DILATREND®
Carvedilol
6.25 mg, 12.5 mg and 25 mg tablets
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about DILATREND tablets.
It does not contain all the available information.
It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of
you taking DILATREND tablets against the benefits expected for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or
pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine. You may need to read it again.
What DILATREND is used for
DILATREND contains the active ingredient carvedilol.
DILATREND is used to treat:
- high blood pressure
- angina (a severe chest pain)
- heart failure
- heart failure following a recent heart attack
DILATREND may be used in combination with other "heart" medicines.
DILATREND is a long-term treatment.
DILATREND belongs to a group of medicines called beta blockers. These
medicines work by relaxing tightened blood vessels and slowing the rate of
heart beat. DILATREND is different from conventional beta blockers as it has
additional effects of being an alpha blocker (which also relaxes and widens
your blood vessels) and an antioxidant.
Heart failure occurs when the heart can no longer pump blood strongly
enough for the body's needs. Often the heart gets bigger to try to improve the
blood flow, but this can make the heart failure worse. Symptoms of heart
failure include shortness of breath and swelling of the feet and/or legs due
to fluid build-up.
DILATREND, when used with other "heart" medicines, reduces the pressure
that the heart has to pump against as well as controlling the heart rate. Over
time this will reduce the size of an oversized heart and increase its
efficiency.
DILATREND helps to stop heart failure getting worse and reduces the chances
of you being admitted to hospital and/or dying from this disease.
Your doctor, however, may have prescribed DILATREND for another purpose.
There is not enough information to recommend the use of DILATREND for
people under the age of 18 years.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why DILATREND has been
prescribed for you.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
Before you take DILATREND
When you must not take it
Do not take DILATREND if:
- you have had an allergic reaction to DILATREND or any ingredients listed
at the end of this leaflet - you have asthma, or a history of asthma
- you have wheeziness/difficulty in breathing or a history of lung
disorders - you have liver disease
- you have a history of a very slow heart rate (bradycardia) or uneven
heart beating (heart block) - you have very low blood pressure (hypotension)
- the package is torn or shows signs of tampering
- the expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack has passed
If you take this medicine after the expiry
date has passed, it may not work as well.
If you are not sure if you should be taking DILATREND, talk to your
doctor.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor if:
- you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
It is not known whether DILATREND is
harmful to an unborn baby when taken by a pregnant woman. If there is a need
to take DILATREND when you are pregnant your doctor will discuss the risks
and benefits to you and the unborn baby. - you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed
It is not known if DILATREND passes into
breast milk. Breast feeding is not recommended if you are taking DILATREND. - you have any other health problems, especially the following:
- diabetes
- low blood pressure
- very poor circulation to your fingers and/or toes (called peripheral
vascular disease or Raynaud's phenomenon) - angina or chest pain/tightness which occurs even when you are at rest
(called unstable angina) - a history of poor kidney function
- thyroid disorders
- a history of severe allergic reactions causing swelling and/or
difficulty breathing - a history of psoriasis when taking beta-blockers
- a rare cancer called pheochromocytoma
- you are allergic to any other medicines, foods, dyes or preservatives
- you plan to have surgery
Your surgeon and anaesthetist should know
well ahead of the date of your surgery so they can allow for your conditions
and medications.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, you should do
so before your start taking DILATREND.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including any
that you have bought from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines may interfere with DILATREND. These medicines include:
- rifampicin (Rifadin®, Rifinah®)
- cimetidine (Apo-Cimetidine®, Cytine®)
- reserpine
- a group of medicines called monoamine oxidase inhibitors that includes
moclobemide (Apo-moclobemide®), phenelzine (Nardil®)
and tranylcypromine (Parnate®) - cyclosporin (Neoral®, Sandimmun®)
- digoxin (Lanoxin®)
- diltiazem (Apo-Diltiazem®, Cardizem®, Dilcard®,
Dilzem®) - verapamil (Isoptin®, Verpamil®, Civicor®)
- clonidine (Catapres®, Dixarit®)
- medicines for diabetes including insulin injections, glibenclamide (Gliben®),
metformin (Diabex®, Metomin®), gliclazide (Diamicron®,
Apo-gliclazide®), glipizide (Minidiab®), tolbutamide (Diatol®),
rosiglitazone (Avandia®), pioglitazone (Actos®) - medicines for when your heart doesn't beat smoothly, including
disopyramide (Rhythmodan®), quinidine, procainamide (Pronestyl®),
mexiletine (Mexitil®), lignocaine, flecainide (Tambocor®),
amiodarone (Aratac®, Cordarone X®) and propafenone (Rytmonorm®)
These medicines may be affected by DILATREND, or may affect how well it
works. You may need to use different amounts of your medicines or you may need
to take different medicines. Your doctor will advise you.
