Patient Medication Information: uses, side effects, how to take - AA-Atenidone
Serious Warnings and Precautions
You should follow your healthcare professional’s instructions on how to reduce and stop your dose carefully and safely. If you have chest pain (angina) and then suddenly stop taking AA-ATENIDONE, you can experience serious side effects, including:
You should talk to your healthcare professional before stopping or lowering your dose of AA-ATENIDONE. You may be requested to limit your physical activity and/or to temporarily re-establish your previous dosing. |
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What is AA-ATENIDONE used for?
AA-ATENIDONE is used in adults (18 years of age or older) to:
- treat high blood pressure (also known as hypertension).
How does AA-ATENIDONE work?
AA-ATENIDONE contains two active ingredients: atenolol and chlorthalidone. Each active ingredient reduces blood pressure in a different way.
Atenolol belongs to a group of drugs called “beta blockers”.
- It makes your heart beat more slowly and less forcefully.
Chlorthalidone is a diuretic.
- It increases the amount of urine produced by the kidneys.
This medicine does not cure your disease but helps to control it.
What are the ingredients in AA-ATENIDONE?
Medicinal ingredients: atenolol and chlorthalidone
Non-medicinal ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, crospovidone, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose.
AA-ATENIDONE comes in the following dosage forms:
AA-ATENIDONE 50/25 tablets: 50 mg atenolol and 25 mg chlorthalidone
AA-ATENIDONE 100/25 tablets: 100 mg atenolol and 25 mg chlorthalidone
Do not use AA-ATENIDONE if:
- you are allergic to atenolol, chlorthalidone or sulfonamide derivatives such as sulfamethoxazole or any of the ingredients in AA-ATENIDONE.
- you have slow or irregular heartbeats or if you have been told that you have second or third degree heart block (a type of irregular heart beat and rhythm).
- you have severe heart damage and your heart is not able to pump enough blood to meet your body’s needs.
- you have heart failure and you notice that your symptoms are getting worse. For example, you feel more tired, are out of breath more often, or have swelling of the ankles.
- you have a problem with your heart’s electrical conduction (that causes you to have chest pain, difficulty breathing, nausea, fatigue and fainting).
- you have low blood pressure.
- you have serious problems with blood flow in your feet and legs (peripheral artery disease).
- you have loss of sensation with agents that cause heart failure.
- you have a condition called pheochromocytoma (a tumor of the adrenal gland).
- you have a condition called metabolic acidosis (abnormal levels of acids in your blood).
- you are unable to produce urine.
- you have severe kidney or liver problems.
- you have low blood levels of potassium or any conditions that cause you to lose potassium.
- you have low blood levels of sodium.
- you have high blood levels of calcium or uric acid.
- you have untreated Addison’s Disease, a condition involving your adrenal glands (the glands located above your kidneys).
- you are taking lithium, used to treat bipolar disorder.
you are pregnant, are trying or planning on becoming pregnant.
- you are breastfeeding.
To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you take AA-ATENIDONE. Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if you:
- have or have had a history of heart problems.
- have asthma or other lung problems (like bronchitis or emphysema).
- have thyroid or parathyroid problems.
- have high cholesterol levels.
- have liver or kidney problems.
- have circulation problems.
- have lupus or gout.
- have diabetes and take medicine to control your blood sugar or have low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
- have ever been told that you suffer from a particular type of chest pain (angina), called Prinzmetal’s angina.
- have had allergic reactions or have allergies.
- are going to have an operation or surgery. In addition, let the medical staff of the operation or surgery know and in particular the anaesthetist that you are taking AA-ATENIDONE.
- have had a surgery on a nerve (sympathectomy).
- are dehydrated or suffer from excessive vomiting, diarrhea, or sweating.
- are on a low-salt diet.
- are allergic to penicillin.
- have thickening and hardening of the walls of the arteries in the heart or brain.
- are taking digitalis, a drug used to treat heart problems.
Other warnings you should know about:
Drinking alcohol: Drinking alcohol while taking AA-ATENIDONE may change the effect of the medicine and cause your blood pressure to drop when standing up after sitting or lying down. This may make you feel dizzy or lightheaded.
Driving and using machines: AA-ATENIDONE can cause dizziness and fatigue. Before doing tasks that require special attention, wait until you know how you respond to AA-ATENIDONE.
