Normoten tablets are indicated for:

• Management of hypertension.
• Management of angina pectoris.
• Management of cardiac arrhythmias.
• Management of myocardial infarction. Early intervention in the acute phase.

(See Section 5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties-special patient population)

• Oral administration.

The dose must always be adjusted to individual requirements of the patients, with the lowest possible starting dosage.

The following are guidelines:

• Adults

- Hypertension

One tablet daily. Most patients respond to 100 mg daily given orally as a single dose. Some patients, however, will respond to 50 mg given as a single daily dose. The effect will be fully established after one to two weeks. A further reduction in blood pressure may be achieved by combining Normoten with other antihypertensive agents. For example, co-administration of Normoten with a diuretic provides a highly effective and convenient antihypertensive therapy.

-   Angina

Most patients with angina pectoris will respond to 100 mg given orally once daily or 50 mg given twice daily. It is unlikely that additional benefit will be gained by increasing the dose.

-   Cardiac arrhythmias

A suitable initial dose of Normoten is 2.5 mg (5 ml) injected intravenously over a 2.5 minute period (i.e. 1 mg/minute). (See also prescribing information for Normoten Injection.) This may be repeated at 5 minute intervals, until a response is observed up to a maximum dosage of 10 mg. If Normoten is given by infusion, 0.15 mg/kg bodyweight may be administered over a 20 minute period. If required, the injection or infusion may be repeated every 12 hours. Having controlled the arrhythmias with intravenous Normoten, a suitable oral maintenance dosage is 50 to 100 mg daily, given as a single dose.

-   Myocardial infarction

For patients suitable for treatment with intravenous beta-blockade and presenting within 12 hours of the onset of chest pain, Normoten 5 to 10 mg should be given by slow intravenous injection (1 mg/minute) followed by Normoten 50 mg orally about 15 minutes later, provided no untoward effects have occurred from the intravenous dose. This should be followed by a further 50 mg orally 12 hours after the intravenous dose, and then 12 hours later by 100 mg orally, once daily. If bradycardia and/or hypotension requiring treatment, or any other untoward effects occur, Normoten should be discontinued.

• Special patients population

-   Elderly

Dosage requirements may be reduced, especially in patients with impaired renal function.

-   Pediatric patients

There is no pediatric experience with Normoten and for this reason it is not recommended for use in children.

-   Patients with renal failure

Since Normoten is excreted via the kidneys, the dosage should be adjusted in cases of severe impairment of renal function.

No significant accumulation of Normoten occurs in patients who have a creatinine clearance greater than 35 ml/min/1.73 m² (normal range is 100 to 150 ml/min/1.73 m²).

For patients with a creatinine clearance of 15 to 35 ml/min/1.73 m² (equivalent to serum creatinine of 300 to 600 micromol/litre), the oral dose should be 50 mg daily and the intravenous dose should be 10 mg once every two days.

For patients with a creatinine clearance of less than 15 ml/min/1.73 m² (equivalent to serum creatinine of greater than 600 micromol/litre), the oral dose should be 25 mg daily or 50 mg on alternate days and the intravenous dose should be 10 mg once every four days.

Patients on haemodialysis should be given 50 mg orally after each dialysis; this should be done under hospital supervision as marked falls in blood pressure can occur.

Normoten, as with other beta-blockers, should not be used in patients with any of the following: • Cardiogenic shock; • Uncontrolled heart failure; • Sick sinus syndrome; • Second-or third-degree heart block; • Untreated phaeochromocytoma; • Metabolic acidosis; • Bradycardia (<45 bpm); • Hypotension; • Known hypersensitivity to the active substance, or any of the excipients; • Severe peripheral arterial circulatory disturbances.