Your doctor or pharmacist has more information on medicines to be careful
with or avoid while taking DILATREND.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about this list of
medicines.
How to take DILATREND
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist
carefully.
They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
How much to take
Take DILATREND exactly as your doctor has prescribed.
Your doctor will tell you how many DILATREND tablets to take each day.
The usual dose for hypertension (high blood pressure) is 12.5 mg
(one 12.5 mg tablet or half a 25 mg tablet) once a day for the first two days,
then one 25 mg tablet once a day. If necessary, after at least another two
weeks, the dose may be increased to 50 mg per day, taken either as two 25 mg
tablets at the same time once a day, or one 25 mg tablet taken in the morning
and another 25 mg tablet taken in the evening.
The usual dose for angina is 12.5 mg (one 12.5 mg tablet or half a
25 mg tablet) twice a day for the first two days, then 25 mg twice a day (one
25 mg tablet in the morning and another 25 mg tablet in the evening). If
necessary, after at least another two weeks, the dose may be increased to 50
mg (two 25 mg tablets) twice a day - a total of four 25 mg tablets per day.
The usual starting dose in heart failure is 3.125 mg (half a 6.25 mg
tablet) twice daily. The dose is usually increased every two weeks to 6.25 mg
twice daily (one 6.25 mg tablet in the morning and another 6.25 mg tablet in
the evening), then 12.5 mg twice daily and then 25 mg twice daily. Some
patients may require up to two 25 mg tablets (50 mg) twice daily. However,
this dosage increase may be done more slowly if side effects occur. If the
tablets slow your heart too much you may go back to a lower dose.
The usual starting dose for heart failure following a recent heart
attack is 6.25 mg twice a day (one 6.25 mg tablet in the morning and
another 6.25 mg tablet in the evening). If the 6.25 mg twice daily dose is
well tolerated, the dose can be increased at intervals of 3 - 10 days to 12.5
mg twice daily and then up to a maximum of 25 mg twice daily. The final dose
will be determined by how well you feel while taking DILATREND.
Your doctor will decide which dose is best for you and monitor you
carefully each time the dose is increased.
How to take it
Swallow the tablets whole or halved with a glass of water.
Do not crush or chew the tablets.
When to take it
Take DILATREND during or immediately after a meal, at about the same
times each day.
If you take DILATREND on an empty stomach, it may increase the risk of
some side effects.
How long to take it
Treatment with DILATREND is usually long term treatment.
Continue taking DILATREND until your doctor tells you to stop.
It is very important that DILATREND treatment is not stopped suddenly.
If you are to stop taking DILATREND your doctor will advise you to reduce
the dose slowly over approximately two weeks.
If you forget to take it
Do not take an extra dose. Wait until the next dose and take your normal
dose then.
Do not try to make up for the dose that you missed by taking more than
one dose at a time.
If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have trouble remembering your dose, ask your pharmacist for some
hints.
In case of an overdose
Immediately telephone your doctor or National Poisons Information Centre
(telephone 0800 POISON or 0800 764 766) or go to your nearest Accident and
Emergency Centre if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much
DILATREND. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
You may need urgent medical attention.
The following are some symptoms which may or may not occur.
- low blood pressure causing dizziness or fainting
- a very slow heart rate
- difficulty breathing
- vomiting
- shock
- seizures
Keep telephone numbers for these places handy.
If you are not sure what to do, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
While you are taking DILATREND
Things you must do
If you feel light-headed, dizzy or faint when getting out of bed or
standing up, get up slowly.
