Tenormin
Injection 0.5 mg/ml
atenolol
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine.
- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
- This medicine has been prescribed for you. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm
them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours. - If any of the side effects get serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
In this leaflet:
- 1. What Tenormin is and what it is used for
- 2. Before you have Tenormin
- 3. How to have Tenormin
- 4. Possible side effects
- 5. How to store Tenormin
- 6. Further information
What Tenormin is and what it is used for
Tenormin contains a medicine called atenolol. This belongs to a group of medicines called
beta-blockers. Tenormin is used to:
- Treat uneven heart beats (arrythmias).
- Protect the heart in the early treatment after a heart attack (myocardial infarction).
It works by making your heart beat more slowly and with less force.
Before you have Tenormin
Do not have Tenormin if:
- You are allergic (hypersensitive) to atenolol or any of the other ingredients in your
medicine (see Section 6: Further information). - You have ever had any of the following heart problems:
- heart failure which is not under control (this usually makes you breathless and
causes your ankles to swell) - second- or third-degree heart block (a condition which may be treated by a
pacemaker) - very slow or very uneven heart beats, very low blood pressure or very poor
circulation.
- heart failure which is not under control (this usually makes you breathless and
- You have a tumour called phaeochromocytoma that is not being treated. This is
usually near your kidney and can cause high blood pressure. If you are being treated
for phaeochromocytoma, your doctor will give you another medicine, called an alphablocker,
to take as well as your Tenormin. - You have been told that you have higher than normal levels of acid in your blood
(metabolic acidosis).
Do not have Tenormin if any of the above apply to you. If you are not sure, talk to your
doctor or pharmacist before having Tenormin.
Take special care with Tenormin
Check with your doctor or pharmacist before having Tenormin if:
You have asthma, wheezing or any other similar breathing problems, or you get
allergic reactions, for example to insect stings. If you have ever had asthma or
wheezing, do not take this medicine without first checking with your doctor.
- You have a type of chest pain (angina) called Prinzmetal’s angina.
- You have poor blood circulation or controlled heart failure.
- You have first-degree heart block.
- You have diabetes. Your medicine may change how you respond to having low blood
sugar. You may feel your heart beating faster. - You have thyrotoxicosis (a condition caused by an overactive thyroid gland). Your
medicine may hide the symptoms of thyrotoxicosis. - You have problems with your kidneys. You may need to have some check-ups during
your treatment.
If you are not sure if any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before
having Tenormin.
Taking other medicines
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, or have recently taken, any
other medicines. This includes medicines that you buy without a prescription and herbal
medicines. This is because Tenormin can affect the way some other medicines work and
some medicines can have an effect on Tenormin.
In particular, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
- Clonidine (for high blood pressure or migraine). If you are taking clonidine and
Tenormin together, do not stop taking clonidine unless your doctor tells you to do so.
If you have to stop taking clonidine, your doctor will give you careful instructions about
how to do it. - Verapamil, diltiazem and nifedipine (for high blood pressure or chest pain).
- Disopyramide, quinidine or amiodarone (for an uneven heart beat).
- Digoxin (for heart problems).
- Adrenaline, also known as epinephrine (a medicine that stimulates the heart).
- Ibuprofen or indometacin (for pain and inflammation).
- Insulin or medicines that you take by mouth for diabetes.
- Medicines to treat nose or sinus congestion or other cold remedies (including those you
can buy in the pharmacy).
Operations
If you go into hospital to have an operation, tell the anaesthetist or medical staff that you
are having Tenormin. This is because you can get low blood pressure (hypotension) if you
are given certain anaesthetics while you are having Tenormin.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Talk to your doctor before having Tenormin if you are pregnant, may become pregnant or
are breast-feeding.
Driving and using machines
- Your medicine is not likely to affect you being able to drive or use any tools or machines. However, it is best to wait to see how your medicine affects you before trying these activities.
- If you feel dizzy or tired when having this medicine, do not drive or use any tools or
machines.
How to have Tenormin
Tenormin will be given to you by a doctor or nurse. It will be given to you as an injection.