Normoten as with other beta-blockers:

• Should not be withdrawn abruptly. The dosage should be withdrawn gradually over a period of 7 to 14 days, to facilitate a reduction in beta-blocker dosage. Patients should be followed during withdrawal, especially those with ischemic heart disease.
• When a patient is scheduled for surgery, and a decision is made to discontinue beta- blocker therapy, this should be done at least 24 hours prior to the procedure. The risk- benefit assessment of stopping beta-blockade should be made for each patient. If treatment is continued, an anesthetic with little negative inotropic activity should be selected to minimize the risk of myocardial depression. The patient may be protected against vagal reactions by intravenous administration of atropine.
• Although contraindicated in uncontrolled heart failure (See Section 4.3. Contraindications) may be used in patients whose signs of heart failure have been controlled. Caution must be exercised in patients whose cardiac reserve is poor.
• May increase the number and duration of angina attacks in patients with Prinzmetal's angina due to unopposed alpha-receptor mediated coronary artery vasoconstriction. Normoten is a beta1-selective beta-blocker; consequently, its use may be considered although utmost caution must be exercised.
• Although contraindicated in severe peripheral arterial circulatory disturbances (See Section 4.3. Contraindications) may also aggravate less severe peripheral arterial circulatory disturbances.
• Due to its negative effect on conduction time, caution must be exercised if it is given to patients with first-degree heart block.
• May mask the symptoms of hypoglycaemia, in particular, tachycardia.
• May mask the signs of thyrotoxicosis.
• Will reduce heart rate as a result of its pharmacological action. In the rare instances when a treated patient develops symptoms which may be attributable to a slow heart rate and the pulse rate drops to less than 50 to 55 bpm at rest, the dose should be reduced.
• May cause a more severe reaction to a variety of allergens when given to patients with a history of anaphylactic reaction to such allergens. Such patients may be unresponsive to the usual doses of adrenaline (epinephrine) used to treat the allergic reactions.
• May cause a hypersensitivity reaction including angioedema and urticaria.
• Should be used with caution in the elderly, starting with a lesser dose (See Section 4.2. Posology and method of administration).

Since Normoten is excreted via the kidneys, dosage should be reduced in patients with a creatinine clearance of below 35 ml/min/1.73 m².

Although cardioselective (beta1) beta-blockers may have less effect on lung function than non-selective beta-blockers, as with all beta-blockers, these should be avoided in patients with reversible obstructive airways disease, unless there are compelling clinical reasons for their use. Where such reasons exist, Normoten may be used with caution. Occasionally, some increase in airways resistance may occur in asthmatic patients however, and this may usually be reversed by commonly used dosage of bronchodilators such as salbutamol or isoprenaline. The label and patient information leaflet for this product state the following warning: “If you have ever had asthma or wheezing, you should not take this medicine unless you have discussed these symptoms with the prescribing doctor”.

As with other beta-blockers, in patients with a phaeochromocytoma, an alpha-blocker should be given concomitantly.

Combined use of beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers with negative inotropic effects, e.g. verapamil and diltiazem, can lead to an exaggeration of these effects particularly in patients with impaired ventricular function and/or sinoatrial or atrioventricular conduction abnormalities. This may result in severe hypotension, bradycardia and cardiac failure. Neither the beta-blocker nor the calcium channel blocker should be administered intravenously within 48 hours of discontinuing the other.

Concomitant therapy with dihydropyridines, e.g. nifedipine, may increase the risk of hypotension, and cardiac failure may occur in patients with latent cardiac insufficiency.

Digitalis glycosides, in association with beta-blockers, may increase atrioventricular conduction time.

Beta-blockers may exacerbate the rebound hypertension which can follow the withdrawal of clonidine. If the two drugs are co-administered, the beta-blocker should be withdrawn several days before discontinuing clonidine. If replacing clonidine by beta- blocker therapy, the introduction of beta-blockers should be delayed for several days after clonidine administration has stopped. (See also prescribing information for clonidine.)

Class I anti-arrhythmic drugs (e.g. disopyramide) and amiodarone may have a potentiating effect on atrial-conduction time and induce negative inotropic effect.

Concomitant use of sympathomimetic agents, e.g. adrenaline (epinephrine), may counteract the effect of beta-blockers.

Concomitant use with insulin and oral antidiabetic drugs may lead to the intensification of the blood sugar lowering effects of these drugs. Symptoms of hypoglycaemia, particularly tachycardia, may be masked (see section 4.4).

