BETALOC® TABLETS Metoprolol Tartrate
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BETALOC® TABLETS Metoprolol tartrate Consumer Medicine Information What is in this leaflet the heart has to do. It also widens the hives on the skin or you may feel blood vessels in the body, as well as faint. This leaflet answers some of the helping the heart to beat more • you have asthma, wheezing, common questions people ask about regularly. difficulty breathing or other BETALOC tablets. It does not Your doctor will have explained why lung problems, or have had contain all the information that is you are being treated with them in the past known about BETALOC. BETALOC and told you what dose • you have a history of allergic It does not take the place of talking to to take. problems, including hayfever your doctor or pharmacist. BETALOC may be used either alone • you have low blood pressure All medicines have risks and or in combination with other medicines to treat your condition. • you have a very slow heartbeat benefits. Your doctor will have (less than 45-50 beats/minute) weighed the risks of you taking Ask your doctor if you have any BETALOC against the benefits they questions about why BETALOC • you have certain other heart expect it will have for you. has been prescribed for you. conditions If you have any concerns about Your doctor may have prescribed this • you have phaeochromocytoma taking this medicine, ask your medicine for another reason. (a rare tumour of the adrenal doctor or pharmacist. gland) which is not being Follow all directions given to you treated already with other Keep this leaflet with the medicine. by your doctor carefully. medicines You may need to read it again. They may differ from the • you have a severe blood vessel information contained in this leaflet. disorder causing poor BETALOC is not addictive circulation in the arms and legs • you are receiving/having What BETALOC is emergency treatment for shock used for or severely low blood pressure. Before you take If you are not sure whether any of BETALOC belongs to a group of BETALOC medicines called beta-blockers. these apply to you, check with your doctor. BETALOC tablets are used to: When you must not take it Do not use BETALOC if the expiry • lower high blood pressure, also Do not take BETALOC tablets if: date (EXP) printed on the pack has called hypertension • You have any allergies to passed or if the packaging is torn • prevent angina metoprolol tartrate, the active or shows signs of tampering. • treat or prevent heart attacks, or ingredient in BETALOC If it has expired or is damaged, return reduce your risk of heart tablets, or any of the it to your pharmacist for disposal. complications following a heart ingredients listed at the end of Do not give BETALOC to children. attack this leaflet, or any other beta- The safety and effectiveness of • prevent migraine headaches. blocker medicine. BETALOC in children has not been It works by affecting the body's Some of the symptoms of an established. response to some nerve impulses, allergic reaction may include If you are not sure whether you especially in the heart. shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing; swelling of should start taking this medicine, As a result, it decreases the heart's the face, lips, tongue or other talk to your doctor. need for blood and oxygen and parts of the body; rash, itching or therefore reduces the amount of work BETALOC® TABLETS - DOC ID-003734142 V1.0 1 Before you start to take it Some medicines and BETALOC may How to take BETALOC interfere with each other. These You must tell your doctor if you include: have any allergies to: Follow all directions given to you • other beta-blocker medicines, by your doctor or pharmacist • metoprolol tartrate or any of the including beta-blocker eye drops. carefully. ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet. • calcium channel blockers or They may differ from the calcium antagonists, medicines information contained in this leaflet. • any other medicine, including used to treat high blood pressure other beta-blocker medicines If you do not understand the and angina, for example instructions on the pack, ask your • any other substances, such as verapamil and diltiazem doctor or pharmacist for help. foods, preservatives or dyes. • medicines used to treat high Tell your doctor if you have, or blood pressure, for example How much to take have had, any medical conditions, clonidine, hydralazine, and For high blood pressure: especially the following: prazosin The usual starting dose is one 50mg • asthma, wheezing, difficulty • medicines used to treat abnormal or 100mg tablet once a day for one breathing or other lung problems or irregular heartbeat, for week. • diabetes example amiodarone, disopyramide and quinidine The dose is then usually increased to • an overactive thyroid gland 50mg or 100mg once or twice daily. • medicines used to treat arthritis, • liver problems