Tenoretic

Generic for Tenoretic (Atenolol–Chlorthalidone) is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure). This combination medication is composed of Atenolol, a beta-blocker that lowers the heart rate, blood pressure, and strain on the heart, and Chlorthalidone, a thiazide diuretic (water pill) that helps to get rid of excess salt and water from the body. Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent heart attacks, strokes, and kidney problems.

Tenoretic is in a class of drugs called beta-blockers. Tenoretic is used to lower blood pressure, lower heart rate, reduce angina (chest pain), and reduce the risk of a recurrent heart attack. Tenoretic is a thiazide diuretic (water pill). It helps to lower your blood pressure and decrease edema (swelling) by increasing the amount of salt and water you lose in your urine. Tenoretic is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).

How to use:
Take Tenoretic exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
Take each dose with a full glass of water.
Tenoretic is usually taken once a day. Follow your doctor's instructions.
To reduce nighttime urination, take Tenoretic before 6 p.m. and preferably in the morning.
Do not stop taking this medication unless your doctor approves. If you stop taking your medication, your condition could become much worse.
Store Tenoretic at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Dosage:
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take only your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

With two active ingredients, Tenoretic works as both a beta blocker and a diuretic. While Atenolol’s effect is to reduce the pressure on the heart to make it work more slowly, the Chlorthalidone increases the amount of water and salt expelled from the body. This effect too helps reduce blood pressure and thereby helps with treatment of the condition.

Side Effects:
Tenoretic shares certain side effects common to all beta blocker medications such as cold fingers, headache, feeling of tiredness, dizziness, nausea, and light-headedness. Mild in most cases, these Tenoretic side effects do require medical attention if they turn bothersome. Then again there are certain severe and dangerous side effects that call for immediate medical help and possibly change of dosage. These include bluish skin, irregular heartbeats, mood changes, muscle cramps, severe weakness, persistent nausea and yellowing of skin and eyes. You might also have to consider other alternatives.

Guidelines before Taking:
Food does not affect Tenoretic and so you can take it any time during the day. However, stick to a fixed time schedule, preferably more than four hours before your bedtime as it can otherwise disturb your sleep. Tenoretic regimen should be continued even if you feel better as blood pressure can increase at any time. Avoid stopping this medication all of a sudden as your health could take a beating.