Patient leaflet - Atenolol 25 mg film-coated tablets
1. What Atenolol film-coated tablets is and what it is used for
Atenolol film-coated tablets contains a medicine called atenolol. This belongs to a group of medicines called beta-blockers.
Atenolol film-coated tablets is used to:
- Treat high blood pressure (hypertension).
- Treat uneven heart beats (arrhythmias).
- Help prevent chest pain (angina).
- Protect the heart in the early treatment after a heart attack (myocardial infarction).
It works by making your heart beat more slowly and with less force.
2. What you need to know before you take Atenolol film-coated tablets
Do not take Atenolol film-coated tablets:
- If you are allergic to atenolol or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
If you have ever had any of the following heart problems:
- heart failure which is not under control (this usually makes you breathless and causes your ankles to swell)
- second- or third-degree heart block (a condition which may be treated by a pacemaker)
- very slow or very uneven heart beats, very low blood pressure or very poor circulation.
- If you have a tumour called phaeochromocytoma that is not being treated. This is usually near your kidney and can cause high blood pressure. If you are being treated for phaeochromocytoma, your doctor will give you another medicine, called an alpha- blocker, to take as well as Atenolol film-coated tablets.
If you have been told that you have higher than normal levels of acid in your blood
(metabolic acidosis).
Do not take Atenolol film-coated tablets if any of the above apply to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Atenolol film-coated tablets.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Atenolol film-coated tablets if:
- You have asthma, wheezing or any other similar breathing problems, or you get allergic reactions, for example to insect stings. If you have ever had asthma or wheezing, do not take this medicine without first checking with your doctor.
- You have a type of chest pain (angina) called Prinzmetal's angina.
- You have poor blood circulation or controlled heart failure.
- You have first-degree heart block.
- You have diabetes. Your medicine may change how you respond to having low blood sugar. You may feel your heart beating faster. Atenolol could also increase the risk of severe hypoglycaemia when used with certain type of antidiabetic drugs called sulfonylureas (e.g. gliquidone, gliclazide, glibenclamide, glipizide, glimepiride or tolbutamide).
- You have thyrotoxicosis (a condition caused by an overactive thyroid gland). Your medicine may hide the symptoms of thyrotoxicosis.
- You have problems with your kidneys. You may need to have some check-ups during your treatment.
If you are not sure if any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Atenolol film-coated tablets.
Other medicines and Atenolol film-coated tablets
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. This includes medicines that you buy without a prescription and herbal medicines. This is because Atenolol film-coated tablets can affect the way some other medicines work and some medicines can have an effect on Atenolol film-coated tablets.
In particular, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
Clonidine (for high blood pressure or migraine). If you are taking clonidine and
Atenolol film-coated tablets 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.
- Verapamil, diltiazem and nifedipine (for high blood pressure or chest pain).
- Disopyramide, quinidine or amiodarone (for an uneven heart beat).
- Digoxin (for heart problems).
- Adrenaline, also known as epinephrine (a medicine that stimulates the heart).
- Ibuprofen or indometacin (for pain and inflammation).
Insulin or medicines that you take by mouth for diabetes. such as drugs called sulfonylureas
(e.g. gliquidone, gliclazide, glibenclamide, glipizide, glimepiride or tolbutamide.
- Medicines to treat nose or sinus congestion or other cold remedies (including those you can buy in the pharmacy).
Operations
If you go into hospital to have an operation, tell the anaesthetist or medical staff that you are taking Atenolol film-coated tablets. This is because you can get low blood pressure (hypotension) if you are given certain anaesthetics while you are taking Atenolol film-coated tablets.
Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
Driving and using machines
Your medicine is not likely to affect you being able to drive or use any tools or machines.
However, it is best to wait to see how your medicine affects you before trying these activities.
- If you feel dizzy or tired when taking this medicine, do not drive or use any tools or machines.
Atenolol film-coated tablets contains sodium
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.
3. How to take Atenolol film-coated tablets
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
- Your doctor will tell you how many tablets to take each day and when to take them. Read the label on the carton to remind you what the doctor said.
