Common uses

Treating high blood pressure. It may be used alone or with other medicines. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Kerlone is a beta-adrenergic blocking agent. It works by slowing down the heart and reducing blood pressure, which helps it pump more efficiently and reduces the workload on the heart. It may also interfere with the action of adrenalin and other similar chemicals in the brain preventing migraine headaches.
Before using

Some medical conditions may interact with Kerlone . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine (eg, medicines to treat colds or congestion), herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances or are taking medicine for allergies
• if you have or have ever had an adrenal gland tumor; anaphylaxis; asthma, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, or other lung disease; congestive heart failure; blood vessel problems; slow heartbeat; diabetes; kidney problems; low blood sugar; or overactive thyroid
• if you have Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
• if you are having surgery
Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Kerlone . Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:
• Antiarrhythmics (eg, amiodarone, flecainide, quinidine), antipsychotics (eg, chlorpromazine, haloperidol), bupivacaine, calcium channel blockers (eg, mibefradil, nifedipine, verapamil), catecholamine-depleting agents (eg reserpine), cimetidine, ketanserin, mefloquine, or thioamines (eg, tapazole) because potentially life-threatening heart-related side effects may occur, including very slow heart rate; abnormal heartbeat; lightheadedness, especially upon standing; difficulty breathing, especially when lying down; loss of function in the heart and lungs; and swelling of ankles
• Barbiturates (eg, phenobarbital), clonidine, phenytoin, rifampin, or thyroid hormones (eg, levothyroxine) because they may decrease Kerlone 's effectiveness
• Certain stimulants (adrenalin, pseudoephedrine), hydralazine, insulin, lidocaine, quinazolines (eg, doxazosin), rizatriptan, or theophylline because their actions and the risk of their side effects may be increased by Kerlone
This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Kerlone may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

Directions

The initial dose of Kerlone in hypertension is ordinarily 10 mg once daily either alone or added to diuretic therapy. The full antihypertensive effect is usually seen within 7 to 14 days. If the desired response is not achieved the dose can be doubled after 7 to 14 days. Increasing the dose beyond 20 mg has not been shown to produce a statistically significant additional antihypertensive effect; but the 40-mg dose has been studied and is well tolerated. An increased effect (reduction) on heart rate should be anticipated with increasing dosage. If the therapy with Kerlone does not produce the desired response, the addition of a diuretic agent or other antihypertensive should be considered
Cautions
It is important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits. This is to make sure the medicine is working for you and to allow the dosage to be changed if needed.
Do not stop taking this medicine without first checking with your doctor . Your doctor may want you to reduce gradually the amount you are taking before stopping completely. Some conditions may become worse when the medicine is stopped suddenly, and the danger of heart attack is increased in some patients.
Make sure that you have enough medicine on hand to last through weekends, holidays, or vacations. You may want to carry an extra written prescription in your billfold or purse in case of an emergency. You can then have it filled if you run out of medicine while you are away from home.
Tell your doctor right away if you have weight gain or increasing shortness of breath. These could be symptoms of worsening heart failure.
Your doctor may want you to carry medical identification stating that you are taking this medicine.
Before having any kind of surgery (including dental surgery) or emergency treatment, tell the medical doctor or dentist in charge that you are taking this medicine .


Possible side effects

Dizziness, lightheadedness, drowsiness, headache, and shortness of breath may occur as your body adjusts to the medication. Trouble sleeping, decreased sexual ability, stomach upset, nausea, diarrhea, sore throat, cold hands and feet, dry eyes, tingling, numbness, and weakness may also occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.
This drug may reduce blood flow to your hands and feet, causing them to feel cold. Smoking may worsen this effect. Avoid tobacco use and dress warmly.
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: slow/irregular heartbeat, chest pain, back pain, mental/mood changes (e.g., depression, hallucinations), trouble breathing, swelling of the ankles/feet/legs, joint pain, easy bruising/bleeding, increased thirst/urination, vision changes, slow wound healing, sweating, confusion, fainting, stomach/abdominal pain, blue fingers/toes/nails, finger/toe/leg cramps, unexplained sudden weight gain.
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include: rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing.
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

If you take too much

No specific information on emergency treatment of overdosage with Kerlone is available. The most common effects expected are bradycardia, congestive heart failure, hypotension, bronchospasm, and hypoglycemia. In one acute overdosage of betaxolol, a 16-year-old female recovered fully after ingesting 460 mg.

Additional information

Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although these uses are not included in product labeling, some beta-blockers are used in certain patients with the following medical conditions:
• Glaucoma
• Neuroleptic-induced akathisia (restlessness or the need to keep moving caused by some medicines used to treat nervousness or mental and emotional disorders)
Other than the above information, there is no additional information relating to proper use, precautions, or side effects for these uses.

Drug interactions

•antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen)
•cocaine
•hawthorn
•medicines for colds and breathing difficulties
•medicines for diabetes
•medicines for high blood pressure
•medicines to control heart rhythm
•monoamine oxidase inhibitors (Azilect®, Eldepryl®, Emsam®, Marplan®, Nardil®, Parnate®, Zelapar™)
•water pills

Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including nonprescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.