pindolol

PIN-doe-lol

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Visken

In Canada

• Alti-Pindolol

Available Dosage Forms:

• Tablet

Therapeutic Class: Cardiovascular Agent

Pharmacologic Class: Beta-Adrenergic Blocker, Nonselective

Uses For pindolol

Pindolol is used alone or together with other medicines (such as hydrochlorothiazide) to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure adds to the workload of the heart and arteries. If it continues for a long time, the heart and arteries may not function properly. This can damage the blood vessels of the brain, heart, and kidneys, resulting in a stroke, heart failure, or kidney failure. High blood pressure may also increase the risk of heart attacks. These problems may be less likely to occur if blood pressure is controlled .

pindolol is a beta-blocker. It works by affecting the response to nerve impulses in certain parts of the body, like the heart. As a result, the heart beats slower and decreases the blood pressure. When the blood pressure is lowered, the amount of blood and oxygen is increased to the heart .

pindolol is available only with your doctor's prescription .

Before Using pindolol

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For pindolol, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to pindolol or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of pindolol in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established .

Geriatric

No information is available on the relationship of age to the effects of pindolol in geriatric patients .

Pregnancy

	Pregnancy Category	Explanation
All Trimesters	B	Animal studies have revealed no evidence of harm to the fetus, however, there are no adequate studies in pregnant women OR animal studies have shown an adverse effect, but adequate studies in pregnant women have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking pindolol, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using pindolol with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Thioridazine

Using pindolol with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Albuterol


• Amiodarone


• Arformoterol


• Bambuterol


• Bitolterol


• Broxaterol


• Clenbuterol


• Clonidine


• Colterol


• Diltiazem


• Dronedarone


• Epinephrine


• Fenoldopam


• Fenoterol


• Formoterol


• Hexoprenaline


• Indacaterol


• Isoetharine


• Levalbuterol


• Metaproterenol


• Pirbuterol


• Procaterol


• Reproterol


• Rimiterol


• Ritodrine


• Salmeterol


• Terbutaline


• Tretoquinol


• Tulobuterol


• Verapamil

Using pindolol with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Acarbose


• Aceclofenac


• Acemetacin


• Acetohexamide


• Alclofenac


• Alfuzosin


• Amlodipine


• Apazone


• Arbutamine


• Benfluorex


• Benoxaprofen


• Bromfenac


• Bufexamac


• Bunazosin


• Carprofen


• Chlorpropamide


• Clometacin


• Clonixin


• Dexketoprofen


• Diclofenac


• Diflunisal


• Digoxin


• Dipyrone


• Doxazosin


• Droxicam


• Etodolac


• Etofenamate


• Felbinac


• Felodipine


• Fenbufen


• Fenoprofen


• Fentiazac


• Floctafenine


• Flufenamic Acid


• Flurbiprofen


• Gliclazide


• Glimepiride


• Glipizide


• Gliquidone


• Glyburide


• Guar Gum


• Ibuprofen


• Indomethacin


• Indoprofen


• Insulin


• Insulin Aspart, Recombinant


• Insulin Glulisine


• Insulin Lispro, Recombinant


• Isoxicam


• Ketoprofen


• Ketorolac


• Lacidipine


• Lercanidipine


• Lornoxicam


• Manidipine


• Meclofenamate


• Mefenamic Acid


• Meloxicam


• Metformin


• Mibefradil


• Miglitol


• Moxisylyte


• Nabumetone


• Naproxen


• Nicardipine


• Nifedipine


• Niflumic Acid


• Nilvadipine


• Nimesulide


• Nimodipine


• Nisoldipine


• Nitrendipine


• Oxaprozin


• Oxyphenbutazone


• Phenoxybenzamine


• Phentolamine


• Phenylbutazone


• Pirazolac


• Piroxicam


• Pirprofen


• Pranidipine


• Prazosin


• Propyphenazone


• Proquazone


• Repaglinide


• St John's Wort


• Sulindac


• Suprofen


• Tamsulosin


• Tenidap


• Tenoxicam


• Terazosin


• Tiaprofenic Acid


• Tolazamide


• Tolbutamide


• Tolmetin


• Trimazosin


• Troglitazone


• Urapidil


• Zomepirac

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of pindolol. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Angina (severe chest pain)—May provoke chest pain if stopped too quickly .

