Bisotrak Tablets 2.5mg
Therapy Area
Cardiology
About leaflet
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
- This medicine has been prescribed for you. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
- If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
What is in this leaflet
- What BisotrakTM is and what it is used for
- What you need to know before you take BisotrakTM
- How to take BisotrakTM
- Possible side effects
- How to store BisotrakTM
- Contents of the pack and other information
1. What BisotrakTM is and what it is used for
The active substance in BisotrakTM is Bisoprolol fumarate. Bisoprolol belongs to a group of medicines called beta-blockers. Beta-blocker protects heart from too much activity. This medicine works by affecting the body’s response to some nerve impulses, especially in the heart. As a result, Bisoprolol fumarate slows down the heart rate and makes the heart more efficient at pumping blood around the body. Heart failure occurs when the heart muscle is weak and unable to pump enough blood to supply the body’s need. Bisoprolol tablets are used in combination with other medicines to treat stable heart failure. It is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and angina pectoris (chest pain caused by blockages in the arteries that supply the heart muscle).
2. What you need to know before you take BisotrakTM
Do not take Bisoprolol Fumarate if you:
- are allergic to bisoprolol fumarate
- have severe asthma or severe chronic lung disease
- have a slow or irregular heart rate. Ask your doctor if you are not sure
- have very low blood pressure
- have severe blood circulation problems (such as Raynaud’s syndrome), which may cause your fingers and toes to tingle or turn pale or blue
- have heart failure that suddenly becomes worse and/ or may require hospital treatment
- Cardiogenic shock, which is an acute serious heart condition causing low blood pressure and circulatory failure.
- have excess acid in the blood, a condition known as metabolic acidosis
- have untreated phaeochromocytoma, a rare tumour of the adrenal gland (medulla)
Tell your doctor if you are not sure about any of the above: your doctor will be able to advise you.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Bisoprolol Fumarate. He or she may want to take special care (for example give additional treatment or perform more frequent checks) if you have any of the following conditions if you:
- have asthma or chronic lung disease
- have diabetes. Bisoprolol fumarate can hide the symptoms of low blood sugar
- are fasting from solid food
- are treated for hypersensitivity (allergic) reactions. Bisoprolol may make your allergy worse or often difficult to treat.
- have certain heart disease such as disturbance in heart rhythm or severe chest pain at rest (Prinzmetal’s angina)
- have any liver or kidney problems
- have any problems with the circulation in your limbs
- are taking verapamil or diltiazem, medicines used to treat heart conditions. Concomitant use is not recommended, see also “taking other medicines”
- have (or have had) psoriasis (a recurring skin rash)
- have phaeochromocytoma (tumour of the adrenal gland). Your doctor will need to treat this before prescribing bisoprolol for you
- have a thyroid problem. The tablets can hide symptoms of an overactive thyroid
Consult your doctor if one of the above warnings is applicable to you, or has been in the past.
In addition, tell your doctor if you are going to have:
- Desensitization therapy (for example for the prevention of hay fever), because Bisoprolol fumarate may make it more likely that you experience as allergic reaction or such reaction may be more severe.
- Anesthesia (for example for surgery) because this medicine may influence how your body react to this situation.
Children and adolescents
Bisoprolol fumarate is not recommended for use in children or adolescents.
Other medicines and Bisoprolol Fumarate
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. Certain medicines cannot be used at the same time, while other drugs require specific changes (to the dose, for example).
Do not take the following medicines with Bisoprolol Fumarate without special advice from your doctor:
- Medicines for controlling the blood pressure or medicines for heart problems (such as amiodarone, amlodipine, clonidine, digitalis glycosides, diltiazem, disopyramide, felodipine, flecainide, lidocaine, methyldopa, moxonidine, phenytoin, propafenone, quinidine, rilmenidine, verapamil)
- Medicines for depression e.g. imipramine, amitriptyline, moclobemide
- Medicines to treat mental illness e.g. phenothiazines such as levomepromazine
- Medicines used for anaesthesia during an operation (see also “Warnings and precautions”)
- Medicines used to treat epilepsy e.g. barbiturates such as phenobarbital
- Certain pain killers (for instance acetyl salicylic acid, diclofenac, indomethacin, ibuprofen, naproxen)
- Medicines for asthma or medicines used for a blocked nose
- Medicines used for certain eye disorders such as glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye) or used to widen the pupil of the eye.
