Atecard 100mg Tablet belongs to a group of medicines called beta-blockers. It is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), angina (heart-related chest pain), irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmia). It also helps to prevent future heart attacks and stroke.
Atecard 100mg Tablet may be prescribed alone or together with other medications. The dose and frequency depend on what you are taking it for and the severity of your condition. It may be taken empty stomach or with a meal, but take it regularly at the same time each day to get the most benefit. It may take several weeks before you get the full benefit of this medicine and you may need to take it for the rest of your life. However, it is important to continue taking it even if you feel well. Most people with high blood pressure do not feel ill and if you stop taking it, your condition may worsen.
The main side effects of this medicine are fatigue, slow heart rate, feeling dizzy, diarrhea, and nausea. These are usually mild and short-lived. It may also cause shortness of breath or low blood pressure in some people. To reduce the risk of side effects your doctor will probably start the medicine at a low dose and gradually increase it. Consult your doctor if the side effects bother you or do not go away.
Before taking it, let your doctor know if you have any liver problems. It may also not be suitable for people who have a slow heart rate, severe circulation problems, severe heart failure, or low blood pressure. Pregnant or breastfeeding mothers should also consult their doctor before taking it. You must talk to your doctor to find out whether this medicine is suitable for you to use. You should have your blood pressure checked regularly to make sure that this medicine is working properly. Avoid drinking alcohol as it may increase certain side effects.
Atecard 100mg Tablet relaxes the blood vessels so that blood can flow more easily around your body and makes sure that your heart is getting a good supply of oxygen. This makes it less likely that you will suffer chest pain caused by angina. This medicine can help increase your ability to exercise and go about your daily life more easily by reducing the frequency of angina attacks. You should take it regularly and as long as it is prescribed for it to work effectively.
In Treatment of Arrhythmia
Atecard 100mg Tablet is used to stabilize heart rhythms (particularly atrial fibrillation). It helps in normalizing an abnormal heart rhythm, preventing it occurring in the first place or slowing down the heart rate during an episode.
In Prevention of Heart attack
Atecard 100mg Tablet helps lower your blood pressure and make it easier for your heart to pump blood around your body. This reduces the chances of you having a heart attack. It can also reduce the risk of dying if it is given immediately after a heart attack. This medicine needs to be taken regularly to be effective, so keep taking it even if you feel well. Do not stop without talking to your doctor
In Treatment of Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Atecard 100mg Tablet works by blocking the effects of some chemicals on your heart and blood vessels. It slows down your heart rate and helps the heartbeat with less force. This lowers your blood pressure and helps in reducing your risk of having a stroke, a heart attack, other heart problems, or kidney problems in the future. This medicine needs to be taken regularly to be effective, so keep taking it even if you feel well. Do not stop without talking to your doctor.
Side effects of Atecard Tablet
Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them
Common side effects of Atecard
Dizziness
Fatigue
Slow heart rate
Cold extremities
Gastrointestinal disturbance
Nausea
How to use Atecard Tablet
Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Atecard 100mg Tablet may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time.
How Atecard Tablet works
Atecard 100mg Tablet is a beta blocker that works specifically on the heart. It works by slowing down the heart rate and makes the heart more efficient at pumping blood throughout the body. The exact mechanism by which Atecard 100mg Tablet prevents migraines is not established yet and may vary from person to person. Atecard 100mg Tablet can prevent migraines by decreasing the excitability of the nervous system. Atecard 100mg Tablet is also believed to decrease the dilation of blood vessels that are responsible for migraine.
Safety advice
Alcohol
UNSAFE
Atecard 100mg Tablet may cause excessive drowsiness with alcohol.
Pregnancy
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
Atecard 100mg Tablet is unsafe to use during pregnancy as there is definite evidence of risk to the developing baby. However, the doctor may rarely prescribe it in some life-threatening situations if the benefits are more than the potential risks. Please consult your doctor.
Breast feeding
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
Atecard 100mg Tablet is probably unsafe to use during breastfeeding. Limited human data suggests that the drug may pass into the breastmilk and harm the baby.
Driving
UNSAFE
Atecard 100mg Tablet may decrease alertness, affect your vision or make you feel sleepy and dizzy. Do not drive if these symptoms occur.
Kidney
CAUTION
Atecard 100mg Tablet should be used with caution in patients with kidney disease. Dose adjustment of Atecard 100mg Tablet may be needed. Please consult your doctor. Regular monitoring of blood pressure is recommended and can help in better dose adjustment.
Liver
CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
There is limited information available on the use of Atecard 100mg Tablet in patients with liver disease. Please consult your doctor.
All substitutes
For informational purposes only. Consult a doctor before taking any medicines.
It may cause dizziness. If this happens to you, get up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position.
It can hide symptoms of low blood sugar if you are diabetic. Monitor your blood sugar levels regularly.
