Atenolol+indapamide
About
Atenolol+indapamide belongs to the class of combination medication called 'anti-hypertensive drugs', primarily used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure). Hypertension is a medical condition, in which the blood exerts high pressure (force exerted by circulating blood) against blood vessel's walls. This condition makes the heart to work harder in pumping the blood to the whole body. Hypertension can cause severe health complications, including stroke, heart failure, heart attack and kidney failure.
Atenolol+indapamide contains Atenolol (beta-blocker) and Indapamide (diuretic or water pill). Atenolol belongs to the class of 'beta-blockers' and is used to treat high blood pressure, angina (chest pain) and uneven heartbeats (arrhythmias). It reduces the heart rate and makes the heart to pump blood efficiently throughout the body. Atenolol is also used to protect the heart during treatment of a heart attack. Indapamide is a thiazide diuretic that inhibits excess salt absorption in the body, resulting in increased chloride, sodium and water excretion through urine. This diuresis process (increased urine production) and excess salts and fluid removal help lower blood pressure. Indapamide is also used to treat fluid retention and overlaod (oedema) in patients with congestive heart failure.
You can take Atenolol+indapamide with food or without food. Swallow it as a whole with a glass of water. Do not chew, bite, or break it. Your doctor will advise you how often you take Atenolol+indapamide based on your medical condition. In some cases, you may experience blurred vision, sweating, tiredness, dehydration, constipation, dizziness, headache, nausea, cold hands or feet and muscle cramps. Most of these side effects of Atenolol+indapamide do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects are persistent, reach out to your doctor.
Do not stop taking Atenolol+indapamide without consulting your doctor since it may worsen your condition and increase the risk of future heart problems. Inform your doctor if you are suffering from kidney, liver or heart diseases, diabetes, gout and asthma. Please tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines or have any allergic reactions to Atenolol+indapamide. Reducing the amount of table salt (sodium chloride) in your food often relieves the body's swelling. Let your doctor know if you use any prescription and non-prescription medications you are taking, including vitamins, before starting Atenolol+indapamide. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, please tell your doctor so that the dosage of Atenolol+indapamide can be prescribed accordingly.
Uses of Atenolol+indapamide
Medicinal Benefits
Atenolol+indapamide treats hypertension (high blood pressure) and consists of Atenolol (beta-blocker) and Indapamide (diuretic or water pill). Atenolol is a 'beta-blocker' that treats high blood pressure by blocking the release of stress hormones (like adrenaline or non-adrenaline) thereby relieving angina (chest pain) and uneven heartbeats (arrhythmias). Indapamide is a thiazide diuretic that inhibits excess salt absorption in the body, resulting in increased electrolytes and water excretion through urine. Indapamide is also used to treat fluid retention (oedema) in patients with congestive heart failure. Thus, Atenolol+indapamide reduces raised blood pressure by minimizing fluid overload (oedema) and reducing the heart's blood-pumping activity.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Atenolol+indapamide
- Blurred Vision
- Sweating
- Tiredness
- Dehydration
- Constipation
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Nausea
- Cold hands or feet
- Muscle cramps
- Difficulty breathing
- Tightness in the chest
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Do not use Atenolol+indapamide if you are allergic to Atenolol+indapamide or any of its components. Let your doctor know if you have any history of severe kidney or liver diseases, low potassium levels (hypokalaemia), chest pain (angina), poor blood circulation or controlled heart failure, first-degree heart block, diabetes, thyrotoxicosis (a condition caused by an overactive thyroid gland), liver problems and adrenal gland diseases. Let your doctor know if you have anuria (kidneys aren't producing urine), fluid or electrolyte imbalance, lupus erythematosus (an autoimmune inflammatory disease-causing scaly red patches on the skin), gout, abnormal heart rhythms, thyroid disorders and asthma before starting Atenolol+indapamide. It is essential to let your doctor know if you are a pregnant or a breastfeeding mother before using Atenolol+indapamide. Please ask your doctor if you plan to conceive or are pregnant before using Atenolol+indapamide. Atenolol+indapamide can increase the chances of light-headedness so rise slowly if you are sitting/lying and avoid operating any machine or doing any work that needs mental alertness. Atenolol+indapamide is not recommended in people less than 18 years of age.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Atenolol+indapamide may interact with other diuretic medications (hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide), anti-hypertensive drugs (chlorthalidone, ramipril), drugs treating mental illness (alprazolam, risperidone), painkillers (ibuprofen, naproxen), anti-depressants (lithium), Vitamins (cholecalciferol), heart-related drugs (amiodarone, digoxin), diabetic drugs (Insulin glargine, metformin), drugs treating stomach acid (esomeprazole), fits medicine (clonazepam), pain medicine (oxycodone), corticosteroids (prednisone), drugs treating impotence (sildenafil), and multivitamin with minerals.
Drug-Food Interaction: Atenolol+indapamide may interact or may have decreased effect when used with alcohol and large amounts of orange juice.
Drug-Disease Interaction: Before using Atenolol+indapamide, let your doctor know if have any severe kidney or liver diseases, low potassium levels (hypokalaemia), chest pain (angina), poor blood circulation or controlled heart failure, first-degree heart block, diabetes, thyrotoxicosis, liver problems, adrenal gland diseases, anuria, fluid or electrolyte imbalance, lupus erythematosus, gout, abnormal heart rhythms, thyroid disorders and asthma.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionAlcohol may lower your blood pressure. It would help if you avoided or limit consuming alcohol whilst taking this medicine
Pregnancy
cautionIndapamide in Atenolol+indapamide is not recommended during pregnancy. However, it is advised to seek medical advice before using Atenolol+indapamide if you plan to conceive or pregnant.