- Certain medicines to treat clinical shock (e. g. adrenaline, dobutamine, noradrenaline)
- Mefloquine, a medicine for malaria
All these drugs as well as bisoprolol may influence the blood pressure and/or heart function.
- Rifampicin for the treatment of infections
- medicines to treat severe headaches or migraines (ergotamine derivatives).
It is also especially important to speak with your doctor if you are taking:
- Insulin or other products for diabetes. The blood glucose reducing effect may be enhanced. Symptoms of low blood glucose level can be masked.
Bisoprolol Fumarate with food, drink and alcohol
Bisoprolol Fumarate may be taken with or without food and should be swallowed whole with a drink of water.
Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility
Do not take bisoprolol if you are pregnant or may be pregnant. Bisoprolol Fumarate may be harmful to the pregnancy and/or the unborn child. There is an increased possibility of premature birth, miscarriage, low blood sugar level and reduced heart rate of the child. The growth of the baby may also be affected. It is not known if bisoprolol is excreted in the breast milk and therefore it is not recommended while breast-feeding. If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.
Driving and using machines
These tablets may make you feel tired, drowsy or dizzy. If you suffer from these side effects, do not operate vehicles and/or machines. Be aware of the possibility of these effects, particularly at the beginning of the treatment, with changes in medication and with use in combination with alcohol.
3. How to take BisotrakTM
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. Treatment with Bisoprolol fumarate tablet requires regular medical check up. This is particularly important in the initiation of therapy and during dose increase. Bisoprolol fumarate tablet should be taken in the morning, with or without food. Swallow the tablet whole with some water and do not chew or crush them. The tablet can be divided into equal doses. Treatment with Bisoprolol fumarate tablet is usually prolonged.
Adult:
Chest pain and high blood pressure:
Your doctor will start the treatment with lowest possible dose (5 mg). Your doctor will monitor you closely at the start of treatment. Your doctor will increase your dose to obtain the best possible dosage for you.
The maximum recommended dose is 20 mg once per day.
Patient with kidney disease:
Patient with severe kidney disease should not exceed 10 mg of bisoprolol once daily. Please consult your doctor before starting to use this medicine.
Patient with liver disease:
Patient with severe liver disease should not exceed 10 mg of bisoprolol once daily. Please consult your doctor before starting to use this medicine.
Heart failure:
Before you start using Bisoprolol Fumarate you should already be taking other medicines for heart failure including an ACE-inhibitor, a diuretic and (as an added option) a cardiac glycoside.
The dose of Bisoprolol Fumarate will be increased gradually until the dose that is suitable for you has been found:
Treatment with Bisoprolol fumarate tablet must be started at a low dose and increased gradually. Your doctor will decide how to increase the dose, and this will normally be done in the following way:
Adults and elderly: the recommended dose is
1.25 mg once daily for 1 week. If this is well tolerated, the dose may be increased to:
2.5 mg once daily during the next week. If this is well tolerated, the dose may be increased to:
3.75 mg once daily during the next week. If this is well tolerated, the dose may be increased to:
5 mg once daily during the next 4 weeks. If this is well tolerated, the dose may be increased to:
7.5 mg once daily during the next 4 weeks. If this is well tolerated, the dose may be increased to:
10 mg once daily as a maintenance dose.
Maximum dose: once daily 10 mg.
Depending on how well you tolerate the medicine, your doctor may also decide to lengthen the time between dose increases. If your condition gets worse or you no longer tolerate the drug, it may be necessary to reduce the dose again or to interrupt treatment. In some patients a maintenance dose lower than 10 mg bisoprolol may be sufficient.
Your doctor will tell you what to do.
If you have to stop treatment entirely, your doctor will usually advice you to reduce the dose gradually, as otherwise your condition may become worse.
Your heart rate and blood pressure will be monitored closely as the dose is increased.
Patients with liver or kidney problems:
Your doctor will take extra care when adjusting the dose of Bisoprolol Fumarate.
Use in children and adolescents:
Bisoprolol Fumarate is not recommended for use in children or adolescents.
Elderly patient:
In general adjustment of the dose is not needed. It is recommended to start with lowest possible dose.
