Ivabradine
Information about Ivabradine
Ivabradine uses
Ivabradine is used in the treatment of chest pain (Angina) and heart failure.
How ivabradine works
Ivabradine is a heart rate lowering medication. It works by reducing the heart rate which lowers the oxygen requirement of the heart. As a result, heart works more efficiently.
Common side effects of ivabradine
Slow heart rate, Headache, Luminous phenomena (Enhanced brightness), Increased blood pressure
Available Medicine for Ivabradine
Expert advice for Ivabradine
- Your doctor has prescribed Ivabradine to treat heart diseases, especially heart failure or angina (chest pain).
- Ivabradine must be taken with food.
- Notify your doctor if you have a feeling of a heartbeat (palpitations), chest pressure, or shortness of breath. These could be symptoms of an irregular heartbeat caused by Ivabradine.
- Monitor your heart rate when taking Ivabradine as low heart rate is a common side effect. Inform your doctor if you experience symptoms of low heart rate such as dizziness, tiredness, low energy.
- Monitor your blood pressure when taking Ivabradine as it can increase your blood pressure.
- You may experience temporary changes in your vision such as enhanced visual brightness due to sudden changes in light intensity. These changes may occur within the initial 2 months of treatment and should gradually go away.
Frequently asked questions for Ivabradine
Ivabradine
Q. What is Ivabradine used for?
Ivabradine is a heart medicine used in adult patients to treat symptomatic stable angina pectoris (chest pain) and chronic heart failure.
Q. How does Ivabradine work in heart failure?
Chronic heart failure is a heart disease which happens when your heart cannot pump enough blood to the rest of your body. Ivabradine mainly works by reducing the heart rate a few beats per minute. As increased heart rate affects the heart functioning in patients with chronic heart failure, the specific heart rate lowering action of Ivabradine helps to improve the heart functioning and survival in these patients
Q. How does Ivabradine reduce angina?
Angina is a heart disease which happens when the heart does not receive enough oxygen. Ivabradine mainly works by reducing the heart rate a few beats per minute. This lowers the work of heart and heart's need for oxygen especially in the situations when an angina attack is more likely to happen. In this way, Ivabradine helps to control and reduce the number of angina attacks.
Q. Does Ivabradine lower blood pressure?
Ivabradine can lower blood pressure, although it is an uncommon side effect. Uncontrolled blood pressure is a common side effect of Ivabradine. Please consult your doctor before taking Ivabradine if you suffer from mild to moderate low blood pressure or if you suffer from uncontrolled blood pressure, especially after a change in your treatment for blood pressure.
Q. Does Ivabradine cause long QT interval?
Ivabradine causes a decrease in heart rate which may cause QT prolongation, giving rise to severe arrhythmias (condition in which the heart beats with an irregular or abnormal rhythm) especially torsades de pointes.
Q. Is Ivabradine a beta blocker?
Ivabradine is not a beta blocker. Ivabradine lowers heart rate by inhibition of the cardiac pacemaker funny (If) current that regulates heart rate, a mechanism different from that of beta blockers.
Q. Is Ivabradine safe?
Ivabradine is safe if used at prescribed doses for the prescribed duration as advised by the doctor.
Q. Is Ivabradine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved?
Yes, Ivabradine is approved by Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Q. Is Ivabradine a calcium channel blocker?
Ivabradine is not a calcium channel blocker. Ivabradine lowers heart rate by inhibition of the cardiac pacemaker funny (If) current that regulates heart rate.