Atenolol Sandoz 50mg Tablets 30

  Information General Information Atenolol Sandoz®atenolol tablets--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Consumer Medicine InformationWHAT IS IN THIS LEAFLETThis leaflet answers some common questions about Atenolol Sandoz.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 this medicine against the benefits they expect it will 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 need to read it again.WHAT ATENOLOL SANDOZ IS USED FORThis medicine 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.It contains the active ingredient atenolol. Atenolol belongs to a group of medicines called beta-blockers. It works by slowing down the heart and reducing its workload.Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you. Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.This medicine is not addictive.BEFORE YOU TAKE ATENOLOL SANDOZWhen you must not take itDo not take this medicine if you have an allergy to:atenolol, the active ingredient or to any of the other ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet under Product Descriptionany other similar medicine.Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:shortness of breathwheezing or difficulty breathingswelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the bodyrash, itching or hives on the skin.Do not take this medicine if you have or have had any of the following medical conditions:a heart condition other than that for which this medicine is prescribeda slow heart beatvery low blood pressure or poor circulationa condition called phaeochromocytoma (a rare type of tumour above the kidney)a condition called metabolic acidosis (too much acid in the blood)breathing problems such as asthma or breathlessness. Atenolol Sandoz may make these conditions worse.any allergy including hayfever.Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant.If may affect your developing baby if you take it during pregnancy.Do not breastfeed if you are taking this medicine.The active ingredient in Atenolol Sandoz passes into breast milk and there is a possibility that your baby may be affected.Do not take this medicine after the expiry date printed on the pack or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.If you are not sure whether you should start taking this medicine, talk to your doctor.Before you start to take itTell your doctor if you have allergies to any other medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes.Tell your doctor if you have or have had any medical conditions, especially the following:an overactive thyroida particular type of angina called prinzmetal angina or variant anginaproblems with your kidney functiondiabetesany medical condition affecting your blood vesselsany other heart problem.If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell him/her before you start taking Atenolol Sandoz.Taking other medicinesTell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you get without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.Some medicines and Atenolol Sandoz may interfere with each other. These include:other beta-blocker medicines including beta-blocker eye dropscalcium channel blockers, medicines used to treat high blood pressure and angina e.g. verapamil, diltiazem and nifedipineany other medicines used to treat irregular heart beat (arrhythmia), high blood pressure (hypertension) or severe chest pain (angina)clonidine or hydralazine, medicines used to treat high blood pressurecertain medicines used to treat abnormal or irregular heartbeat e.g. disopyramide, quinidineinsulin or other medication used to treat diabetescertain medicines used to treat arthritis, pain, or inflammation e.g. indomethacin or ibuprofendigoxin, a medicine used to treat heart failureguanethidine, a medicine used to treat certain heart conditionscold remedies.These medicines may be affected by Atenolol Sandoz, or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicine, or you may need to take different medicines.Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking this medicine.HOW TO TAKE ATENOLOL SANDOZFollow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully.They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.If you do not understand the instructions on the label, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.How much to takeAsk your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure of the correct dose for you.They will tell you exactly how much to take.The dose may vary from 50mg to 200mg (one to four tablets) per day, depending on your condition. Doses of up to 100mg are usually taken once daily, however, doses of more than 100mg should be divided and taken twice daily.If you need to break Atenolol Sandoz, hold the tablet with both hands and snap along the break line.How to take itAtenolol Sandoz tablets should be swallowed whole with a drink or a glass of water, during or immediately after food.When to take Atenolol SandozTake your medicine at about the same time each day.Taking it at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to take it.How long to take Atenolol SandozContinue taking your medicine for as long as your doctor tells you.This medicine helps control your condition, but does not cure it. It is important to keep taking your medicine even if you feel well.If you forget to take itTake 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.This may increase the chance of you getting an unwanted side effect.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 (overdose)Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you think you or anyone else may have taken too much Atenolol Sandoz. