Patient leaflet - ATENOLOL 25 MG TABLETS
3. how to take atenolol tablets
Always take Atenolol Tablets exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. If your doctor prescribes a low-salt or low-sodium diet, follow these directions carefully.
Dosage – Treatment with Atenolol Tablets is usually long-term. Follow the doctor’s advice on how and when to take the tablets. You should swallow the tablets whole with a glass of water. The dose you should take depends on what you are taking Atenolol Tablets for.
Adults:
- High blood pressure The usual dose is 50mg – 100mg daily
- Angina The usual dose is 100mg once daily or 50mg twice daily
- Irregular heart beats The usual dose is 50–100mg daily, given as a single dose
- Myocardial Infarction 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.
Elderly: If you are elderly, the dose you take will be similar to the adults. The above dosages may sometimes be reduced especially if you have damaged kidneys.
Children: Not recommended.
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.
If you take more Atenolol Tablets than you should
If you take more Atenolol Tablets than you should, contact your doctor or nearest hospital emergency department immediately. If an overdose has been taken, there may be signs such as slow or irregular heart beats, low blood pressure, fluid on the lungs, fainting and cardiac shock (a decreased pumping ability of the heart that causes a shocklike state). Take the pack and remaining tablets with you.
If you forget to take Atenolol Tablets
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten tablet.
If you stop taking Atenolol
Do not stop taking Atenolol Tablets without talking to your doctor, even if you feel better. Suddenly stopping Atenolol may cause chest pain, heart attack, or irregular heartbeat. Your doctor will probably decrease your dose gradually.
4. possible side effects
Like all medicines, Atenolol Tablets can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Very serious side effects – If any of the following happens, stop taking Atenolol Tablets and tell your doctor immediately or go to the nearest hospital emergency department:
- Rare allergic (Hypersensitive) reactions such as difficulty of breathing, swelling of your face, throat or tongue, skin rash, itching, nettle rash, blisters, blood spots, wheals (small swellings on the skin) and, less often, blistering skin diseases which may appear like a burn, or as a red/purple rash, or a scaly skin.
Other possible side effects:
Common (occurring in less than 1 in 10 patients)
- slow heartbeat
- coldness of hands and feet
- stomach upset, diarrhoea
- tiredness
Uncommon (occurring in less than 1 in 100 patients)
- sleep disturbances
- liver problems
Rare or very rare (occurring in less than 1 in 1,000 patients)
- changes in heart rhythm (including slow heart rate or heart block)
- being short of breath or having swollen ankles (if you have heart failure)
- low blood pressure on standing, fainting, worsening of existing heart failure, heart attack and circulation failure
- sensation of tingling, pricking, or numbness on the skin
- fewer blood platelets (this may make you bruise more easily)
- mood changes, nightmares, confusion, sensing things that are not real, mental illness of which you are not aware
- dizziness, headache
- dry eyes, impaired vision
- a feeling of dizziness or “spinning”
- tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
- being unable to get an erection (impotence)
- difficulty in breathing (especially in patients who have asthma)
- dry mouth
- baldness, thinning of the hair
- liver toxicity
- worsening of psoriasis (a skin condition)
- changes detected in blood test for ‘ANA’ (antinuclear antibody)
If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at:
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. how to store atenolol tablets
Keep out of the reach and sight of children.
Do not store the tablets above 25°C. Store in a cool dry place. Protect from light. Keep them in the original pack. Do not take these tablets after the expiry date shown on the pack. 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. These measures will help to protect the environment.
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6. FURTHER INFORMATION