Chemmart Atenolol 50mg Tablets (Pack of 30)

Chem mart(R) Atenolol

Atenolol

Consumer Medicine Information

What is in this leaflet

This leaflet answers some common questions about Chem mart Atenolol. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.

All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risk of you taking Atenolol against the benefits it is expected to have for you.

If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Keep this leaflet with the medicine.

You may want to read it again.

What Chem mart Atenolol is used for

The name of your medicine is Chem mart Atenolol. It contains the active ingredient atenolol. Atenolol is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and a number of heart conditions such as angina (chest pain), irregular heart beats (cardiac arrhythmias) or to reduce your risk of heart complications following a heart attack.

Your doctor may have prescribed atenolol for another reason.

Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why atenolol was prescribed for you.

How Chem mart Atenolol works

Atenolol belongs to a group of medicines called beta-blockers. Atenolol works by slowing down the heart and reducing its workload.

There is no evidence that atenolol is addictive.

Before you take Chem mart Atenolol

When you must not take Chem mart Atenolol

Do not take Atenolol if:

  • You are allergic to the active ingredient or any of the inactive ingredients mentioned at the end of this leaflet under Product Description.
  • You have an allergy to any other beta-blocker medicine.
  • It is past it`s expiry date or the packaging appears to have been tampered with.
  • You are pregnant or breast feeding, or if there is a chance that pregnancy may occur.
  • You have a heart condition other than that for which this medicine is prescribed.
  • You have a slow heart beat.
  • You have very low blood pressure or poor circulation.
  • You have a condition called phaeochromocytoma (a rare type of tumour above the kidney).
  • You have a condition called metabolic acidosis (too much acid in the blood).
  • You have asthma or any allergies including hayfever.

    • Before you start to take Chem mart Atenolol

    Tell your doctor if you have allergies to:

  • Any other medicines, especially if they are in the same drug class as atenolol.
  • Any other substances, including foods, preservatives or dyes.

    • Tell your doctor if you plan on becoming pregnant or will be breast feeding while you are using atenolol.

    Tell your doctor if you have or have had any medical conditions, especially the following:

  • An overactive thyroid.
  • A particular type of angina called prinzmetal angina or variant angina.
  • Problems with your kidney function.
  • Diabetes.
  • Any medical condition affecting your blood vessels.
  • Any other heart problem.

    • Taking other medicines

    Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicine, including any that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

    In particular, tell your doctor if you take any of the following:

  • Other beta-blocker medicines, including beta-blocker eye drops.
  • Calcium channel blockers (for example verapamil, diltiazem and nifedipine) or calcium antagonists, medicines used to treat high blood pressure and angina.
  • Any other medicines to treat irregular heart beat (arrhythmia), high blood pressure (hypertension) or severe chest pain (angina).
  • Clonidine, hydralazine, medicines used to treat high blood pressure.
  • Certain medicines used to treat abnormal or irregular heartbeat, for example disopyramide, quinidine.
  • Insulin and tablets used to treat diabetes.
  • Certain medicines used to treat arthritis, pain, or inflammation, for example indomethacin or ibuprofen.
  • Digoxin, a medicine used to treat heart failure.
  • Guanethidine, a medicine used to treat certain heart conditions.
  • Cold remedies.
  • Some medicines used during surgery such as anaesthetics.

    • These medicines may be affected by atenolol, or may affect how well it works. You may need to use different amounts of your medicine, or you may need to take different medicines. Your doctor will advise you.

  • How to take Chem mart Atenolol

    Swallow the tablet(s) with a little fluid.

    Average optimum dosage range appears to be 50 to 100 mg/day. The maximum recommended dose is 200 mg/day.

    Doses of up to 100 mg are usually taken once daily, however, doses of more than 100mg should be divided throughout the day and taken twice daily.

    To break atenolol tablets into two equal halves place on a flat surface and press down on either side of break line with thumb and forefinger.

    Your atenolol tablets may be provided in a calendar pack which is designed to remind you when to take this medication. To do this, take your first dose from the position marked “First Day “. On the following day take the first tablet which is labelled with the appropriate day. When you have taken all doses in this pack, take your next atenolol prescription in the same way.

    The dosage recommendation and duration of treatment will be determined for your specific condition by your doctor.