The dose depends on your illness, and how bad it is, your age and weight and how well
your kidneys are working.
Children
Your medicine must not be given to children.
If you have more Tenormin than you should
If you think you have been given too much of this medicine, talk to your doctor or nurse
straight away.
If you forget to have Tenormin
If you think you have not had a dose at the right time, talk to your doctor or nurse
straight away.
If you stop having Tenormin
Your doctor or nurse will let you know when to stop having this medicine.
Possible side effects
Like all medicines, Tenormin can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Allergic reactions:
If you have an allergic reaction, see a doctor straight away. The signs may include raised
lumps on your skin (weals) or swelling of your face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat.
Other possible side effects:
Common (affects less than 1 in 10 people)
- You may notice that your pulse rate becomes slower while you are having the injection.
This is normal, but if you are concerned please tell your doctor about it. - Cold hands and feet.
- Diarrhoea.
- Feeling sick (nausea).
- Feeling tired.
Uncommon (affects less than 1 in 100 people)
- Disturbed sleep.
Rare (affects less than 1 in 1,000 people)
- Heart block (which may cause an abnormal heart beat, dizziness, tiredness or fainting).
- Numbness and spasm in your fingers which is followed by warmth and pain (Raynaud’s
disease). - Mood changes.
- Nightmares.
- Feeling confused.
- Changes in personality (psychoses).
- Hallucinations.
- Headache.
- Dizziness, particularly when standing up.
- Tingling of your hands.
- Being unable to get an erection (impotence).
- Dry mouth.
- Dry eyes.
- Disturbances of vision.
- Thinning of your hair.
- Skin rash.
- Reduced numbers of platelets in your blood (this may make you bruise more easily).
- Purplish marks on your skin.
- Jaundice (causing yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes).
Very rare (affects less than 1 in 10,000 people)
- Changes to some of the cells or other parts of your blood. Your doctor may take blood
samples every so often to check whether Tenormin has had any effect on your blood.
Conditions that may get worse
If you have any of the following conditions, they may get worse when you start to take your
medicine. This happens rarely affecting less than 1 in 1,000 people.
- Psoriasis (a skin condition).
- Being short of breath or having swollen ankles (if you have heart failure).
- Asthma or breathing problems.
- Poor circulation.
Do not be concerned by this list of side effects. You may not get any of them. If any of the
side effects get serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
How to store Tenormin
- The doctor and hospital pharmacist are responsible for storing, using and disposing of
Tenormin correctly. - Keep your medicine in a safe place where children cannot see or reach it. Your
medicine could harm them. - Do not store above 25°C. Store your medicine in the original package. Keep the
ampoules in the carton. - Do not use your medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the ampoule label
and carton. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your
pharmacist how to dispose of medicines that are no longer required. These measures will
help to protect the environment.
Further information
What Tenormin Injection 0.5 mg/ml contains
The active substance is atenolol. Tenormin Injection 0.5 mg/ml contains 5 mg (milligrams) of
atenolol in 10 ml (millilitres) of injection.
The other ingredients are citric acid, sodium chloride, sodium hydroxide and water for
injection.
What Tenormin Injection 0.5 mg/ml looks like and contents of the pack
Tenormin Injection 0.5 mg/ml is a clear, colourless solution in a clear glass ampoule. It
comes in a pack containing 10 ampoules. Each ampoule contains 10 ml of solution.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
The Marketing Authorisation for Tenormin Injection 0.5 mg/ml is held by
Tenormin Injection 0.5 mg/ml is manufactured by
To listen to or request a copy of this leaflet in Braille, large print or audio
please call, free of charge:
0800 198 5000 (UK only)
Please be ready to give the following information:
Product name - Tenormin Injection 0.5 mg/ml
Reference number - 17901/0050
This is a service provided by the Royal National Institute of Blind People.
Leaflet prepared: October 2007.
© AstraZeneca 2007.
Tenormin is a trade mark of the AstraZeneca group of companies.
X CV 07 0209
No comments:
Post a Comment