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.You may need urgent medical attention.Symptoms of an overdose may include a very slow heart beat, dizziness and breathlessness.WHILE YOU ARE TAKING ATENOLOL SANDOZThings you must doIf you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking Atenolol Sandoz.Tell any other doctors, dentists and pharmacists who treat you that you are taking this medicine.If you are going to have surgery, tell your surgeon or anaesthetist that you are taking this medicine. It may affect other medicines used during surgery.If you become pregnant while taking this medicine, tell your doctor immediately.If you are about to have any blood tests, tell your doctor that you are taking this medicine. It may interfere with the results of some tests.Tell your doctor if you have a severe allergic reaction to foods, medicines or insect stings.Keep all of your doctor’s appointments so that your progress can be checked.Your doctor may do some tests from time to time to make sure the medicine is working and to prevent unwanted side effects.Things you must not doDo not take Atenolol Sandoz to treat any other complaint unless your doctor tells you to.Do not give your medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.Things to be careful ofBe careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Atenolol Sandoz affects you.As with other beta-blockers, Atenolol Sandoz may cause dizziness or light-headedness in some people, especially after the first dose.SIDE EFFECTSTell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Atenolol Sandoz.All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical attention if you get some of the side effects.Do not be alarmed by the following lists of side effects. You may not experience any of them.Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.Tell your doctor or phamacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:indigestion, constipationdry mouthfatigue, dizziness (especially when standing up)hair lossproblems with sexual functionrunny or blocked nosedepression and confusiondifficulty sleeping, nightmaresweakness, lack of energy.These are mild side effects of the medicine.Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following:abnormal thinking, hallucinations (seeing, feeling or hearing things that are not there)dizziness or light-headedness (sometimes with fainting), especially on standing up, which may be due to low blood pressureskin reactions e.g. rash, itching, hives, flaking of skin, worsening of psoriasistingling or pins and needles in the hands and/or feetcoldness, burning, numbness or pain in the arms and/or legsirritated eyes (red, runny, itchy or dry), visual disturbances (e.g. blurred vision)buzzing or ringing in the ears, difficulty hearingdifficulty in speakingunsteadiness when walking.The above list includes serious side effects that may require medical attention. Serious side effects are rare.If any of the following happen, stop taking Atenolol Sandoz, 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 breathingshortness of breath, sometimes with tiredness, weakness and reduced ability to exercise, swelling of the feet or legs due to fluid build-upunusual bruising or bleedingchest pain, changes in heart rate (fast, slow or irregular), palpitationschest tightness, wheezing, difficulty breathingyellowing of the skin and/or eyes (jaundice).The above list includes very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation. All of these side effects are very rare.Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell. Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people.AFTER TAKING ATENOLOL SANDOZStorageKeep your medicine in the original container. If you take it out of its original container it may not keep well.Keep your medicine in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C.Do not store Atenolol Sandoz or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it on a window sill or in the car.Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.Keep it where children cannot reach it. A locked cupboard at least one and a half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.DisposalIf your doctor tells you to stop taking this medicine or the expiry date has passed, ask your pharmacist what to do with any medicine that is left over.Product descriptionWhat it looks likeAtenolol Sandoz 50mg tablets - white, round film-coated tablet with a one-sided score notch. Available in blisters of 30 tablets.IngredientsActive ingredients:Atenolol Sandoz 50mg - 50mg atenolol.Inactive ingredients:maize starchsodium lauryl sulfateheavy magnesium carbonatemagnesium stearategelatinlactosehypromellosetitanium dioxidemacrogol 4000.SupplierAtenolol Sandoz is supplied in Australia by:Sandoz Pty LtdABN 60 075 449 553Level 4, 100 Harris StPyrmont NSW 2009Tel: 1800 634 500 1800 634 500This leaflet was revised in October 2009.Australian Register Number50mg tablets: AUST R 101462 (blister)Published by MIMS/myDr March 2010Consumers should be aware that the information provided by the Consumer Medicines Information (“CMI”) search (“CMI Search”) is for information purposes only and consumers should continue to obtain professional advice from a qualified healthcare professional regarding any condition for which they have searched for CMI. CMI is supplied by the relevant pharmaceutical company for each consumer medical product. All copyright and responsibility for CMI is that of the relevant pharmaceutical company. UBM Medica Australia uses its best endeavours to ensure that at the time of publishing, as indicated on the publishing date for each resource (e.g. “Published by MIMS/myDr January 2007”), the CMI provided was complete to the best of UBM Medica Australia’s knowledge. The CMI and the CMI Search are not intended to be used by consumers to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or for any therapeutic purpose. UBM Medica Australia, its servants and agents shall not be responsible for the continued currency of the CMI, or for any errors, omissions or inaccuracies in the CMI and/or the CMI Search whether arising from negligence or otherwise or from any other consequence arising there from Miscellaneous Drug Interactions Warnings Common Uses Ingredients Directions Indications