Atenolol/Chlorthalidone, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: beta blocker; diuretic

Generic and brand names: atenolol and chlorthalidone, oral; Tenoretic-50; Tenoretic-100

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is a combination of a beta blocker and a diuretic (water pill). It is taken by mouth to treat high blood pressure.

It may be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• asthma, emphysema, or other lung problems
• depression
• diabetes
• gout
• heart or blood vessel disease
• high cholesterol or high triglyceride levels in the blood
• imbalances of sodium, potassium, magnesium, or calcium in the blood
• liver or kidney problems
• lupus
• pancreatitis
• Raynaud's syndrome
• thyroid problems
• trouble urinating.

Females of childbearing age: This medicine is not usually given to pregnant women because it can harm the baby. If you are pregnant, tell your healthcare provider. Do not become pregnant during treatment with this medicine. If you become pregnant, contact your healthcare provider right away. Do not breast-feed while you are taking this medicine.

How do I take it?

Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Take it regularly, even if you feel better, to control your blood pressure.

The diuretic in this medicine may increase how much and how often you urinate. You may need to take the last dose of the day by 6 PM to avoid interrupting your sleep at night.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What should I watch out for?

Do not stop taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval. You may have to reduce your dosage gradually to avoid serious heart-related effects.

You need check your pulse and blood pressure regularly so you can report any unusual slowing of your heart rate or other side effects. You also need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests.

This medicine may make you dizzy, drowsy, or lightheaded. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

You may feel dizzy or faint when you get up quickly after sitting or lying down. Getting up slowly may help. If you feel dizzy or faint while you are standing, lie down for a while and then get up slowly. Also, drinking alcohol may make it worse. Do not drink alcohol unless your healthcare provider approves.

Be careful when exercising, especially in hot weather.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist that you are taking this medicine.

Talk with your healthcare provider about whether you should eat foods high in potassium such as bananas, melons, raisins, and dates while taking this medicine. Follow the diet and exercise program your healthcare provider recommends.

This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to the sun, which may lead to painful sunburns. While you are taking this medicine, avoid long exposure to the sun. Wear protective clothing, a hat, and sunscreen lotion when you need to be outdoors. Do not use a sunlamp. If you get a severe sunburn, contact your healthcare provider right away.

Diabetics: This medicine may affect your blood sugar levels and change the amount of insulin or other diabetes medicines you may need. Also, it may be harder to tell if your blood sugar level is too low. Talk with your healthcare provider about this. Be sure you understand how this medicine might affect you and what to do if you have a problem.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help.): Allergic reaction (hives, itching, rash, tightness in your chest, trouble breathing, swelling of your face, throat, or tongue).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Trouble breathing, chest pain, cold hands or feet, confusion, depression, skin rash, slow or irregular heartbeat, yellowish eyes or skin, muscle cramps, swelling of legs or ankles, unexplained weakness, severe stomach pain, severe nausea or vomiting.

Other: Dizziness, drowsiness, lightheadedness, tingling in your fingers or toes, loss of appetite, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, trouble sleeping, loss of sexual desire, impotence, dry mouth.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• ACE inhibitors such as lisinopril (Zestril, Prinivil), enalapril (Vasotec), ramipril (Altace), and benazepril (Lotensin)
• amphetamines such as dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine), amphetamine sulfate, methamphetamine (Desoxyn), and amphetamine mixtures (Adderall)
• barbiturates such as butabarbital (Butisol), mephobarbital (Mebaral) and phenobarbital
• calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac) and verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan)
• cholesterol medicines such as cholestyramine (Questran) and colestipol (Colestid)
• corticosteroids such as cortisone (Cortone), betamethasone (Celestone), dexamethasone, fludrocortisone (Florinef), hydrocortisone (Cortef, Hydrocortone, A-HydroCort), methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisone (Meticorten, Orasone), prednisolone (Delta-Cortef), and triamcinolone (Aristocort, Kenacort)
• cyclosporine (Neoral, Gengraf, Sandimmune)
• diuretics such as furosemide (Lasix), bumetanide (Bumex), torsemide (Demadex), hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide), spironolactone (Aldactone), triamterene (Dyrenium), amiloride (Midamor), amiloride/hydrochlorothiazide, spironolactone/hydrochlorothiazide (Aldactazide), and triamterene/hydrochlorothiazide (Dyazide, Maxzide)
• dofetilide (Tikosyn)
• insulin and medicines taken by mouth to treat diabetes such as glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase, Micronase), glipizide (Glucotrol), metformin (Glucophage), rosiglitazone (Avandia), and pioglitazone (Actos)
• lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid)
• MAO inhibitor antidepressants such as phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), and isocarboxazid (Marplan) (Do not take an MAO inhibitor and this medicine within 14 days of each other.)
• medicines used to control irregular heart rhythms such as digoxin (Lanoxin), amiodarone (Cordarone), propafenone (Rythmol), quinidine, and disopyramide (Norpace)
• methenamine (Hiprex, Urex)
• narcotics such as codeine, morphine, hydrocodone (Vicodin), and oxycodone (Percocet, Tylox)
• natural remedies such as dong quai, ephedra, yohimbe, ginseng, garlic, licorice, and St. John's wort
• NSAIDs such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve), indomethacin (Indocin), nabumetone (Relafen), and ketoprofen (Orudis)
• other beta blockers such as esmolol (Brevibloc), betaxolol (Kerlone), carteolol, pindolol, carvedilol (Coreg), and sotalol (Betapace)
• other blood pressure medicines such as clonidine (Catapres), terazosin (Hytrin), and prazosin (Minipress)
• phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), prochlorperazine (Compazine), perphenazine, promazine (Sparine), thioridazine, and trifluoperazine (Stelazine)
• reserpine
• rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
• ritonavir (Norvir)
• SSRI antidepressants such as fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft)
• theophylline
• warfarin (Coumadin).

Do not drink alcohol while you are taking this medicine unless your healthcare provider approves.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.