LO-TEN
Atenolol 50mg and 100mg Tablets
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about LO-TEN. It does not contain
all the information available on this medicine. It does not take the place of
talking to your doctor or pharmacist. All medicines have risks and benefits.
Your doctor has weighed the risks of using LO-TEN against the benefits expected
it will have for you. If you have any concerns about using this medicine, ask
your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet. You may want to read it again.
What LO-TEN is used for and how it works
Your LO-TEN tablets contain the active ingredient atenolol.
LO-TEN belongs to a group of medicines known as beta-blockers. It works by
changing the body's response to some nerve impulses, especially in the heart.
LO-TEN decreases the heart's need for blood and oxygen and therefore reduces the
amount of work the heart has to do. It also widens the blood vessels in the
body, causing blood pressure to fall. It also helps the heart beat more
regularly.
LO-TEN is used to lower high blood pressure (hypertension), prevent angina
(chest pain), treat irregular heart beats (cardiac dysrhythmias) or reduce your
risk of heart complication following heart attack (myocardial infarction).
Your doctor may, however, prescribe LO-TEN for another reason. Ask your
doctor if you have any questions about why LO-TEN has been prescribed for you.
There is no evidence that LO-TEN is addictive.
LO-TEN is available on prescription from your doctor.
Before you take LO-TEN
When you must not take it
Do not take LO-TEN if:
- You are allergic to atenolol or any other ingredients listed at the end
of this leaflet - You have asthma, wheezing or difficulty breathing, or a history of lung
problems - You have a severe blood vessel disorder causing poor circulation in the
arms and legs - You have certain other heart problems
- You have a very slow heart beat, less than 45-50 beats per minute
- You have low blood pressure, also called hypotension
- You have too much acid in your blood, also called metabolic acidosis
- You have a phaeochromocytoma (a rare tumour of the adrenal gland) which
is not already being treated with other medicines - You have a certain type of angina called Prinzmetal's angina.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include shortness of breath, wheezing or
difficulty breathing, asthma, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts
of the body; rash, itching or hives on the skin.
Before you take it
Tell your doctor:
- If you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant
- If you are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed
- If you plan to have surgery
- If you suffer from heart problems
- If you have diabetes
- If you have a liver or kidney problem
- If you have an overactive thyroid
- If you have a medical condition affecting your blood vessels.
Taking other medicines
If you are taking any other medicines, including any you get without a
prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop, tell your doctor
or pharmacist.
Medicines that may interfere with LO-TEN include:
- Insulin and other medications used to treat diabetes
- Other medicines used to treat high blood pressure; angina or an irregular
heart beat including calcium channel blockers eg. Disopyramide, digoxin,
clonidine, hydralazine, diltiazem, verapamil, and nifedipine - Lignocaine
- Sympathomimetic agents e.g. adrenalin (used in emergency situations)
- Cimetidine, a medicine commonly used to treat reflux and ulcers
- Medicines used in the treatment and prevention of migraines such as
ergotamine and ergotamine type compounds - Medicines used to treat arthritis, pain or inflammation such as ibuprofen
or indomethacin
These medicines may be affected by LO-TEN or may affect how well LO-TEN
works. You may need different amounts of your medicines or you may need to take
different medicines.
Your doctor or pharmacist has more information on medicines to be careful
with or avoid while taking LO-TEN.
How to take LO-TEN properly
How much to take
Your doctor will tell you how much LO-TEN you need to take each day. It is
important that you take LO-TEN as directed by your doctor. Do not take more than
the recommended dose.
The usual dose of LO-TEN is 50 to 100mg daily as a single dose.
It usually takes 1 to 2 weeks before the full effect of LO-TEN is noticed.
This may differ depending on your condition and whether you are taking any
other medicines. Your doctor will tell you exactly how much you should take.
The elderly may require a lower dose than this, especially in patients with
kidney problems.
How long to take it
To properly control your condition, LO-TEN must be taken everyday. Continue
taking LO-TEN for as long as your doctor prescribes.
If you forget a dose
If you forget a dose, just take the next dose when it is due. Do not take
more than one dose at a time to make up for missed doses.
