Atenolol 50 mg tablets This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about this medicine. If you would like more information about the medicine you are taking, check with your doctor or other health care provider. No rights can be derived from the information provided in this medicine leaflet. After a heart attack: initial treatment will usually What Atenolol is are and what its used for Taking other medicines be by injection, if no response followed by 50mg Atenolol belongs to a group of medicines called Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are by mouth 15 minutes after the injection. A further beta-blockers. It is used to: taking or have recently taken any other medicines, 50mg 12 hours later and then 100mg 12 hours control high blood pressure. including medicines obtained without a later. 100mg to be taken once a day thereafter. relieve chest pain (angina pectoris). prescription. Especially: control irregular heart beat. clonidine (to treat high blood pressure) Elderly protect the heart in the early treatment after disopyramide, quinidine and amiodarone (to Your doctor may prescribe you a lower dose if you a heart attack. treat irregular heartbeat are elderly, especially if you have impaired kidney medicines to treat diabetes including insulin function. Before you take Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug Do not take Atenolol tablets and tell your doctor if (NSAIDs) e.g. indometacin Children under 12 years you: digitalis glycosides such as digoxin (to treat Not recommended. are allergic (hypersensitive) to atenolol or heart conditions) any of the other ingredients in Atenolol nifedipine, diltiazem, verapamil, prazosin, Patients with kidney failure tablets (see section 6). alfuzosin and terazosin (to treat high blood Your doctor may prescribe you a lower dose if you have second or third degree heart block. pressure) have kidney failure. have shock caused by heart problems. sympathicomimetic agents (decongestant, Mild to moderate kidney failure – 50mg a day or have heart failure which is not under control. asthma or heart medicine) 100mg once every two days suffer with heart conduction or rhythm isoprenaline or dobutamine (widens blood Moderate to severe kidney failure – 50mg once problems vessels) every two days or 100mg once every four days Patients on haemodialysis should be given 50mg have a slow heart rate tricyclic antidepressants e.g. amitriptyline after each dialysis. have low blood pressure. barbiturates e.g. phenobarbital (used for suffer from severe blood circulation insomnia, epilepsy or as an anaesthetic) If you take more than you should problems (which may cause your fingers and phenothiazines e.g. chlorpromazine (for If you have accidentally taken more than the toes to tingle or turn pale or blue) mental illness). prescribed dose, contact your nearest casualty suffer from an increased acidity of the blood department or tell your doctor or pharmacist at (metabolic acidosis) Pregnancy and breast-feeding once. Symptoms of an overdose include a slow or If you are pregnant or planning to become suffer from untreated phaeochromocytoma irregular heart beat, low blood pressure, difficulty pregnant, speak to your doctor before taking this (high blood pressure due to a tumour near breathing due to fluid on the lungs, acute impaired medicine. Breast-feeding is not recommended the kidney). heart function and shock, fainting. whilst taking Atenolol tablets. have or have had breathing problems such as asthma, difficulty breathing due to narrowing If you forget to take the tablets Ingredient warning of the airways or reversible obstructive If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you Atenolol 50mg and 100mg tablets contain sunset airways disease. Do not take this medicine if remember, unless it is nearly time for your next yellow (E110) which may cause allergic reactions. you have a history of wheezing or asthma. dose. Then go on as before. Never double up on Alcohol intake Consult your doctor or pharmacist first. the next dose to make up for the one missed. You are advised to avoid alcohol whilst taking this medicine. Take special care with Atenolol tablets and tell If you stop taking the tablets your doctor if you: Do not stop treatment early, especially if you have Driving and using machines have a history of allergic reactions ischaemic heart disease. Talk to your doctor Atenolol tablets may cause dizziness or tiredness. have heart problems such as heart failure, before you stop taking the tablets and follow their Make sure you are not affected before driving or untreated congestive heart failure, ischaemic advice. operating machinery. heart disease, poor heart function (poor cardiac reserve) or first degree heart block. Possible side effects Anaesthetics and surgery suffer from blood circulation problems Like all medicines, Atenolol tablets can cause side If you are going to have an operation or an (which may cause your fingers and toes to effects, although not everybody gets them. anaesthetic, please tell your doctor or dentist that tingle or turn pale or blue) or cramping pain you are taking Atenolol tablets as your heart beat causing limping (intermittent claudication). Contact your doctor at once if you have the might slow down too much and there may be an suffer with diabetes mellitus (low blood following: increased risk of developing low blood pressure. sugar levels may be hidden by this medicine) An allergic reaction such as itching, difficulty have impaired liver or kidney function. breathing or swelling of the face, lips, throat or How to take are elderly. tongue. Always take Atenolol tablets exactly as your doctor suffer from a tight, painful feeling in the altered numbers and types of your blood cells. If has told you. If you are not sure, check with your chest in periods of rest (Prinzmetal’s angina) you notice increased bruising, nosebleeds, sore doctor or pharmacist. have or have had psoriasis. throats or infections, you should tell your doctor Take the tablets with water suffer from treated phaeochromocytoma who may want to give you a blood test. (high blood pressure due to a tumour near breathing difficulties caused by narrowing of the Doses: the kidney). airways in patients who have asthma or have had Adults and children over 12 years breathing problems. have high levels of thyroid hormone in the High blood pressure: 50-100mg a day as a single heart attack. body (thyrotoxicosis). dose. How to store Angina: 100mg once a day or 50mg twice a day. Keep out of the reach and sight of children. Irregular heart beat: initial treatment will usually Do not store above 25°C. be by injection, followed by a maintenance dose Store in the original package. by mouth of 50-100mg a day as a single dose. Keep container in the outer carton. Do not use after the expiry date stated on the label/carton/bottle. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month. Lagaay International BV Van Helmontstraat 99 3029 AA Rotterdam, The Netherlands Tel: +31 - 10 4123871 .