    If you forget to take your dose

    Take your dose as soon as you remember, and continue to take it as you would normally.

    If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.

    Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed.

    If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

    If you have trouble remembering when to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.

    If you take too much

    Immediately telephone your doctor, or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 131 126) or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital, if you think you or anyone else has taken too much atenolol.

    Do this even if there is no signs of discomfort or poisoning.

    While you are using Chem mart Atenolol

    Things you must do

  • Always follow your doctor`s instructions carefully.
  • Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while taking atenolol.
  • If you are about to start taking a new medicine, tell your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking atenolol.
  • If you are to be the subject of any kind of operation or anaesthetic, you should tell your surgeon or anaesthetist that you are taking atenolol.
  • If you have a severe allergic reaction to foods, medicines or insect stings, tell your doctor immediately.

  • Things you must not do

  • Do not stop taking atenolol without your doctor`s permission.
  • Do not use atenolol to treat any other complaint unless your doctor says so.
  • Do not give this medication to anyone else, even if their symptoms seem similar to yours.

  • Things to be careful of

    Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how atenolol affects you.

    As with other beta-blockers, atenolol may cause dizziness or lightheadedness in some people, especially after the first dose.

  • Side effects

    All medicines can have unwanted effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.

    Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:

  • Indigestion, constipation.
  • Dry mouth.
  • Fatigue, dizziness (especially when standing up).
  • Hair loss.
  • Problems with sexual function.
  • Runny or blocked nose.
  • Depression and confusion.
  • Difficulty sleeping, nightmares.
  • Weakness, lack of energy.

    • Mostly, these are mild side effects.

    Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:

  • Abnormal thinking, hallucinations (seeing, feeling or hearing things that are not there).
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness (sometimes with fainting), especially on standing up, which may be due to low blood pressure.
  • Skin reactions (eg. rash, itching, hives, flaking of skin, worsening of psoriasis).
  • Tingling or pins and needles in the hands and/or feet.
  • Coldness, burning, numbness or pain in the arms and/or legs.
  • Irritated eyes (red, runny, itchy or dry), visual disturbances (eg. blurred vision).
  • Buzzing or ringing in the ears, difficulty hearing.
  • Difficulty in speaking.
  • Unsteadiness when walking.

    • These may be serious side effects of atenolol. You may need urgent medical attention. Serious side effects are rare.

    If any of the following happen, stop taking atenolol, and tell your doctor immediately, or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital:

  • Swelling of the face, lips, mouth or throat which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing.
  • Shortness of breath, sometimes with tiredness, weakness and reduced ability to exercise, swelling of the feet or legs due to fluid buildup.
  • Unusual bruising or bleeding.
  • Chest pain, changes in heart rate (fast, slow or irregular), palpitations.
  • Chest tightness, wheezing, rattly breathing.
  • Yellowing of the skin and/or eyes (jaundice).

    • These are very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation. All of these side effects are very rare.

    Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people. Tell your doctor if you notice any other effects.

    After using Chem mart Atenolol

    Storage

    Keep Chem mart Atenolol in the original packaging until you need to take it.

    Store below 25 degrees C in a dry place, out of the reach of children.

    Disposal

    Return any unused or out of date medicine to your pharmacist.

    Product description

    What Chem mart Atenolol looks like

    Chem mart Atenolol 50 mg: They are available in blisters of 30 tablets.

    Ingredients

    As well as the active ingredient atenolol, Chem mart Atenolol also contains some inactive ingredients. These are:

  • maize starch,
  • sodium dodecyl sulfate,
  • magnesium carbonate heavy,
  • magnesium stearate,
  • gelatin,
  • methylhydroxypropylcellulose and
  • propylene glycol.

    • Sponsor

  • GenRx Pty Ltd
  • ABN 52 096 916 148
  • Level 21, 390 St Kilda Road
  • Melbourne, Victoria 3004
  • Australia

    • Distributor

  • Chem mart Pty Limited
  • ABN 92 001 235 374
  • 115 Sherriff Street
  • Underdale
  • South Australia 5032
  • Chem mart(R) is a registered trade mark of FH Faulding & Co Limited
  • This leaflet was prepared February 2004

    • Australian Register Number

    50 mg tablets : AUST R 78440

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