Product Details

What you need to know before you take Atenolol

Do not take Atenolol:

• 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 alphablocker, to take as well as Atenolol. • If you have been told that you have higher than normal levels of acid in your blood (metabolic acidosis). Do not take Atenolol if any of the above apply to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Atenolol. Warnings and precautions Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Atenolol 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. • 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. Other medicines and Atenolol 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 can affect the way some other medicines work and some medicines can have an effect on Atenolol. 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 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. • 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.This is because you can get low blood pressure (hypotension) if you are given certain anaesthetics while you are taking Atenolol. 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 contains sodium This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.