Do not stop taking Atecard 100mg Tablet suddenly as it can cause your blood pressure to rise suddenly, thereby increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Fact Box
Chemical Class
Synthetic isopropylamino propanol derivative
Habit Forming
No
Therapeutic Class
CARDIAC
Interaction with drugs
Taking Atecard with any of the following medicines can modify the effect of either of them and cause some undesirable side effects
Q. How many hours does Atecard 100mg Tablet take to reduce high blood pressure?
Usually, Atecard 100mg Tablet starts working within 3 hours, but it can take up to 2 weeks to reach its full effect. You may not feel any difference in blood pressure after taking the medicine, but this does not mean that the medicine is not working. It is important to keep taking your medicine in the prescribed dose and duration to get the maximum benefit of Atecard 100mg Tablet.
Q. Should I take Atecard 100mg Tablet in the morning or at night?
Atecard 100mg Tablet can be taken anytime in the morning or evening, usually prescribed once or twice daily. However, your very first dose of Atecard 100mg Tablet may make you feel dizzy, so it is better to take your first dose at bedtime. After that, if you do not feel dizzy, you may take it any time of the day. Follow the advice of your doctor. It is advised to take it at the same time each day so that you remember to take it and consistent levels of medicine are maintained in the body.
Q. What if I forget to take a dose of Atecard 100mg Tablet?
If you have missed a dose of Atecard 100mg Tablet, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next scheduled dose. Do not double the dose to make up for the missed one as this may increase the chances of developing side effects.
Q. What if I take more than the prescribed dose of Atecard 100mg Tablet?
If you take more than the prescribed dose, your heart rate may slow down and you may find it difficult to breathe. It can also cause dizziness and trembling. If you experience any of such side effects, seek immediate medical assistance. Avoid driving yourself to avoid any mishap. Get someone else to drive you or call for an ambulance. Take the Atecard 100mg Tablet packet or leaflet inside it, plus any remaining medicine, with you.
Q. What are the most common side effects of Atecard 100mg Tablet?
The most common side effects of Atecard 100mg Tablet include cold extremities (feeling extreme cold), fatigue, slow heart rate, nausea, diarrhea and dizziness. However, these are usually mild and short-lived and not everyone will experience these side effects. But, if these do not resolve and bother you, consult your doctor to know about ways of coping up with them. Your doctor may also suggest ways of preventing them in future.
Q. Can Atecard 100mg Tablet cause dizziness? How do I prevent it?
Yes, Atecard 100mg Tablet can cause dizziness as a side effect. If this happens to you, you should sit or lie down until the symptoms pass. However, this is temporary and usually goes away as the treatment continues. It would be best to avoid alcohol while being on treatment, as it may worsen the dizziness.
Q. What should I tell my doctor before taking Atecard 100mg Tablet?
Atecard 100mg Tablet is not suitable for everyone. Therefore, it is advised to inform your doctor if you are allergic to Atecard 100mg Tablet or any of its ingredients before starting treatment. You must tell the doctor if you have low blood pressure or a slow heart rate, serious blood circulation problems in your limbs (such as Raynaud's phenomenon), which may make your fingers and toes tingle or turn pale or blue. In addition to that, inform your doctor if you are suffering or have suffered from metabolic acidosis (when there's too much acid in your blood), lung disease or asthma. Let your doctor know about all the other medicines you are taking because they may affect, or be affected by, this medicine. Also, inform your doctor if you're trying to get pregnant, are already pregnant or breastfeeding to prevent any harmful effects on the baby.
Q. Is Atecard 100mg Tablet effective?
Atecard 100mg Tablet is effective if used in the dose and duration advised by your doctor. Do not stop taking it even if you see improvement in your condition. If you stop using Atecard 100mg Tablet too early, the symptoms may return or worsen.
Q. What other lifestyle changes should I make while taking Atecard 100mg Tablet?
Lifestyle changes play a major role in keeping you healthy if you are taking Atecard 100mg Tablet. Avoid taking excess salt in your diet and find ways to reduce or manage stress in your life. Practice yoga or meditation or take up a hobby. Ensure that you have a sound sleep every night as this also helps to reduce stress levels and helps to keep your blood pressure normal. Stop smoking and alcohol consumption as this helps in lowering your blood pressure and preventing heart problems. Exercise regularly and take a balanced diet that includes whole grains, fresh fruits, vegetables and fat-free products. Consult your doctor if you need any further guidance to get the maximum benefit of Atecard 100mg Tablet and to keep yourself healthy.
Tata 1mg's sole intention is to ensure that its consumers get information that is expert-reviewed, accurate and trustworthy. However, the information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of a qualified physician. The information provided here is for informational purposes only. This may not cover everything about particular health conditions, lab tests, medicines, all possible side effects, drug interactions, warnings, alerts, etc. Please consult your doctor and discuss all your queries related to any disease or medicine. We intend to support, not replace, the doctor-patient relationship.
References
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Benowitz NL. Antihypertensive Agents. In: Katzung BG, Masters SB, Trevor AJ, editors. Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. 11th ed. New Delhi, India: Tata McGraw Hill Education Private Limited; 2009. p. 176.
Briggs GG, Freeman RK, editors. A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk: Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health; 2015. pp. 98-102.
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