Heart rate: You may notice that your heart rate becomes slower while taking AA-ATENIDONE. This is normal but if you are concerned, please talk to your healthcare professional about it.
Eye disorders: Chlorthalidone in AA-ATENIDONE can cause sudden eye
disorders such as:
- Choroidal effusion: an abnormal buildup of liquid in your eye that may result in vision changes.
- Myopia: sudden nearsightedness or blurred vision.
- Glaucoma: an increased pressure in your eyes, eye pain. May lead to permanent vision loss if untreated.
If your vision changes, stop taking AA-ATENIDONE and seek medical help. These eye disorders are related and can develop within hours to weeks of starting AA-ATENIDONE.
Check-Ups: Your healthcare professional may do blood tests during your treatment with AA-ATENIDONE. These tests may be done to check your:
- Electrolyte levels, such as potassium, sodium, or chloride.
- Cholesterol levels.
- Glucose levels.
Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take, including any drugs, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements or alternative medicines.
The following may interact with AA-ATENIDONE:
drugs used for lowering blood pressure or treating angina:
- ACE inhibitors
- alpha-blockers (such as clonidine)
- beta blockers
- calcium channel blockers (such as verapamil, diltiazem or nifedipine)
- catecholamine-depleting drugs (such as reserpine or guanethidine)
- methyldopa
- vasodilators
- drugs used to treat irregular heartbeats (such as disopyramide or amiodarone)
- drugs used to treat heart failure (such as digoxin)
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) (such as indomethacin or ibuprofen)
- anesthetic drugs used during surgery
- alcohol, sleeping pills (barbiturates) or strong pain medications (narcotics)
- norepinephrine, a heart stimulant
- lithium, a drug used to treat certain psychiatric disorders
- fingolimod, a drug used to treat multiple sclerosis
- allopurinol, a drug used to prevent gout
- amantadine, a drug used to treat Parkinson’s disease
- amphotericin B, a drug used to treat fungal infections
- anticholinergic drugs (such as atropine or biperiden)
- drugs used to treat cancer (such as cyclophosphamide or methotrexate)
- drugs used to lower your cholesterol (such as cholestyramine or colestipol resins)
- calcium or vitamin D supplements
- corticosteroids, drugs used to reduce inflammation
- muscle relaxants
- cyclosporine, a drug used to suppress your immune system
- diazoxide, a drug used to treat low blood sugar
- digitalis, a drug used to treat heart conditions
- insulin and oral medications used to treat diabetes
How to take AA-ATENIDONE:
Take AA-ATENIDONE:
- exactly as prescribed by your healthcare professional.
- by swallowing the tablet whole with water.
- once a day, at the same time each day.
Your healthcare professional will decide how much AA-ATENIDONE you should take each day depending on your condition.
If you have the impression that the effect of AA-ATENIDONE is too strong or too weak, talk to your healthcare professional as soon as possible.
Do not stop taking AA-ATENIDONE or change your dose without consulting your healthcare professional. This can be dangerous. If you suddenly stop taking AA-ATENIDONE, this could cause chest pain or a heart attack. If your healthcare professional decides that you should stop taking AA-ATENIDONE, your dose may be reduced so that you need to use it less and less before you stop the medication completely.
Usual dose:
Adults: One tablet per day.
Overdose:
| If you think you, or a person you are caring for, have taken too much AA-ATENIDONE, contact a healthcare professional, hospital emergency department or regional poison control centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms. |
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Missed Dose:
If you miss a dose, take the dose as soon as you remember. Do NOT take a double dose to make up for the missed dose.
What are possible side effects from using AA-ATENIDONE?
These are not all the possible side effects you may have when taking AA-ATENIDONE. If you experience any side effects not listed here, tell your healthcare professional.
Side effects may include:
- cough
- cold fingers and toes
- constipation
- diarrhea
- dizziness
- dry mouth
- fatigue
- headache
- impotence (not able to have an erection)
- indigestion
- itchy or dry eyes
- joint and back pain
- leg pain
- nausea
- nosebleeds
- shortness of breath
- skin rash
- stomach discomfort
- sweating
- tiredness
- trouble sleeping
- vertigo
AA-ATENIDONE can cause abnormal blood test results. Your healthcare professional will decide when to perform blood tests and will interpret the results.