pain, or inflammation, for Your doctor may tell you to take a • kidney problems example indomethacin and different amount of BETALOC. • certain types of angina ibuprofen Follow your doctor's instructions • any other heart problems • warfarin, a medicine used to carefully. • phaeochromocytoma, a rare prevent blood clots If you are taking other prescription tumour of the adrenal gland • digoxin, a medicine used to treat medicines which lower blood pressure, your doctor may need to • any blood vessel disorder causing heart failure change the dose of them to obtain the poor circulation in the arms and • medicines used to treat diabetes best results for you. legs. • cimetidine, a medicine used to For angina pectoris: Tell your doctor if you are treat stomach ulcers The usual dose is 50mg or 100mg pregnant or intend to become • medicines used to treat bacterial taken two or three times a day. pregnant. infections, for example rifampicin After myocardial infarction (heart Like most beta-blocker medicines, • medicines used to treat attack): BETALOC is not recommended for depression use during pregnancy. The usual dose is 100mg taken twice • monoamine-oxidase inhibitors a day, often starting with a lower Tell your doctor if you are breast- (MAOIs). feeding or plan to breast-feed. dose for 2 days. These medicines may be affected by For migraine prevention: The active ingredient in BETALOC BETALOC or may affect how well it passes into breast milk and therefore works. You may need to take The usual dose is 100-150 mg a day, there is a possibility that the breast- different amounts of your medicine, taken in divided doses morning and fed baby may be affected. or you may need to take different evening. If you have not told your doctor medicines. Your doctor will advise Ask your doctor or pharmacist if about any of these things, tell them you. you are unsure of the correct dose before you take BETALOC. Your doctor and pharmacist have for you. more information on medicines to be They will tell you exactly how much Taking other medicines careful with or avoid while taking to take. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if BETALOC. you are taking any other If you have not told your doctor How to take it medicines, including any that you about any of these things, tell them Swallow the tablet with a glass of get without a prescription from before you take any BETALOC. fluid. your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop. BETALOC® TABLETS - DOC ID-003734142 V1.0 2 When to take BETALOC poisoning. You may need urgent feel faint or light headed or sick. This medical attention. is because your blood pressure is Take your medicine at about the dropping too much. If you continue same time each day before or after If you take too many BETALOC to feel unwell, tell your doctor. food. tablets your blood pressure may drop too far. You will feel faint or faint, If you are being treated for Taking it at the same time each day and your heart rate will also slow diabetes, make sure you check will have the best effect. It will also down. You may also have nausea, your blood sugar level regularly help you remember when to take it. vomiting, and convulsions. In and report any changes to your extreme cases, serious heart and lung doctor. How long to take BETALOC problems may occur. BETALOC may change how well Continue taking your medicine for as your diabetes is controlled. It may long as your doctor tells you. This also cover up some of the symptoms medicine helps to control your of low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia). condition, but does not cure it. While you are using BETALOC may increase the time It is important to keep taking your BETALOC your body takes to recover from low medicine even if you feel well. blood sugar. Your doses of diabetic DO NOT STOP TAKING Things you must do medicines, including insulin, may need to change. BETALOC TABLETS Be sure to keep all of your doctor's SUDDENLY. appointments so that your progress If you are about to be started on The dose needs to be reduced slowly can be checked. any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist that you over 7 to 14 days to make sure that Elderly patients especially need to be are taking BETALOC. your condition does not get worse. monitored to stop their blood Your doctor will tell you how to pressure falling too far. Tell any doctors, dentists, and gradually reduce the dose before pharmacists who are treating you If you become pregnant while stopping completely. that you are taking BETALOC. taking BETALOC, tell your doctor immediately. If you plan to have surgery (even If you forget to take it at the dentist) that needs an If you have a severe allergic If it is almost time for your next anaesthetic, tell your doctor or reaction to foods, medicines or dose, skip the dose you missed and dentist that you are taking insect stings, tell your doctor take your next dose when you are BETALOC.