Concomitant use of prostaglandin synthetase-inhibiting drugs, e.g. ibuprofen and indometacin, may decrease the hypotensive effects of beta-blockers.

Caution must be exercised when using anaesthetic agents with Normoten . The anaesthetist should be informed and the choice of anaesthetic should be an agent with as little negative inotropic activity as possible. Use of beta-blockers with anaesthetic drugs may result in attenuation of the reflex tachycardia and increase the risk of hypotension. Anaesthetic agents causing myocardial depression are best avoided.

• Pregnancy

Atenolol crosses the placental barrier and appears in the cord blood. No studies have been performed on the use of Atenolol in the first trimester and the possibility of foetal injury cannot  be excluded. Atenolol has been  used  under close  supervision for the treatment of hypertension in the third trimester. Administration of Atenolol to pregnant women in the management of mild to moderate hypertension has been associated with intra-uterine growth retardation.

The use of Normoten in women who are, or may become, pregnant requires that the anticipated benefit be weighed against the possible risks, particularly in the first and second trimesters, since beta-blockers, in general, have been associated with a decrease in placental perfusion which may result in intra-uterine deaths, immature and premature deliveries.

• Lactation

There is significant accumulation of Atenolol in breast milk.

Neonates born to mothers who are receiving Atenolol at parturition or breast-feeding may be at risk of hypoglycaemia and bradycardia.

Caution should be exercised when Normoten is administered during pregnancy or to a woman who is breast-feeding.

Use is unlikely to result in any impairment of the ability of patients to drive or operate machinery. However, it should be taken into account that occasionally dizziness or fatigue may occur.

Atenolol is well tolerated. In clinical studies, the undesired events reported are usually attributable to the pharmacological actions of atenolol.

The following undesired events, listed by body system, have been reported with the following frequencies: very common (≥10%), common (1–9.9%), uncommon (0.1–0.9%), rare (0.01–0.09%), very rare (<0.01%) including isolated reports, not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).

Blood and lymphatic system disorders
Rare	Purpura, thrombocytopenia.
Psychiatric disorders
Uncommon	Sleep disturbances of the type noted with other beta-blockers.
Rare	Mood changes, nightmares, confusion, psychoses and hallucinations.
Nervous system disorders
Rare	Dizziness, headache, paraesthesia.
Eye disorders
Rare	Dry eyes, visual disturbances.
Cardiac disorders
Common	Bradycardia.
Rare	Heart failure deterioration, precipitation of heart block.
Vascular disorders
Common	Cold extremities.
Rare	Postural hypotension which may be associated with syncope, intermittent claudication may be increased if already present, in susceptible patients Raynaud's phenomenon.
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
Rare	Bronchospasm may occur in patients with bronchial asthma or a history of asthmatic complaints.
Gastrointestinal disorders
Common	Gastrointestinal disturbances.
Rare	Dry mouth.

Hepato-biliary disorders
Uncommon	Elevations of transaminase levels.
Rare	Hepatic toxicity including intrahepatic cholestasis.
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
Rare	Alopecia, psoriasiform skin reactions, exacerbation of psoriasis, skin rashes.
Not known frequency	Hypersensitivity reactions, including angioedema and urticaria.
Reproductive system and breast disorders
Rare	Impotence.
General disorders and administration site conditions
Common	Fatigue.
Investigations
Very rare	An increase in ANA (Antinuclear Antibodies) has been observed, however the clinical relevance of this is not clear.

 Discontinuance of the drug should be considered if, according to clinical judgment, the well-being of the patient is adversely affected by any of the above reactions.

• Signs and symptoms

The symptoms of overdosage may include bradycardia, hypotension, acute cardiac insufficiency and bronchospasm.

• Treatment

General treatment should include: close supervision; treatment in an intensive care ward; the use of gastric lavage; activated charcoal and a laxative to prevent absorption of any drug still present in  the gastrointestinal tract; the use of  plasma or plasma substitutes to treat hypotension and shock. The possible uses of haemodialysis or haemoperfusion may be considered.

