What Is Noten Used For?

Noten contains atenolol, a beta-blocker medication that helps your heart work more efficiently by affecting how your body responds to certain nerve signals.

Primary Uses

Noten is prescribed to lower high blood pressure (hypertension), prevent chest pain (angina), treat irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias), and treat heart attacks or reduce your risk of heart complications after a heart attack.

How It Works

Noten works by reducing your heart’s need for blood and oxygen, which decreases the amount of work your heart has to do. It also widens blood vessels throughout your body, causing blood pressure to fall, and helps your heart beat more regularly.

How to Take Noten

Take Noten exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions carefully and continue taking it for as long as your doctor tells you to.

Dosage Instructions

For high blood pressure: Usually 50mg (1 tablet) up to 200mg (4 tablets) daily. If your dose is 100mg or less, take it once daily. If you need more than 100mg (2 tablets), take half in the morning and half at night. For angina or irregular heartbeat: Usually 50mg daily (1 tablet) up to 100mg (2 tablets), either as a single dose or divided (1 tablet morning and 1 tablet night). For heart attack: Usually 50mg (1 tablet) daily. Elderly patients or those with kidney problems may need a lower dose. Take at the same time every day. It doesn’t matter if you take it before or after food. Swallow whole with a glass of water.

What If You Miss a Dose?

If it’s less than six hours since you missed your dose, take it as soon as you remember, then continue with your normal schedule. If it’s more than six hours since your last dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the normal time. Never take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Available Tablet Strengths

Side Effects

Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.

Common Side Effects

These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:

• Stomach upsets (diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, heartburn)
• Dry mouth, change in taste sensation
• Dizziness, headache, buzzing or ringing in ears
• Slow or irregular heartbeat
• Dry eyes, vision problems
• Runny or blocked nose
• Difficulty sleeping, nightmares, vivid dreams
• Skin reactions (rash, itching, worsening psoriasis)
• Cold fingers and toes
• Increased hair loss
• Tingling ‘pins and needles’ or walking unsteadily
• Sexual problems

Important Warnings

There are several important conditions and situations where Noten should not be used or requires special caution.

Who Should Not Take Noten

Do not take Noten if you are allergic to atenolol or any other beta-blocker medicines, have or have had asthma, bronchitis or other lung problems, have a history of allergic problems including hay fever, have a very slow heartbeat (less than 45-50 beats per minute), have severe blood vessel disorders causing poor circulation, have certain heart conditions like heart failure, have an untreated rare adrenal gland tumor (phaeochromocytoma), have low blood pressure, have too much acid in your blood (metabolic acidosis), are receiving certain anesthetics, or are receiving emergency treatment for shock or very low blood pressure.

Medical Conditions to Discuss

Tell your doctor if you have heart problems, diabetes, overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism), kidney problems, blood vessel disorders causing poor circulation, or allergies to medicines, foods, preservatives, dyes, or insect stings.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Check with your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to breastfeed. Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while taking Noten.

Drug Interactions

Some medicines may interfere with Noten and affect how it works. Always tell your doctor about all medicines you’re taking.

• Other beta-blocker medicines
• Medicines for high blood pressure, angina or irregular heartbeat (such as verapamil or clonidine)
• Medicines for other heart problems
• Insulin and other diabetes medicines
• Arthritis, pain or inflammation medicines (such as indometacin or ibuprofen)
• Medicines used during surgery or emergencies (such as adrenaline, noradrenaline, and certain anesthetics)

Alcohol & Driving

Noten may affect your ability to drive or operate machinery and may interact with alcohol consumption.

Alcohol

Information about alcohol interaction is not specifically mentioned in the source material. Consult your doctor about alcohol consumption while taking Noten.

Driving and Operating Machinery

Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how Noten affects you. Noten may cause dizziness, tiredness, light-headedness, or faintness in some people.

Temperature Regulation

Make sure you drink enough water in hot weather and during exercise while taking Noten, especially if you sweat a lot. Dress warmly during cold weather, especially if you’ll be outside for a long time (such as when playing or watching sports in winter).

Storage

Keep your tablets in the pack until it’s time to take them. Store below 25°C in a cool, dry place away from moisture, heat, or sunlight. Do not store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car, or on window sills. Keep where young children cannot reach it. If you no longer need the medicine or it’s out of date, take it to any pharmacy for safe disposal.

Overdose Information

If you think you have taken too much Noten, you may need urgent medical attention. Immediately phone the Poisons Information Centre (Australia telephone 13 11 26) for advice, contact your doctor, or go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.

Frequently Asked Questions