Betapace Product Description

Drug Uses

Betapace is a beta-adrenoceptor blocker, which inhibits the secretion of renin, an enzyme regulating blood pressure, potassium level and fluid balance in the body. Betapace is indicated to adolescents aged 18 and older and adult patients for prophylaxis and treatment of ventricular and supraventricular arrhythmias. Antiarrhythmic drug Betapace reduces the heart rate and heart force decreasing the load on the heart. The drug provides a hypotensive, antiarrhythmic, and antianginal effects.

The recommended initial dose of Betapace antiarrhythmic drug is 80mg twice a day (in the morning and in the evening). If necessary, the daily Betapace dose can be increased to 240 or 320mg. As a rule, the daily dose is equally divided into 2 doses and taken orally 1-2 hours before a meal.

Most patients demonstrate appropriate therapeutic responses in administration of the daily Betapace dose of 160-320mg. Sometimes, the patients can be indicated with maximum doses of the antianginal drug, which vary from 460 to 640mg per day. However, if the maximum doses of Betapace are indicated, the benefits and potential risks to the patient’s health should be evaluated.

Missed dose

Treatment of arrhythmias requires the compliance and adherence to Betapace dosage. Due to the relatively long half-life of the drug, Betapace provides the long therapeutic benefit. Therefore, if the patient did not take an antianginal pill on time, nothing bad happens.

The missed dose of Betapace can be taken if the next dose is supposed to be used in 6 hours and more. The drug should be skipped if less than six hours remain till the next dose of Betapace. The patients with arrhythmias are not recommended take two doses of antiarrhythmic drug Betapace at once, as a double dose of the drug may cause an overdose.

More Information

Bioavailability of Betapace is reduced if the patient takes a pill of the antianginal medicine with a meal. Especially dairy products decrease the antiarrhythmic effect of Betapace. If Betapace should be discontinued, the dose is advised to be gradually reduced. Abrupt withdrawal of the beta-adrenoceptor blocker may lead to serious arrhythmias and myocardial infarction.

Storage

It is recommended to store Betapace away from direct light at room temperature below 30°C. Do not keep the antiarrhythmic tablets in a place where children can get them.

Betapace Safety Information

Warnings

The beta-blocker should be indicated with cautions to the patients suffering from diabetes with dramatic fluctuations in blood glucose, since they may experience acute hypoglycemia. Betapace is taken with caution in the patients with recent myocardial infarction, and in patients with hyperthyroidism, hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, depressive states and in elderly patients.

If Betapace is indicated to the patients with mild to moderate renal impairment, a dose of the antiarrhythmic drug may require to be adjusted. Betapace is not recommended in patients with severe renal insufficiency.

Coadministration of guanethidine and reserpine with Betapace may lower blood pressure, cause bradyarrhythmia and syncope. Betapace is contraindicated for the patients suffering from asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In addition, beta-blockers are not recommended to be used in uncontrolled congestive heart failure and pirouette-type tachycardia.

Disclaimer

The review of antiarrhythmic agent Betapace is provided only as an information resource that should not be used for the diagnosis of cardiovascular risks and should not replace the cardiologist’s consultation. The online pharmacy is not responsible for any errors or for damages arising from the taken or not taken actions based on the use of any information on this review of Betapace.

Betapace Side Effects

Usually, adverse effects caused by the application of Betapace, are temporary and easily tolerated. They almost do not require the drug therapy to be stopped or withdrawn. The most common adverse effects, caused by the intake of Betapace, completely disappear when the dose is decreased. Such adverse effects include hypotension, headache, fever and dizziness. Chest pain, dyspnea, sexual dysfunction, and allergic reactions, including cramps and rash can be observed more rarely during therapy with Betapace.

Over 15% of patients with cardiac arrhythmia had to stop the treatment with Betapace. It was caused by such adverse effects as fatigue (4%), dyspnoea (3%), asthenia (2%), and proarrhythmia (2%). In 3% of cases, the withdrawal of Betapace was caused by bradycardia, resulted by the drug combination with atropine.