|
| Pronunciation |
|
 (be
TAKS oh
lol) |
|
|
| Brand Names |
|
| Betoptic®; Betoptic® S;
Kerlone® |
|
|
| Therapeutic
Categories |
|
|
Beta Blocker, Beta1 Selective; Ophthalmic Agent, Antiglaucoma |
|
|
| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
|
|
- If you have an allergy to any beta-blocking agent, betaxolol, or any
other part of the medicine.
- If you have any of the following conditions: Weakened heart
(congestive heart failure) whose symptoms are poorly controlled, slow heart rate
(bradycardia) without a working pacemaker.
- If you are more than 12 weeks
pregnant.
|
|
|
| What is this medicine used
for? |
|
|
- Oral:
- This medicine is used to treat high blood pressure.
- Eye:
- It is used for the treatment of chronic open-angle glaucoma; ocular
hypertension.
|
|
|
| How does it work? |
|
|
- Oral:
- Betaxolol blocks chemicals, such as adrenaline (epinephrine), and
prevents them from increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen use.
Betaxolol slows the body down a bit.
- Eye:
- Betaxolol reduces pressure in the
eye.
|
|
|
| How is it best taken? |
|
|
- Oral:
- Take at a similar time every day.
- If you are taking this medicine for high blood pressure, follow diet
plan (low salt) as recommended by healthcare provider.
- Do not take antacids or calcium supplements less than 2 hours before
or 6 hours after this medicine.
- Do not suddenly stop using this medicine if you have been taking it
for a long time. Medicine should be slowly decreased.
- Eye:
- For the eye only.
- Shake well first.
- Take out soft contact lenses before using medicine. Lenses can be
replaced 15 minutes after medicine is given.
- Do not touch the bottle or tube tip to the eye, lid, or other skin.
- Tilt head back and drop medicine into eye.
- After using medicine keep your eyes closed. Apply pressure to the
inside corner of the eye. Do this for 3-5 minutes. This keeps medicine in the
eye.
- Separate each eye medicine by 5 minutes. Give one and wait 5 minutes
before using the
next.
|
|
|
| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
|
|
- Oral:
- Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
- Do not change dose or stop taking medicine without talking with
healthcare provider. This could be dangerous.
- Eye:
- Instill a missed dose as soon as
possible.
|
|
|
| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
|
|
- Oral:
- Check medicines with healthcare provider, especially with amiodarone,
diltiazem, and verapamil.
- Wear disease medical alert identification for heart disease.
- It is dangerous to run out of this medication. Get it refilled today!
- Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor) and other medicines
and herbs that slow your actions and reactions. This includes sedatives,
tranquilizers, mood stabilizers, or pain medicine. Talk with healthcare
provider.
- Use caution if you have a weakened heart. Can worsen symptoms. Talk
with healthcare provider.
- If you are diabetic, use caution when low blood sugars are seen. This
medicine hides low blood sugar symptoms except sweating. Talk with healthcare
provider.
- Use caution if you have lung disease. This includes asthma, chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease, or if you use an inhaler like albuterol or
ipratropium. Can cause wheezing or spasm in the lung.
- Do not use over-the-counter products that increase blood pressure.
These include cough or cold remedies, diet pills, stimulants, ibuprofen or like
products, and certain herbs or supplements. Talk with healthcare provider.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- All forms:
- Do not use in pregnancy and do not get pregnant. Use birth control
that you can trust while taking this medicine.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are
breast-feeding.
|
|
|
| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
|
|
- Oral:
- Feeling sleepy or lightheaded. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or
activities that require you to be alert until you see how this medicine affects
you.
- Dizziness is common. Rise slowly over several minutes from sitting or
lying position. Be careful climbing stairs.
- Change in sexual ability or desire. This can return to normal after
medicine is stopped. Talk with healthcare provider about other medicines without
this side effect.
- Slow heart rate (pulse) and/or low blood pressure (lightheadedness,
dizziness, weakness, and feeling tired.)
- Eye:
- Brief discomfort, tearing,
stinging.
|
|
|
| What should I monitor? |
|
|
- Oral:
- Watch for swelling of legs or belly, shortness of breath, weight gain,
exercise tolerance. If any of these worsen, talk with healthcare provider.
- Report a 3-5 pound weight gain if you have heart failure.
- Check blood pressure regularly.
- Follow diet plan and exercise program as recommended by healthcare
provider.
- Eye:
- Have a routine eye exam and pressure check.
- Follow up with healthcare
provider.
|
|
|
| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
|
|
- Oral:
- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Too tired or sleepy.
- Passing out, fainting, dizziness, or lightheadedness.
- Chest pains, fast heartbeats, shortness of breath, or decreased
ability to walk.
- Any rash.
- Eye:
- Severe eye pain, blurred vision, discomfort, or
stinging.
|
|
|
| How should I store this
medicine? |
|
|
- Oral:
- Store in a tight, light-resistant container at room temperature.
Protect from moisture.
- Eye:
- Store at room
temperature.
|
|
|
| General statements |
|
|
- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
|
|
|
Copyright © 1978-2001 Lexi-Comp Inc. All Rights Reserved
|
