Betaxolol

Betaxolol is used alone or with other medications to control high blood pressure. Betaxolol is in a class of medications called beta blockers. It works by relaxing blood vessels and slowing heart rate to improve blood flow and decrease blood pressure.

Betaxolol comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day. Take betaxolol at around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take betaxolol exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor will probably start you on an average dose of betaxolol and may increase your dose after 7-14 days if your blood pressure is not controlled. Betaxolol controls high blood pressure but does not cure it. It may take 1-2 weeks or longer before the full benefit of betaxolol is noted. Continue to take betaxolol even if you feel well. Do not stop taking betaxolol without talking to your doctor. If you suddenly stop taking betaxolol, your blood pressure may increases and you may develop new or worsening chest pain. Your doctor will probably decrease your dose gradually over about 2 weeks and will monitor you carefully during this time. Your doctor may also tell you to limit physical activity while your dose is being decreased.

<p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Betaxolol may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

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extreme tiredness</li>
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difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep</li>
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unusual dreams</li>
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heartburn</li>
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nausea</li>
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diarrhea</li>
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joint pain</li>
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decreased sexual ability in men</li>
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cold hands and feet</li>
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numbness, burning, or tingling in the arms, legs, hands, or feet</li>
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rash</li></ul></p> <p></p> <p>Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

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difficulty breathing, especially during activity or when lying down</li>
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swelling of the arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs</li>
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unexplained weight gain</li>
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fast, slow, pounding, or irregular heartbeat</li>
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chest pain</li></ul>Betaxolol may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at <a href='http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch'>http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch</a>] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].</p>

Before taking betaxolol, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to betaxolol, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in betaxolol tablets. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients. tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone); beta blocker eye drops such as betaxolol (Betoptic), Carteolol (Ocupress), levobunolol (Betagan), metipranolol (Optipranolol), and timolol (Betimol, Timoptic, in Cosopt); calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac, others), nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia), and verapamil (Calan, Verelan, Tarka, others); clonidine (Catapres); digoxin (Lanoxicaps, Lanoxin); disopyramide (Norpace); epinephrine (Epipen); and reserpine (Serpalan). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. tell your doctor if you have heart failure or any other heart problems. Your doctor may tell you not to take betaxolol if you have serious heart failure or certain other heart problems. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had angina (chest pain); asthma or other lung disease; diabetes; psoriasis (a skin condition); pheochromocytoma (tumor on a small gland near the kidneys); or kidney, liver, or thyroid disease. Also tell your doctor if you have ever had a serious allergic reaction to any food, medication, or other substance. tell any doctor, dentist, or eye doctor who will be treating you that you are taking betaxolol. This is especially important if you are having surgery, including dental surgery. you should know that betaxolol may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you.

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911. Symptoms of overdose may include:

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difficulty breathing, especially during activity or when lying down</li>
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swelling of the arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs</li>
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unexplained weight gain</li>
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chest pain</li>
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fast, pounding, slow, or irregular heartbeat</li></ul>