Taking your medicine at the same time each day will have the best effect. It
may help you to remember to take it regularly. If you have trouble remembering
to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
While you are taking LO-TEN
Tell all doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are
taking LO-TEN.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist that you are taking LO-TEN before you start
any new medicine.
Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while taking LO-TEN.
Tell your doctor if you develop a skin rash or hives while taking LO-TEN.
If you are going to have surgery, tell the surgeon or anaesthetist that you
are taking LO-TEN.
If you are going to have any blood tests, tell your doctor that you are
taking LO-TEN.
Do not take LO-TEN to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you
to.
Do not stop taking LO-TEN or lower the dose without first checking with your
doctor.
Do not give this medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same
condition as you.
If you are being treated for diabetes, make sure you check your blood sugar
level regularly and report any changes to your doctor. LO-TEN may change how
well your diabetes is controlled. It may also cover up some symptoms of low
blood sugar such as a fast heart rate. LO-TEN may also make low blood sugar last
longer. Your dose of diabetic medications, including insulin may need to be
changed.
LO-TEN may cause dizziness or tiredness in some people. Be careful when
driving, operating machinery or performing jobs that need you to be alert, until
you are certain that LO-TEN does not affect your performance.
Side effects
Tell your pharmacist or doctor as soon as possible if you do not feel well
while you are taking LO-TEN.
All medicines can have some unwanted effects. Sometimes they are serious,
most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of
the side effects.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they
worry you:
- Tiredness, dizziness
- Sleep disturbances or nightmares
- Hair loss
- Mood changes or confusion
- Dry eyes
- Feeling sick (nausea), vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain
These side effects are usually mild effects of atenolol.
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:
- Dry or irritated eyes, blurred vision
- Tingling, numbness and unusual colour changes in the hands or feet when
exposed to the cold - Skin rashes
Tell your doctor immediately or got to Accident and Emergency at the
nearest hospital if you notice any of the following:
- Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat which may cause difficulty in
swallowing - Chest tightness, difficulty breathing, wheezing
- Fast, slow or irregular heart beat
- Bruising or bleeding more easily than usual
- Signs of frequent infection such as fever, chills, sore throat and mouth
ulcers - Shortness of breath (sometimes with tiredness, weakness and reduced
ability to exercise), which may occur together with swelling of the feet or
legs due to fluid build up.
These are very serious side effects. If you have them, you may have had a
serious allergic reaction to LO-TEN. You may need urgent medical attention or
hospitalisation.
All of these side effects are very rare.
The list of side effects mentioned above is not complete. If you should
suffer from any of these side effects or any other undesired effect please tell
your doctor or pharmacist.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not
experience any of them.
In case of overdose
You should only take the number of tablets that you have been told.
Immediately contact your doctor or the National Poisons Information Centre
(0800 POISON or 0800 764 766) or go to the Emergency department at your nearest
hospital, if you think that you may have taken too much, or if anyone else has
taken any LO-TEN by mistake. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or
poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention. Take the container of
LO-TEN with you if you can.
Keep telephone numbers for these places handy.
Storage conditions
Do not take this medicine after the expiry date shown on the label or if the
packaging shows signs of tampering.
Keep your LO-TEN tablets in the container until it is time to take them.
Store below 25°C and out of reach of children. Avoid exposure to heat, light
and moisture.
Do not store LO-TEN, or any other medicine, in the bathroom or near a sink.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking LO-TEN or if the tablets have passed
the expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with the remaining medicine.
Product Description
What LO-TEN tablets look like
LO-TEN 50mg tablets are white, round tablets, engraved "AT" over "50" on one
side and with a "D" type break line on the other.
LO-TEN 100mg tablets are white, round tablets, engraved "AT" break line "100"
on one side.
Ingredients
Each LO-TEN tablet contains the active ingredient, atenolol.
Each tablet also contains lactose, maize starch, povidone, sodium starch
glycollate, microcrystalline cellulose, colloidal silicon dioxide, hydrogenated
vegetable oil, crospovidone and purified talc.