Nebicip (Nebivolol IP 5mg)

Nebicip general information

What is Nebicip used for?

Nebicip tablets 5mg are used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) by lowering blood pressure to reduce the risk of complications such as stroke and heart attack.  Nebicip tablets 5mg are also used to treat stable mild and moderate chronic heart failure in elderly patients over the age of 70 (with or without impaired left ventricular ejection fraction), by helping weakened heart muscles pump more efficiently, reducing feelings of breathlessness on exertion.  Nebicip tablets 5mg can be used in addition to other standard medications for heart failure.  

How does Nebicip work?

Nebicip tablets 5mg contain nebivolol, which belongs to a group of medications called beta blockers.  Nebivolol in Nebicip tablets 5mg is a selective beta-receptor antagonist, which means that it blocks the action of chemicals like adrenaline (epinephrine) that are released by the adrenal glands in response to nerve stimulation (for example due to stress) and work via beta-receptors to increase heart rate and constrict (narrow) blood vessels, amongst many other actions.  Beta-receptors are found in many tissues, particularly the heart, kidneys, vascular smooth muscle in blood vessel walls, lung, skeletal muscle and liver.  Nebivolol in Nebicip tablets 5mg works by blocking stimulation of beta-receptors by adrenaline, which slows the heart rate and dilates (widens) blood vessels and reduces resistance to blood flow in peripheral blood vessels.  This vasodilation lowers blood pressure and increases blood flow and oxygen to the heart, which in turn decreases demand by the heart for oxygen, reduces the workload on the heart (force needed to pump) and helps the heart beat more regularly.  These actions of Nebivolol in Nebicip tablets 5mg reduce symptoms and improve the quality of life in patients with heart failure, including reducing feelings of breathlessness; also helps control blood pressure in patients with hypertension reducing risk of cardiovascular disease.

What does Nebicip contain?

Nebicip tablets 5mg contain the active ingredient nebivolol, a beta blocker used to treat hypertension and chronic heart failure.

Treating high blood pressure (hypertension) with Nebicip

Nebicip tablets 5mg contain nebivolol, a selective beta blocker or beta-receptor antagonist, that blocks the action of chemicals like adrenaline (epinephrine) released by the adrenal glands in response to nerve stimulation (for example due to stress).  Adrenaline stimulates beta-receptors in blood vessel walls, causing blood vessels to constrict (narrow) which reduces blood flow and raises blood pressure.  Nebicip tablets 5mg are used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and work by widening blood vessels, reducing heart rate and reducing the workload on the heart (force of contraction needed to pump blood).  These actions lower blood pressure and help the heart to cope better, which reduces risk of cardiovascular disease due to high blood pressure. 

Nebicip for chronic heart failure

Nebicip tablets 5mg contain nebivolol, a selective beta blocker or beta-receptor antagonist that is used to treat stable mild and moderate chronic heart failure.  Nebivolol in Nebicip tablets 5mg binds to the beta receptors in the heart to reduce heart rate and widen blood vessels which reduces the force needed for the heart to pump blood around the body.  This helps lower blood pressure and helps weakened heart muscle, such as in congestive heart failure, to cope better and work more efficiently to reduce symptoms of breathlessness on exertion.

What are the side effects of Nebicip?

The most commonly reported side effects when taking Nebicip tablets 5mg include, dizziness, headache, paraesthesia (tingling or prickling of the skin) feeling weak and tired (asthenia), hypotension (slow blood pressure), slow heart beat (bradycardia), oedema (water retention with swollen ankles), nausea, diarrhoea, constipation, vomiting, visual disturbances, breathing problems (dyspnoea), impotence.

When should Nebicip not be used?

You should not use Nebicip tablets 5mg if you:

• are allergic to nebivolol or any ingredients in Nebicip
• are pregnant or are breastfeeding
• have severe liver or kidney disease
• have a history of obstructive lung disorder, bronchial asthma or bronchospasm
• have poor peripheral blood circulation, low blood pressure (hypotension), uncontrolled heart failure and certain other heart problems
• have a phaeochromocytoma (a rare tumour of the adrenal gland) which is not already being treated with other medicines
• are diabetic and taking hypoglycaemic therapy, without discussion with your doctor as nebivolol may prolong the hypoglycaemic response to insulin
• are taking medicines that interact with Nebicip, including other medicines for high blood pressure; angina or an irregular heartbeat such as reserpine and calcium channel blockers (diltiazem, verapamil, and nifedipine), antiarrhythmics like amiodarone and disopyramide, digoxin and nitroglycerin for heart failure; other beta-blockers, including eye drops; the antibiotic rifampicin; adrenaline for emergencies like anaphylaxis; monoamine oxidase inhibitors; antiinflammatories like ibuprofen or indomethacin and floctafenine; cimetidine for reflux and ulcers; antipsychotics like chlorpromazine and sultopride, insulin or metformin for diabetes, the anesthetic lidocaine, clonidine for high blood pressure

What medications interact with Nebicip?

Several medications interact with Nebicip tablets 5mg and should either not be taken while you are taking Nebicip or only after discussion and instruction from your doctor:

• Drugs that cause a serious reaction with Nebicip: monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) for depression, antiarrhythmics like amiodarone
• Drugs that affect Nebicip: other medicines for high blood pressure; angina or an irregular heartbeat such as calcium channel blockers (diltiazem, verapamil, and nifedipine), clonidine for high blood pressure, the antibiotic rifampicin, cimetidine for reflux and ulcers
• Drugs that are affected by Nebicip: the immunosuppressant cyclosporine, insulin or metformin for diabetes, digoxin for heart failure
  

How should Nebicip be taken?

You should take your Nebicip tablets 5mg with a glass of water, once daily, with or without food, for hypertension treatment; if you are being treated for heart failure then you should take your tablets once or twice daily and with food.  The dose you take and how often depends on what you are being treated for and your doctor may gradually increase your dose until you reach the optimum dose for your condition.  You should continue to take your Nebicip tablets 5mg for as long as recommended by your doctor, which may be for several weeks or longer and if you are advised to stop taking them, withdrawal should be gradual and treatment should not be discontinued abruptly.

How long should you take Nebicip?

You should continue to take your Nebicip tablets 5mg for as long as recommended by your doctor, which may be for several weeks or longer and if you are advised to stop taking them, withdrawal should be gradual and treatment should not be discontinued abruptly

Missed dose of Nebicip

If you miss a dose of Nebicip tablets 5mg take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose.  Do not take a double dose.

How should Nebicip be stored?

You should store your Nebicip tablets 5mg below 25°C in a cool dry place.