Acebutolol hydrochloride

Acebutolol is used for treating hypertension, cardiac arrhythmia, and angina.

Acebutolol is used to treat high blood pressure and irregular heartbeat.

It helps by relaxing the narrowed blood vessels, makes it wider and thereby allows the blood to flow very easily resulting in low blood pressure. 

The drug is contraindicated in people with following conditions:
• Heart failure, poor circulation, and low blood pressure.
• Persistent slow heart rate (bradycardia).
• Atrioventricular block (AV block) in the heart.
• Tumor of adrenal gland called as pheochromocytoma.
• Known allergy to the drug.

• For hypertension: Initial treatment is with 400 mg once a day or 200 mg twice a day. Maintenance dose is 400-800 mg per day.
• For ventricular arrhythmia: Initial therapy is with 200 mg twice a day. Maintenance dose is 600 to 1200 mg per day in divided doses.

• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If your next dose is less than 8 hours away, skip the missed dose.
• Never take two doses together.

• Take the drug with water.
• Taking the drug after meal is advisable to reduce chances of stomach upset. However, the drug can be taken on an empty stomach.

• Acebutolol interacts with many drugs. Make sure your doctor knows all the drugs you are taking before starting the treatment with acebutolol.
• Never stop the drug abruptly without consulting your doctor.

• Heart - Chest pain, low blood pressure and heart failure.
• Central Nervous System - Depression, fainting, dizziness, fatigue, headache, feeling light-headed, sleeplessness and abnormal dreams.
• Skin and mucous membranes- Rash, swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat) and itching due to allergic reaction.
• Gastrointestinal - Constipation, diarrhoea, indigestion, flatulence, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.
• Genitourinary - Increased urination at night, painful urination.
• Musculoskeletal - Joint/muscle pain.
• Respiratory - Cough, difficulty in breathing.
• Liver - Increase in liver enzymes, jaundice, dark urine, clay-coloured stools
• Eye - Dry eye and eye pain.
• Miscellaneous - Development of anti-nuclear antibodies, swelling of ankles or feet.

The drug should be used with extreme caution in patients with the following conditions:
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding.
• Kidney functioning problems.
• Liver functioning problems.
• Asthma or breathing problem or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• Chest pain due to Prinzmetal’s angina, an angina which occurs due to spasm of blood vessels.
• Skin condition known as psoriasis.
• Muscle weakness due to myasthenia gravis.
• Hyperthyroidism or high thyroid hormone level.
• In patients with diabetes, since it may mask the effects of low blood sugar levels.

Acebutolol should be avoided with:
• Other beta blockers due to additive effects.
• Other drugs that can slow down the heart like verapamil, digitalis, amiodarone and diltiazem.
• Drugs used in the treatment of asthma due to opposite effects on the bronchi.
• Antidiabetes medications since acebutolol can block the signs of hypoglycemia.
• Drugs that act on alpha receptors. Along with alpha agonists like ephedrine, it can produce excessive rise in blood pressure, while with alpha blockers like prazosin, it can result in excess fall in blood pressure.
• NSAIDs like ibuprofen and naproxen, which may block the effect of acebutolol on blood pressure.
• Anticholinesterase drugs used in Alzheimer's disease like rivastigmine due to additive effect on the heart and blood pressure.
• Drugs that lower blood pressure and increase potassium levels like chlorthiazide.
• Other drugs that may lower blood pressure like antihypertensive medications, aldesleukin, and barbiturates.

Store is a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Keep out of the reach of children.