Serious side effects and what to do about them
| Symptom / effect | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help |
|---|---|---|
| Only if severe | In all cases | |
| COMMON | ||
| Chest pain or discomfort | ||
| √ | ||
Serious side effects and what to do about them
| Symptom / effect | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||
| Heart arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat): very fast (tachycardia) or unusually slow (bradycardia) heartbeat, dizziness, fainting | √ | ||
| Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels): tiredness, weakness, feeling thirsty | √ | ||
| Hyperuricemia (high blood levels of uric acid, gout): severe joint pain, stiffness, redness and swelling | √ | ||
| Hypokalemia and Hyponatremia (low levels of sodium or potassium in the blood): weakness, vomiting, cramps | √ | ||
| Hypomagnesemia (low blood levels of magnesium): nervousness, muscle spasm, irregular heartbeat | √ | ||
| UNCOMMON | |||
| Allergic reactions: rash, hives, swelling of the lips, face, tongue, throat or neck, difficulty breathing, difficulty speaking, difficulty swallowing, wheezing, drop in blood pressure, feeling sick to your stomach, or vomiting | √ | ||
| Anorexia (a type of eating disorder): loss of appetite, not eating even if you are hungry, rapid or severe weight loss | √ | ||
Blood conditions
| √ | ||
Serious side effects and what to do about them
| Symptom / effect | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||
| Bronchospasm (when there is a sudden narrowing of the airway): difficulty breathing with wheezing or coughing | √ | ||
| Congestive heart failure (heart does not pump blood as well as it should): shortness of breath, fatigue and weakness, swelling in ankles, legs and feet, cough, fluid retention, lack of appetite, nausea, rapid or irregular heartbeat, reduced ability to exercise | √ | ||
Skin disorders
| √ | ||
| Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) (severe skin rash): redness, blistering and/or peeling of the skin and/or inside of the lips, eyes, mouth, nasal passages or genitals, accompanied by fever, chills, headache, cough, body aches or swollen glands | √ | ||
| RARE | |||
| Depression (sad mood that won’t go away): difficulty sleeping, sleeping too much, changes in appetite or weight, feelings of worthlessness, guilt, regret, helplessness or hopelessness, withdrawal from social situations, family, gatherings and activities with friends, reduced libido (sex drive), or thoughts of death or suicide | √ | ||
| Edema: unusual swelling of the arms, hands, legs, feet, ankles, face or airway | √ | ||
Serious side effects and what to do about them
| Symptom / effect | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||
| passages | |||
Eosinophilia (high blood levels of eosinophils): rash, itching | √ | ||
| Heart conduction disorders: feeling lightheaded, dizzy or passing out, fainting, feeling that your heart skips beats, chest pain, nausea, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, or fatigue | √ | ||
Hypercalcemia (high blood levels of calcium): agitation, sore eyes, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation | √ | ||
| Hypotension (low blood pressure): dizziness, fainting, lightheadedness, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, or fatigue (may occur when you go from lying or sitting to standing up) | √ | ||
| Liver disorder: yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, pale stools, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite | √ | ||
| Memory problems | √ | ||
| Palpitations: fluttering or pounding heart, heart is beating fast, skipping beats | √ | ||
| Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas): upper abdominal pain, fever, rapid heartbeat, nausea, vomiting, tenderness when touching the abdomen | √ | ||
| VERY RARE | |||
| Hypochloremic alkalosis (low levels of chloride in the blood): dry mouth, thirst, nausea, vomiting, weakness, drowsiness, restlessness, seizures or fits, confusion, headache, muscle pains or cramps, dizziness, lightheadedness | √ | ||
Serious side effects and what to do about them
| Symptom / effect | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||
| or fainting | |||
| UNKNOWN FREQUENCY | |||
Eye disorders:
| √ | ||
| Necrotizing vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels under the skin or other tissues): chills, fever, skin discoloration | √ | ||
If you have a troublesome symptom or side effect that is not listed here or becomes bad enough to interfere with your daily activities, tell your healthcare professional.
Reporting Side Effects
You can report any suspected side effects associated with the use of health products to Health Canada by:
NOTE: Contact your healthcare professional if you need information about how to manage your side effects. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice. |
Storage:
Store at room temperature (15˚C to 30˚C).
Protect from light and moisture.
Do not take your tablets after the expiry date on the container.
Keep out of reach and sight of children.
If you want more information about AA-ATENIDONE:
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