of bleeding or bruising
• Purplish marks on your skin.
• Jaundice (causing yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes).
Very rare (affects less than 1 in 10,000 people)
• Changes to some of the cells or other parts of your blood. Your doctor may take blood samples every so often to check whether atenolol has had any effect on your blood.
Conditions that may get worse
If you have any of the following conditions, they may get worse when you start to take your medicine. This happens rarely affecting less than 1 in 1,000 people.
• Psoriasis (a skin condition).
• Being short of breath or having swollen ankles (if you have heart failure).
• Asthma or breathing problems.
• Pain and/or cramping in the lower leg (intermittent claudication)
If symptoms persist or become troublesome, consult your doctor.
If your medicine affects you in any other way, you should tell your doctor or pharmacist.
Storing your medicine
Keep out of reach and sight of children.
Store this medicine below 25°C in a cool, dry place protected from direct sunlight. Keep it in the pack in which it was given to you. Do not transfer your medicine to another container.
Further information
The expiry date is printed on the package. Please do not use this medicine after this date!
This information applies only to Atenolol Tablets.
REMEMBER
This medicine is only for YOU. Only a doctor can prescribe it, so never offer it to anybody else. It may harm them, even if their symptoms seem to be the same as yours.
Product Licence Numbers:
Atenolol Tablets 50mg - PL 24581/0006 Atenolol Tablets 100mg - PL 24581/0007
This leaflet was last revised in January 2010
Code: ZC-Ver 2.1s