It belongs to the group of medicines called beta blockers. It is used to treat high blood pressure ( hypertension ).
Therapeutic group
Beta blockers
Its use
This medicine is taken by mouth and is used to:
- lower and control blood pressure
- treat other health problems as directed by your healthcare provider.
Generic and brand names
Oral betaxolol; Kerlone
Symptoms of overdose
Chest pain, slow or irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, dizziness, weakness, confusion, fainting, seizures, sweating, tremors, wheezing.
Interaction with other products
Some medications should not be taken together because they can interact. A drug interaction can cause moderate to very serious medical problems. It can also make one of the drugs not work properly or it can make it very powerful.
There are many medications that can interact with betaxolol.
When this medicine is taken together with other medicines, it may change the way this or any of the other medicines works. There may also be an interaction between this drug and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods. The combination of these products can cause negative side effects. Check with your healthcare provider if you are taking:
- ACE inhibitors such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril , enalapril (Vasotec), fosinopril , lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), quinapril (Accupril), and ramipril (Altace)
- antacids (take at least 2 hours before or after taking this medicine)
- anesthetics such as bupivacaine , lidocaine, and mepivacaine
- antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), norfloxacin (Noroxin), and ofloxacin (Floxin)
- HIV medications such as ritonavir (Norvir) and delavirdine (Rescriptor)
- medicines to treat malaria such as chloroquine (Aralen) and hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil)
- medicines to treat asthma such as albuterol ( Proventil , Ventolin ), epinephrine (Adrenalin), metaproterenol , theophylline , and zileuton (Zyflo)
- barbiturates such as butabarbital (Butisol), pentobarbital (Nembutal), and phenobarbital
- bupropione (Wellbutrin, Zyban)
- cimetidine (Tagamet)
- cold medications including decongestants and antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), phenylephrine (Neo-synephrine), and pseudoephedrine (Sudafed)
- diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
- diuretics such as bumetanide , ethacrynic acid (Edecrin), furosemide (Lasix), and torsemide (Demadex)
- haloperidol (Haldol)
- heart medication or medications to treat blood pressure such as amiodarone (Cordarone), clonidine (Catapres), digoxin (Lanoxin), diltiazem (Cardizem), disopyramide (Norpace), felodipine , flecainide (Tambocor), hydralazine (Apresoline), isradipine (DynaCirc), nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia), prazosin (Minipress), procainamide , propafenone (Rythmol), quinidine , reserpine ,terazosin (Hytrin), and verapamil (Calan, Isoptin)
- insulin and diabetes medications such as glipicide (Glucotrol), glyburide (DiaBeta), metformin (Glucophage), pioglitazone (Actos), repaglinide (Prandin), rosiglitazone (Avandia), and tolbutamide
- MAO inhibitor antidepressants such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), and tranylcypromine (Parnate) (Do not take this medicine and an MAO inhibitor less than 14 days apart.)
- natural remedies such as dong quai, ephedra, garlic, ginseng, hawthorn, ma huang, St. John’s wort, and yohimbe
- drugs NSAIDs such as diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen , ketorolac (Toradol), nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Naprosyn, Anaprox, Aleve, Naprelan), oxaprozin (Daypro ), piroxicam (Feldene), and sulindac (Clinoril)
- phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine , prochlorperazine , perphenazines , thioridazine , and trifluoperazine
- rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
- SSRI antidepressants such as fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft)
- tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline , desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin , imipramine (Tofranil), and nortriptyline (Pamelor)
- Do not drink alcoholic beverages unless your healthcare provider gives you permission.
Some effects caused
Less common: Difficulty breathing; cold hands and feet; mental depression; shortness of breath; slow heartbeat; swelling of the ankles, feet, or lower legs
Rare: Back or joint pain; chest pain; confusion (especially in the elderly); dizziness or lightheadedness, especially when getting up from a lying or sitting position; fever or sore throat; hallucinations; irregular heartbeat; red, scaly, or crusty skin; rash; unusual bleeding or bruising
Other effects
Most common: Decreased sexual ability; dizziness or lightheadedness; sleep (mild); trouble sleeping; unusual tiredness or weakness