B-Block 50 mg/100 mg Tablets

B - BLOCK belongs to a group of medicines called beta blockers. This means that it has effects on your heart and circulation. B - BLOCK is used in the treatment and control of high blood pressure (hypertension) and to treat severe chest pains that arise from the heart called angina pectoris.

Do not take B - BLOCK :

• if you are hypersensitive (allergic) to atenolol or any of the other ingredients of B - BLOCK (listed in section 6).
• if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• if you have any problems with your heart such as second degree or third degree heart block and cardiogenic shock (a condition where the heart is unable to supply enough blood to the organs of the body).
• if you are currently taking verapamil (used for high blood pressure and chest pain) or within several days of taking verapamil.
• if you have not eaten for a prolonged period of time (prolonged fasting).
• if you are suffering from a condition called metabolic acidosis (e.g. common condition in diabetic patients).
• if you suffer from heart failure that is not controlled with digitalis (a type of medicine used to treat heart failure) and/or diuretics (an agent used to treat hypertension and heart conditions by increasing the excretion of urine).
• if you have uncontrolled heart failure, excluding that due to hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (thickening of heart muscle which blocks blood flow out of the heart).

Do not take B - BLOCK if any of the above apply to you. If you are not sure, talk to your healthcare professional before taking B - BLOCK.

Do not share medicines prescribed for you with any other person. Always take B - BLOCK exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

The usual dose

The dosage prescribed to you is individualized and may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.

For severe chest pains (angina pectoris):

Adults: Take one B - BLOCK 100 tablet once a day or take 1 B - BLOCK 50 twice a day.

For high blood pressure (hypertension):

Adults: Take 50 – 100 mg B - BLOCK once a day. If B - BLOCK is used in the elderly or if you have problems with your kidneys, your doctor may reduce the amount of B - BLOCK that has to be taken compared to the adult dose.

B - BLOCK can have side effects. Not all side effects reported for B - BLOCK are included in this leaflet. Should your general health worsen or if you experience any untoward effects while taking B - BLOCK, please consult your health care provider for advice.

If any of the following happens, stop taking B - BLOCK and tell your doctor immediately or go to the casualty department at your nearest hospital:

• Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing (angioedema)
• Skin rashes or itching (pruritus)
• Itchy rash (urticaria)

These are very serious side effects. If you have them you may have had a serious allergic reaction or other type of reaction to B - BLOCK. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.

Tell your doctor immediately or go to the casualty department at your nearest hospital if you notice any of the following:

• Chest pain
• Angina
• Changes in the way your heart beats,

These are all serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention.

Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following:

Frequent side effects:

• Sleep disturbances (insomnia)
• Unusual tiredness or weakness (fatigue)
• Drowsiness

Less frequent side effects:

• Depression
• Low blood pressure
• Heart failure or heart block may be precipitated in patients with underlying cardiac disorders.
• Cold fingers and toes
• Tight chest
• Nausea and vomiting
• Runny stomach (diarrhoea), constipation and abdominal cramps

Rare Side effects:

• Confusion
• Nightmares
• Vivid dreams
• Hallucinations
• Numbness
• Muscle cramps
• Dizziness and lassitude
• Dry eyes
• Blurred vision and sore eyes
• Skin rash
• Hair loss
• Itchy skin
• Muscular fatigue and weakness including muscle cramps
• Loss of male sexual ability

If you notice any side effects not mentioned in this leaflet, please inform your doctor or pharmacist.

Reporting of side effects

If you get side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist or nurse. You can also report side effects to SAHPRA via the “6.04 Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Form”, found online under SAHPRA’s publications: https://www.sahpra.org.za/Publications/Index/8. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of B - BLOCK.

Store all medicines out of reach of children.

• Store at or below 25 ºC.
• Protect from light and moisture.
• Do not store in bathrooms in order to protect from light.
• Do not take medicine after the expiry date stated on the label.
• Return all unused medicine to your pharmacist.
• Do not dispose of unused medicine in drains or sewerage systems (e.g. toilets).