Breast Feeding
cautionThere are limited studies on how Atenolol+indapamide affects the breastfed infants. However, Indapamide in Atenolol+indapamide may pass into the breast milk during breastfeeding. Please consult your doctor before using Atenolol+indapamide if you are a lactating mother.
Driving
cautionAtenolol+indapamide may cause side effects due to lowering of the blood pressure such as dizziness or tiredness. If you feel dizzy or tired when taking this medicine, do not drive or use any tools or machines.
Liver
cautionLet your doctor know if you have any history of liver diseases before using Atenolol+indapamide.
Kidney
cautionLet your doctor know if you have any history of kidney diseases before using Atenolol+indapamide.
Children
unsafeAtenolol+indapamide is not recommended for use in people below 18 years of age.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Keep your weight under control with body mass index (BMI) between 19.5 and 24.9.
- Do regular physical activity or exercise for at least 150 minutes per week, or about 30 minutes most days of the week. Doing this can help you to lower your raised blood pressure by about 5 mm of Hg.
- Limit sodium chloride intake (table salt) in your daily diet to 2300 mg per day or less than 1500 mg is ideal for most adults.
- If you are taking alcohol, use only one serving for women and two servings for men.
- Quit smoking to lower the risk of heart diseases.
- Avoid chronic stress as it can raise your blood pressure. Try to enjoy and spent time with your loved ones to cope with stress.
- Monitor your blood pressure daily, and if you notice any fluctuations frequently, please contact your doctor immediately.
- Try including heart-healthy omega 3 fatty acid-containing foods in your daily diet. You can also use low-fat cooking oils like olive oil, soybean oil, canola oil, and coconut oil that help in lowering your elevated blood pressure.
Special Advise
- Monitor your blood pressure regularly and seek medical advice if you notice any drastic fluctuations.
- Let your doctor know if you are advised for any blood examinations as, diuretics like Indapamide can cause changes in the laboratory parameters like low potassium levels in the blood, low sodium in the blood, low blood pressure, increase in uric acid, increase in blood glucose levels in diabetic patients, increase in calcium levels in the blood, and increase in the liver enzyme levels.
- Let your anaesthetist or medical staff know that you are taking Atenolol+indapamide since Atenolol can lower blood pressure levels when certain anaesthetic medications are given during any operation or surgery.
- Athletes should be aware that Indapamide in Atenolol+indapamide gives a positive reaction in doping tests.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Hypertension: It is a chronic condition when blood pressure is too high. Blood pressure is defined as the amount of blood pumped by the heart and the amount of resistance exerted by the arteries against the blood flow. If the heart pumps more blood, then arteries become narrower and in turn, blood pressure becomes high. If blood pressure becomes uncontrolled, it may lead to serious heart diseases, including stroke and heart attack. Additionally, high blood pressure can also cause brain damage (stroke) and kidney failure. Blood pressure is expressed as systolic and diastolic pressures. Systolic blood pressure represents the contraction and relaxation of the heart. Diastolic pressure is exerted in the blood vessels when the heart beats and is in the resting state. Ideal blood pressure should be between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg. Hypertension is detected when systolic blood pressure is more than 140mmHg and diastolic pressure is higher than 90mmHg. Some of the symptoms of hypertension include headache, nose bleed, vomiting and chest pain.
Oedema: It is a condition caused by a build-up of fluid and swelling in the body parts, especially ankles, feet and legs.
FAQs
Atenolol+indapamide consists of Atenolol and Indapamide medicines. Atenolol is a 'beta-blocker' and treats high blood pressure, angina (chest pain) and uneven heartbeats (arrhythmias) by reducing the heart rate and making the heart pump blood throughout the body. Indapamide is a thiazide diuretic that inhibits excess salt absorption in the body, thereby preventing fluid retention and lowering the blood pressure caused due to extra fluids.
Atenolol+indapamide is recommended to use in dose and duration as advised by the doctor. Do not stop taking Atenolol+indapamide on your own as it may lead to a sudden rise in blood pressure increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Atenolol+indapamide can cause dehydration and dry mouth. Drink plenty of fluids to manage and let your doctor know if you develop extreme thirst, muscle weakness or very dry mouth.
Atenolol+indapamide can cause dizziness as one of its side effects. If you feel dizzy, try getting up slowly from a sitting or lying position. If your dizziness is severe or unmanageable, please seek medical advice.
It is advised to consult your doctor before taking Atenolol+indapamide if you have a history of severe kidney or liver diseases, low potassium levels (hypokalaemia), diabetes, gout, abnormal heart rhythms, thyroid disorders and asthma.
It is recommended to please consult your doctor since diuretics (water pills) may increase blood sugar levels. Besides this, beta-blockers (blood pressure-lowering agents) can mask hypoglycemia symptoms (low blood sugar).
Even though your blood pressure becomes normal after using Atenolol+indapamide, it may switch back to high ranges if you stop using it. Your doctor may change the dosing schedule based on your blood pressure range.
Take the missed dose as soon as possible. However, if it is time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.
