Tenormin (Atenolol)
Tenormin (atenolol) Dosage and Side Effects
TENORMIN is used to treat high blood pressure (also known as hypertension) in adults. It can be used alone or with other medicines. TENORMIN is also used to prevent chest pain (also known as angina) in adults.
Warnings and Precautions
Do not stop taking TENORMIN suddenly. This could cause chest pain or a heart attack. If your doctor decides that you should stop taking TENORMIN, 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 TENORMIN.
Driving and using machines:
Before doing tasks that require special attention, wait until you know how you respond to TENORMIN.
You may notice that your pulse rate becomes slower while taking TENORMIN. 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.
Side Effects
These are not all the possible side effects you may feel when taking TENORMIN. If you experience any side effects not listed here, contact your healthcare professional.
Side effects may include:
- cough
- cold fingers and toes
- diarrhea
- dizziness
- dry mouth
- headache
- joint and back pain
- nausea
- tiredness
- trouble sleeping
- vertigo
Interactions with this medication
The following may interact with TENORMIN:
- 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
Proper Use of this medication
Take TENORMIN:
- 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 TENORMIN 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 TENORMIN to treat your high blood pressure.
If you have the impression that the effect of TENORMIN is too strong or too weak, talk to your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible.
Do not stop taking TENORMIN or change your dose without consulting your doctor. This can be dangerous.
Usual adult 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 TENORMIN, contact your healthcare professional, hospital emergency department or regional Poison Control Centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms.
Missed dose:
If you miss a dose, take the dose as soon as you remember. Do not take two doses at the same time.
Other related products
The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.