- Swallow your Atenolol film-coated tablet whole with a drink of water.
- Try to take your tablet at the same time each day.
Adults
- High blood pressure (hypertension): the recommended dose is 50 mg to 100 mg a day.
- Chest pain (angina): the recommended dose is 100 mg a day or 50 mg twice a day.
- Uneven heart beats (arrhythmias): the recommended dose is 50 mg to 100 mg a day.
The early treatment of a heart attack (myocardial infarction): the recommended dose is
50 mg to 100 mg a day.
Elderly
If you are an elderly person, your doctor may decide to give you a lower dose, particularly if you have problems with your kidneys.
People with severe kidney problems
If you have severe kidney problems your doctor may decide to give you a lower dose.
Use in Children
This medicine must not be given to children.
If you take more Atenolol film-coated tablets than you should
If you take more Atenolol film-coated tablets than prescribed by your doctor, talk to a doctor or go to a hospital straight away. Take the medicine pack with you so that the tablets can be identified.
If you forget to take Atenolol film-coated tablets
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you stop taking Atenolol film-coated tablets
Do not stop taking Atenolol film-coated tablets without talking to your doctor. In some cases, you may need to stop taking it gradually.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Allergic reactions:
If you have an allergic reaction, see a doctor straight away. The signs may include raised lumps on your skin (weals), or swelling of your face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat. Other possible side effects:
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
- You may notice that your pulse rate becomes slower while you are taking the tablets. This is normal, but if you are concerned please tell your doctor about it.
- Cold hands and feet.
- Diarrhoea.
- Feeling sick (nausea).
- Feeling tired.
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
- Disturbed sleep.
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)
- Heart block (which can cause dizziness, abnormal heart beat, tiredness or fainting).
- Numbness and spasm in your fingers which is followed by warmth and pain (Raynaud’s disease).
- Mood changes.
- Nightmares.
- Feeling confused.
- Changes in personality (psychoses) or hallucinations.
- Headache.
- Dizziness (particularly when standing up).
- Tingling of your hands.
- Being unable to get an erection (impotence).
- Dry mouth.
- Dry eyes.
- Disturbances of vision.
- Thinning of your hair.
- Skin rash.
- Reduced numbers of platelets in your blood (this may make you bruise more easily).
- Purplish marks on your skin.
- Jaundice (causing yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes).
Very rare (may affect up to 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 film-coated tablets has had any effect on your blood.
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)
- Lupus-like syndrome (a disease where the immune system produces antibodies that attacks mainly skin and joints).
- Depression.
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.
- Poor circulation.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store Atenolol film-coated tablets
- Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
- Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the blister strip. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
- Do not store above 25oC. Store your tablets in the original package. Keep the blister strip in the carton. This will protect your medicine from light and moisture.
- Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Atenolol film-coated tablets contains
The active substance is atenolol. Each film-coated tablet contains 25 mg (milligrams) of atenolol. The other ingredients are gelatin, heavy magnesium carbonate, magnesium stearate, hypromellose, sodium lauryl sulfate, maize starch, titanium dioxide, glycerol (E422). What Atenolol film-coated tablets looks like and contents of the pack
Atenolol 25 mg film-coated tablets are white and round, of diameter 6.5 mm with 25 embossed on one side and plain on the other side. They come in packs (blister strips) containing 28 tablets.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
The Marketing Authorisation for Atenolol 25 mg film-coated tablets is held by Atnahs Pharma UK Limited, Sovereign House, Miles Gray Road, Basildon, Essex, SS14 3FR, United Kingdom.
Atenolol 25 mg film-coated tablets are manufactured by AstraZeneca UK Limited, Silk Road Business Park, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK10 2NA, UK.
Corden Pharma GmbH, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 1 68723 Plankstadt, Germany.
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0800 198 5000 (UK only)
Please be ready to give the following information:
Product name Atenolol 25 mg film-coated tablets
Reference number PL 43252/0058
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