Tell all doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you
are taking DILATREND. If you are having surgery be sure to tell your surgeon
and anaesthetist that you are taking DILATREND.
Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while taking DILATREND.
Tell your doctor that you are taking DILATREND if you are going to have
any laboratory tests.
Tell your doctor if, for any reason, you have not taken your medicine
exactly as prescribed.
Otherwise your doctor may think that it was not effective and change your
treatment unnecessarily.
Tell your doctor if you feel that the tablets are not helping your
condition.
Be sure to keep all of your appointments with your doctor so that your
progress can be checked.
Your doctor may examine your eyes, and test your blood glucose and kidney
function from time to time.
Things you must not do
Do not stop taking DILATREND or change the dose without first checking
with your doctor.
Do not let yourself run out of medicine over the weekend or on holidays.
DILATREND should only be stopped by gradually reducing the amount you are
taking as directed by your doctor.
Do not give DILATREND to anyone else even if they have the same
condition as you.
Do not use DILATREND to treat other complaints unless your doctor says
to.
Do not take any other medicines whether they require a prescription or
not without first telling your doctor or consulting a pharmacist.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how DILATREND
affects you.
DILATREND may affect your ability to drive a car or operate machinery when
you start taking it, or when the dosage is increased, or in combination with
alcohol.
If you wear contact lenses you may also notice less tear fluid in your
eyes. You may find you have to use your contact lenses less or switch to
glasses.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel
well while you are taking DILATREND.
DILATREND helps most people but it may have unwanted side effects in a few
people.
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of
the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the
side effects.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
- fatigue, dizziness, headache - these side effects often occur at the
beginning of treatment - feeling faint
- oedema (swelling)
- abnormal heart beat, including slow or fast heart beat
- nausea (feeling sick), vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhoea
- weight increase
- vision abnormalities
- dry or sore eyes
- lightheadedness on standing
- pain in your fingers and/or toes
- if you are diabetic, worsening control of your blood glucose levels
These are the more common side effects of DILATREND. Mostly these are mild.
Tell your doctor immediately or go to your nearest Accident and
Emergency Centre if you notice any of the following:
- shortness of breath
- swelling of the mouth or tongue
- uneven heart beating
- swelling of the feet or legs due to fluid build-up
- bleeding or bruising more easily than normal
- cold extremities
- chest pain
- depressed mood
- sleep disturbances/nightmares
- loss of bladder control
These may be serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention.
Serious side effects are rare.
This is not a complete list of all possible side effects. Others may occur
in some people and there may be some side effects not yet known.
Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel
unwell, even if it is not on this list.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you don't understand anything in this
list.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not
experience any of them.
After taking DILATREND
Storage
Keep your tablets in the blister until it is time to take them.
If you take the tablets out of the blister pack they may not keep well.
Keep DILATREND in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below
30°C.
Do not store it or any other medicine in a bathroom or near a sink or
any other place where there is high humidity.
Do not leave it in the car or on windowsills.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep DILATREND where young children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good
place to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking DILATREND, or the tablets have
passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any tablets that
are left over.
Product description
Availability
DILATREND comes in three tablet strengths - 6.25 mg, 12.5 mg and 25 mg.
All strengths of DILATREND come in packs of 30.
What DILATREND looks like
6.25 mg tablet - yellow round tablet with raised centre, scored and with BM
on one side and F1 on the other.
12.5 mg tablet - light brown round tablet with raised centre, scored and
with BM on one side and H3 on the other.
25 mg tablet - white to pale yellowish beige round tablet with raised
centre, scored and with BM on one side and D5 on the other.
Ingredients
Active ingredient - carvedilol
- each 6.25 mg tablet contains 6.25 mg carvedilol
- each 12.5 mg tablet contains 12.5 mg carvedilol
- each 25 mg tablet contains 25 mg carvedilol
Inactive ingredients - each strength of tablet also contains
sucrose, lactose, povidone, crospovidone, colloidal silicon dioxide, magnesium
stearate, yellow iron oxide (6.25 mg, 12.5 mg tablets only) and red iron oxide
(12.5 mg tablets only).
DILATREND tablets are gluten free.