Excessive bradycardia can be countered with atropine 1 to 2 mg intravenously and/or a cardiac pacemaker. If necessary, this may be followed by a bolus dose of glucagon 10 mg intravenously.  If required, this may be repeated  or followed  by an intravenous infusion of glucagon 1 to 10 mg/hour depending on response. If no response to glucagon occurs or if glucagon is unavailable, a beta-adrenoceptor stimulant such as dobutamine 2.5 to 10 micrograms/kg/minute by intravenous infusion may be given. Dobutamine, because of its positive inotropic effect could also be used to treat hypotension and acute cardiac insufficiency. It is likely that these doses would be inadequate to reverse the cardiac effects of beta-blocker blockade if a large overdose has been taken. The dose of dobutamine should therefore be increased if necessary to achieve the required response according to the clinical condition of the patient.

Bronchospasm can usually be reversed by bronchodilators.

Beta-blocking agents, plain, selective. ATC code: CO7A B03.

Atenolol is a beta-blocker which is beta1-selective, (i.e. acts preferentially on beta1- adrenergic receptors in the heart). Selectivity decreases with increasing dose.

Atenolol is without intrinsic sympathomimetic and membrane-stabilising activities and as with other beta-blockers, has negative inotropic effects (and is therefore contraindicated in uncontrolled heart failure).

As with other beta-blockers, the mode of action of atenolol in the treatment of hypertension is unclear.

It is probably the action of atenolol in reducing cardiac rate and contractility which makes it effective in eliminating or reducing the symptoms of patients with angina.

It is unlikely that any additional ancillary properties possessed by S (-) atenolol, in comparison with the racemic mixture, will give rise to different therapeutic effects.

Atenolol is effective and well-tolerated in most ethnic populations although the response may be less in black patients.

Atenolol is effective for at least 24 hours after a single oral dose. The drug facilitates compliance by its acceptability to patients and simplicity of dosing. The narrow dose range and early patient response ensure that the effect of the drug in individual patients is quickly demonstrated. Atenolol is compatible with diuretics, other hypotensive agents and antianginals (See Section 4.5. Interactions with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction). Since it acts preferentially on beta-receptors in the heart, Atenolol may, with care, be used successfully in the treatment of patients with respiratory disease, who cannot tolerate non-selective beta-blockers.

Early intervention with Atenolol in acute myocardial infarction reduces infarct size and decreases morbidity and mortality. Fewer patients with a threatened infarction progress to frank infarction; the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias is decreased and marked pain relief may result in reduced need of opiate analgesics. Early mortality is decreased. Atenolol is an additional treatment to standard coronary care.

Absorption of atenolol following oral dosing is consistent but incomplete (approximately 40–50%) with peak plasma concentrations occurring 2 to 4 hours after dosing. The atenolol blood levels are consistent and subject to little variability. There is no significant hepatic metabolism of atenolol and more than 90% of that absorbed reaches the systemic circulation unaltered. The plasma half-life is about 6 hours but this may rise in severe renal impairment since the kidney is the major route of elimination. Atenolol penetrates tissues poorly due to its low lipid solubility and its concentration in brain tissue is low. Plasma protein binding is low (approximately 3%).

Atenolol  is a  drug on  which  extensive clinical  experience  has been  obtained. Relevant information for the prescriber is provided elsewhere in the Prescribing Information.
 

• Povidone K-30;
• Potato starch;
• Sodium lauryl sulfate;
• Microcrystalline cellulose;
• Sodium starch glycollate;
• Colloidal anhydrous silica;
• Magnesium sterate;
• Alcohol;
• Talc;
• Titanium dioxide;
• Polyethylene glycol;
• Hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose;
• Simethicone emulsion;
• Carmellose sodium;
• Methacrylic acid copolymer;
• FD&C yellow No. 6 lake;
• Purified water.

 

Not applicable

24 months

Store below 25°C.
 

Blister of 14 or 28 tablets per pack.
 

No special requirements.