What Betaloc ZOK is and what it is used for
Betaloc ZOK contains active substance called metoprolol, which belongs to a group of medicines known as beta-blockers.
Metoprolol reduces the effect of stress hormones on the heart during physical exercise or mental strain. This slows down the heart rate (reduces pulse).
Betaloc ZOK is used in the treatment of:
- high blood pressure (hypertension), to reduce blood pressure and the risk of complications (such as heart attack or stroke) and cardiovascular death (including sudden death),
- tightening chest pain caused by insufficient oxygen supply to the heart (angina pectoris),
- irregular heart beat (arrhythmia), especially supraventricular tachycardia, extrasystoles of ventricular origin and atrial fibrillation to slow down ventricular rate,
- palpitations (feeling your heart beat) caused by non-organic (functional) heart disorders,
- chronic heart failure (with such symptoms as shortness of breath and swollen ankles), together with other medicines taken for heart failure to increase survival, reduce hospitalisation, improve left ventricular function and quality of life.
Betaloc ZOK is used in the prevention of:
- another heart attack or sudden death following acute phase of heart attack,
- migraine attacks.
Betaloc ZOK is used in the treatment of high blood pressure in children and adolescents from 6 to 18 years of age.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor before taking Betaloc ZOK. Tell your doctor if you have any of the following:
* bronchial asthma, wheezing or other similar breathing problems or allergic reactions, e.g. to insect stings, certain foods or other substances. If you have ever had an asthma attack or wheezing, you should not take this medicine before talking to your doctor first,
* chest pain caused by Prinzmetal’s angina,
* circulation disorders or heart failure,
* liver problems,
* 1 st degree heart block (heart conduction disorder),
* intermittent claudication (feeling that one or both of your legs are tired and weak when walking),
* diabetes mellitus (your doctor may advise a change in the dosing of your antidiabetic medications),
* hyperthyroidism – Betaloc ZOK may mask symptoms of overactive thyroid gland,
* phaeochromocytoma of adrenal glands,
* psoriasis.
Talk to your doctor even of these warnings apply to situations occurring in the past.
Before you are given any anaesthesia, tell your dentist or anaesthetist that you are being treated with Betaloc ZOK.
Do not stop treatment with Betaloc ZOK abruptly.
If you have to stop taking Betaloc ZOK, it should be done gradually, if possible over at least two weeks. You should take decreasing doses until the last reduction of a 25 mg tablet to half a tablet, taken for at least four days before complete discontinuation of the drug.
How to take Betaloc ZOK
Generally, Betaloc ZOK should be taken once daily, with or without food. Your doctor will tell you how and when you should take your Betaloc ZOK tablets.
Hypertension
Adults
The recommended dose of Betaloc ZOK for patients with mild to moderate hypertension is 50 mg once daily. For patients who do not respond to the 50 mg dose, your doctor may increase the dose to 100-200 mg once daily and (or) additionally use another antihypertensive medicine.
Angina pectoris
The recommended dose is 100-200 mg once daily. If necessary, Betaloc ZOK may be used together with other antianginal medications.
Symptomatic chronic heart failure
The dose will be determined by your doctor. The recommended initial dose is one 25 mg tablet given once daily for the first 2 weeks of treatment. In patients with more severe heart failure, a half of 25 mg tablet will be used once daily for the first week of treatment. Then, your doctor will double the dose every two weeks until 200 mg once daily dose or your maximum tolerated dose is reached.
Cardiac arrhythmias
The recommended dose of Betaloc ZOK is 100-200 mg once daily.
Functional heart disorders with palpitations
The recommended dose is 100 mg once daily. If necessary, your doctor may increase the dose to 200 mg once daily.
Prevention of subsequent heart attack or sudden cardiac death after acute phase of myocardial infarction
The recommended dose is 200 mg once daily.
Prevention of migraine
The recommended dos ranges from 100 mg to 200 mg once daily.
If you feel that the effect of Betaloc ZOK is too strong or too weak, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
How to store Betaloc ZOK
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children. Do not store above 30°C.