If you notice that the effect of Bisoprolol Fumarate is too strong or not strong enough, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Duration of the treatment
Bisoprolol Fumarate will usually be used long-term.
The tablet can be divided into equal halves
If you take more Bisoprolol Fumarate than you should
If you have accidentally taken more than the prescribed dose, tell your doctor/pharmacist immediately. Take any remaining tablets or this leaflet with you so the medical staff know exactly what you have taken. Symptoms of overdose may include dizziness, light-headedness, fatigue, breathlessness and/or wheezing. Also, there may be reduced heart rate, reduced blood pressure, insufficient action of the heart and a low blood glucose level (which may involve feelings of hunger, sweating and palpitations).
If you forget to take Bisoprolol Fumarate
Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. Take the normal dose as soon as you remember and then carry on with the usual dose the next day. If you stop taking Bisoprolol Fumarate Treatment with Bisoprolol Fumarate must not be stopped abruptly. If you suddenly stop taking this medicine your condition may get worse. The dose of bisoprolol must be reduced gradually over a few weeks as advised by your doctor.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
To prevent serious reaction, speak to a doctor immediately if a side effect is severe, occurs suddenly or gets worse rapidly. The most serious side effects are related to the heart function:
- Slowing of heart rate (affect more than 1 patient in 10 in patient with chronic heart failure and affected less than 1 patient in 100 in patient with hypertension or angina pectoris)
- Worsening of heart failure (affects more than 1 patient in 100 in patient with chronic heart failure and affected less than 1 patient in 100 in patient with hypertension or angina pectoris)
- irregular heartbeat (affects less than 1 patient in 100)
- Worsening of symptom of blockage of the main blood vessel to the legs, especially at the start of treatment (Frequency not stated).
If you feel dizzy or weak or have breathing difficulties, please contact your doctor as soon as possible.
Further side effects are listed below according to how frequently they may occur:
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
- Tiredness*, feeling weak, (In patient with chronic heart failure), dizziness*, headache*
- Feeling of coldness or numbness in hands or feet
- low blood pressure, especially in patient with heart failure.
- Stomach or intestine problem such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or constipation
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
- Sleep disturbances
- Depression
- Breathing problems in patients with asthma or chronic lung disease
- Muscle weakness, muscle cramps
- feeling weak (In patient with hypertension or angina pectoris)
Rare: (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
- Hearing problems
- Inflammation of the lining of the nose, causing a runny nose with irritation
- Allergic reactions (itching, flushed appearance, rash). You should see your doctor straight away if you experience more severe allergic reactions, which may involve face, neck, tongue, mouth or throat swelling, or difficulty breathing.
- Dry eyes from reduced tear flow (can be very troublesome if you use contact lenses)
- Inflammation of the liver (hepatitis), causing abdominal pain, loss of appetite and sometimes jaundice with yellowing of the whites of the eyes and skin and dark urine
- Reduced sexual performance (impaired erection)
- certain blood test results for liver function or fat levels differing from normal
- fainting
Very Rare: (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people):
- Irritation and redness of eye (conjunctivitis)
- Hair loss
- Appearance or worsening of scaly skin rash (psoriasis): Psoriasis like rash.
* if treated for high blood pressure or angina then these symptoms occur especially at beginning of treatment, or if your dosage changes. They are generally mild or often disappear within 1 to 2 weeks.
Reporting of side effects If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly: Website: www.zuventus.com and click the tab “Safety Reporting” located on the top end of the home page.
By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
You can also report the side effect with the help of your treating physician.
5. How to store Bisotrak
Keep out of reach of children.
Store below 30 ºC. Store in the original package in order to protect from light.
Do not use Bisoprolol Fumarate after the expiry date which is stated on the strips after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What BisotrakTM contains
The active substance is bisoprolol fumarate.
Each film-coated tablet contains: Bisoprolol Fumarate 2.5 mg/5 mg
Packaging:
BisotrakTM 2.5mg: One Blister strips contains 10 tablets
BisotrakTM 5mg: One Blister strips contains 10 tablets
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Zuventus Healthcare Limited Zuventus House, Plot Y2, CTS No.: 358/A2, Near Nahur Railway Station, Nahur (W), Mumbai, 400078 Maharashtra, India
This leaflet was last revised in 06/2024
© Zuventus Healthcare Ltd., 2020. All rights reserved.