• Asthma or


• Bradycardia (slow heartbeat) or


• Heart block or


• Heart failure—Should not use in patients with these conditions .

• Diabetes or


• Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) or


• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)—May cover up some of the signs and symptoms of these diseases, such as a fast heartbeat .

• Kidney disease or


• Liver disease—Use with caution. The effects may be increased because of slower removal from the body .

• Lung disease (e.g., bronchitis, emphysema)—May cause difficulty with breathing in patients with this condition .

Proper Use of pindolol

In addition to the use of pindolol, treatment for your high blood pressure may include weight control and changes in the types of foods you eat, especially foods high in sodium. Your doctor will tell you which of these are most important for you. You should check with your doctor before changing your diet .

Many patients who have high blood pressure will not notice any signs of the problem. In fact, many may feel normal. It is very important that you take your medicine exactly as directed and that you keep your appointments with your doctor even if you feel well .

Remember that pindolol will not cure your high blood pressure, but it does help control it. You must continue to take it as directed if you expect to lower your blood pressure and keep it down. You may have to take high blood pressure medicine for the rest of your life. If high blood pressure is not treated, it can cause serious problems such as heart failure, blood vessel disease, stroke, or kidney disease .

Do not interrupt or stop taking pindolol without first checking with your doctor. Your doctor may want you to gradually reduce the amount you are taking before stopping it completely. Some conditions may become worse when the medicine is stopped suddenly, which can be dangerous .

Dosing

The dose of pindolol will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of pindolol. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  
  • For high blood pressure:
    
    • Adults—At first, 5 milligrams (mg) two times a day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.
    
    
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor .
    
    
  
  

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of pindolol, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Precautions While Using pindolol

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure pindolol is working properly and to check for unwanted effects .

Pindolol may cause heart failure in some patients. Check with your doctor right away if you are having chest pain or discomfort; dilated neck veins; extreme fatigue; irregular breathing; an irregular heartbeat; shortness of breath; swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs; weight gain; or wheezing .

pindolol may cause changes in your blood sugar levels. Also, pindolol may cover up signs of low blood sugar, such as a rapid pulse rate. Check with your doctor if you have these problems or if you notice a change in the results of your blood or urine sugar tests .

Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using pindolol. You may need to stop using pindolol several days before having surgery .

pindolol Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

• Swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs

Less common

• Burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings


• chest pain


• difficult or labored breathing


• shortness of breath


• tightness in chest


• wheezing

Rare

• Decreased urine output


• dilated neck veins


• extreme fatigue


• fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse


• irregular breathing


• seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there


• troubled breathing


• weight gain

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

Symptoms of overdose

• Blurred vision


• dizziness


• headache


• nervousness


• pounding in the ears


• slow heartbeat

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

• Joint pain


• muscle pain


• sleeplessness


• trouble sleeping


• unable to sleep


• unusual tiredness or weakness

Less common

• Itching skin


• muscle cramps


• nausea


• stomach soreness or discomfort


• unusual dreams


• weakness

Rare

• Rash

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: pindolol side effects (in more detail)

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More pindolol resources

• Pindolol Side Effects (in more detail)
• Pindolol Dosage
• Pindolol Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Drug Images
• Pindolol Drug Interactions
• Pindolol Support Group
• 0 Reviews for Pindolol - Add your own review/rating

• pindolol Concise Consumer Information (Cerner Multum)


• Pindolol Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Pindolol Monograph (AHFS DI)


• Pindolol Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)


• Pindolol MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)


• Visken Prescribing Information (FDA)

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