Capsules
To treat mild to moderate high blood pressure; also used to prevent or control heartbeat irregularities (cardiac arrhythmias).
Acebutolol slows the rate and force of contraction of the heart by blocking certain nerve impulses, thus reducing blood pressure. By modifying nerve impulses to the heart, the drug also helps to stabilize heart rhythm.
Adults: Initially, 400 mg a day, either as a single dose in the morning or as two 200 mg doses taken in the morning and evening (12 hours apart). Maximum daily dose is 1,200 mg; for those over 65, daily dose should not exceed 800 mg.
One to one and a half hours.
Up to 24 hours.
Follow your doctor's dietary recommendations to improve control over high blood pressure and heart disease.
Store away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
Take it as soon as you remember. If it is within four hours of the next scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and resume your regular dosage schedule. Do not double the next dose.
Suddenly stopping acebutolol may cause blood pressure to rise (rebound) to high or even dangerous levels, possibly triggering angina or a heart attack in patients with advanced heart disease. Slow reduction of the dose over a period of two to three weeks is advised, under careful supervision by your doctor.
Regular visits to your doctor are needed to evaluate the drug's ongoing, long-term effectiveness.
Many elderly patients are more sensitive to the drug than younger persons. Smaller doses and frequent blood pressure checks may be advised.
Use caution until you determine how the medication affects you.
Drink in careful moderation, if at all. Alcohol may interact with the drug and cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure.
Discuss with your doctor the relative risks and benefits of using this drug while pregnant.
Trace amounts of this drug can be found in breast milk, though adverse effects in infants have not been documented. Consult your doctor for advice.
Not recommended.
Use of the drug should be considered but one element of a comprehensive therapeutic program that includes weight control, smoking cessation, regular exercise, and a healthy low-salt, low-fat diet.
Unusually slow or rapid heartbeat, severe dizziness or fainting, poor circulation in the hands (bluish skin), breathing difficulty, seizures.
Contact your doctor immediately.
Consult your doctor for specific advice if you are taking amphetamines, oral antidiabetic agents, asthma medication (such as aminophylline or theophylline), calcium channel blockers, clonidine, guanabenz, halothane, allergy shots, insulin, MAO inhibitors, reserpine, or other beta-blockers.
None reported.
Acebutolol should be used with caution in people with diabetes, especially insulin-dependent diabetes, since the drug may mask symptoms of hypoglycemia. Consult your doctor for specific advice if you have a history of allergies or asthma, heart or blood vessel disease (including congestive heart failure and peripheral vascular disease), hyperthyroidism, irregular (slow) heartbeat, myasthenia gravis, psoriasis, respiratory problems such as bronchitis or emphysema, kidney or liver disease, or mental depression.
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