Act Atenolol: Uses, Side Effects and Dosage

What is ACT ATENOLOL used for?

ACT ATENOLOL is used to

• treat high blood pressure (also known as hypertension) in adults. It can be used alone or with other medicines.
• prevent chest pain (also known as angina) in adults.

How does ACT ATENOLOL work?

ACT ATENOLOL belongs to a group of drugs called “beta blockers”. It makes your heart beat more slowly and less forcefully. This medicine does not cure your disease but helps to control it. What are the ingredients in ACT ATENOLOL?

Medicinal ingredients: Atenolol

Non-medicinal ingredients: magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium starch glycolate, and povidone.

ACT ATENOLOL comes in the following dosage forms:

Tablets: 50 mg and 100 mg.

Do not use ACT ATENOLOL if you:

• are allergic to atenolol or any of the ingredients in ACT ATENOLOL
• have slow or irregular heartbeats or if you have been told that you have heart block
• have severe heart damage and your heart is not able to pump enough blood to meet your body’s needs
• 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
• have a problem with your heart’s electrical conduction (that causes you to have chest pain, difficulty breathing, nausea, fatigue and fainting)
• have low blood pressure
• have serious problems with blood flow in your feet and legs (peripheral artery disease)
• have loss of sensation with agents that cause heart failure
• have a condition called pheochromocytoma (a tumour of the adrenal gland)
• have a condition called metabolic acidosis (abnormal levels of acids in your blood)\
• are 18 years or younger

To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you take ACT ATENOLOL. Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if you:

• have a history of heart problems
• have a history of fainting
• have asthma or other lung problems (like bronchitis or emphysema)
• have thyroid problems
• have kidney problems
• have circulation problems

• 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
• develop a skin rash while taking ACT ATENOLOL

• are pregnant, are trying or planning on becoming pregnant. ACT ATENOLOL is not usually recommended for use during pregnancy. Your healthcare professional will consider the benefit to you versus the risk to your unborn baby

• are breastfeeding. You should not breastfeed while using ACT ATENOLOL

Other warnings you should know about:

Do not stop taking ACT ATENOLOL suddenly. This could cause chest pain or a heart attack. If your doctor decides that you should stop taking ACT ATENOLOL, your dose may be reduced so that you need to use it less and less before you stop the medication completely.

Tell your doctor if you are going into the hospital for an operation. If you go into the hospital, let the medical staff know and in particular the anaesthetist (if you are having an operation) that you are taking ACT ATENOLOL.

Driving and using machines: Before doing tasks that require special attention, wait until you know how you respond to ACT ATENOLOL.

You may notice that your pulse rate becomes slower while taking ACT ATENOLOL. This is normal but if you are concerned, please talk to your doctor about it.

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 ACT ATENOLOL:

• drugs used for lowering blood pressure or treating angina:

  • beta-blockers (such as clonidine)
  • calcium channel blockers (such as verapamil, diltiazem or nifedipine)
  • catecholamine-depleting drugs (such as reserpine or guanethidine)
• drugs used to treat irregular heartbeats (such as disopyramid or amiodarone)
• drugs used to treat heart failure (such as digoxin)
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) (such as indomethacine or ibuprofen)
• anesthetic drugs used during surgery
• fingolimod, a drug used to treat multiple sclerosis

How to take ACT ATENOLOL:

Take ACT ATENOLOL:

• exactly as prescribed by your doctor.
• by swallowing the tablet whole with water.
• at the same time each day.

Your doctor:

• will decide how much ACT ATENOLOL you should take each day depending on your condition.
• may add another medicine like a diuretic (water pill) and/or a vasodilator for you to take along with ACT ATENOLOL to treat your high blood pressure.

If you have the impression that the effect of ACT ATENOLOL is too strong or too weak, talk to your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible.

Do not stop taking ACT ATENOLOL or change your dose without consulting your doctor. This can be dangerous..

Usual dose

High Blood Pressure:

The usual recommended dose is 50 mg to 100 mg taken once a day.

Chest Pain:

The usual recommended dose is 50 mg to 100 mg taken once a day. Up to 200 mg per day may be required in some patients.

Overdose

If you think you have taken too much ACT ATENOLOL, contact your healthcare professional, hospital emergency department or regional Poison Control Centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms.

Missed Dose

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. DO NOT take a double dose of this medication.

What are possible side effects from using ACT ATENOLOL?

These are not all the possible side effects you may feel when taking ACT ATENOLOL. If you experience any side effects not listed here, contact your healthcare professional.

The most common non-serious side effects are:

• cough
• cold fingers and toes
• diarrhea
• dizziness
• dry mouth
• headache
• joint and back pain
• nausea
• tiredness
• trouble sleeping
• vertigo

SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM

If you have a troublesome symptom or side effect that is not listed here or becomes bad enough to interfere with your daily activities, talk to your healthcare professional.

REPORTING SIDE EFFECTS

You can report any suspected adverse reactions associated with the use of health products to the Canada Vigilance Program by one of the following 3 ways:

• Report online at MedEffect (https://www.canada.ca/en/health-

  canada/services/drugs-health-products/medeffect-canada/adverse-reaction-reporting.html)

• Call toll-free at 1-866-234-2345

• Complete a Consumer Side Effects Reporting Form and sending it by:

  • Fax toll-free to 1-866-678-6789, or

  • Mail to: Canada Vigilance Program

    Health Canada

    Postal Locator 1908C

    Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9

Postage paid labels and the Consumer Side Effect Reporting Form are available on the MedEffect^™ Canada Web site at https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/medeffect-canada/adverse-reaction-reporting.html.

Storage:

ACT ATENOLOL should be stored at 15° - 30°C.

Protect from light and moisture.

Do not take your tablets after expiry date on the container.

Keep out of the reach and sight of children.

If you want more information about ACT ATENOLOL:

This document plus the full product monograph, prepared for health professionals can be found by contacting the sponsor, Actavis Pharma Company, at: 1-866-254-6111.

Actavis Pharma Company 6733 Mississauga Road, Suite 400 Mississauga, Ontario L5N 6J5

Last revised: June 21, 2018