Ivabradine
Information about Ivabradine
Ivabradine uses
Ivabradine is used in the treatment of Angina (heart-related chest pain) 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, the heart works more efficiently.
Common side effects of ivabradine
Slow heart rate, Headache, Luminous phenomena (Enhanced brightness), High blood pressure
Content Details
Last updated on:
16 Jan 2020 | 03:37 PM (IST)
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Expert advice for Ivabradine
- Ivabradine may cause dizziness or sleepiness. Do not drive or do anything requiring concentration until you know how it affects you.
- You may experience temporary changes in your vision such as enhanced visual brightness. These changes may occur within the initial 2 months of treatment and should gradually go away.
- Monitor your blood pressure when taking Ivabradine as it can increase your blood pressure.
- Monitor your heart rate when taking this medicine, as low heart rate is a common side effect. Inform your doctor if you experience symptoms of low heart rate such as dizziness, tiredness and low energy.
Frequently asked questions for Ivabradine
Ivabradine
Q. What type of drug is Ivabradine?
Ivabradine is a heart medicine. It belongs to a class of medicine known as hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channel blockers. It works by slowing the heart rate. This helps the heart to pump more blood through the body each time it beats.
Q. Does Ivabradine lower blood pressure?
No, Ivabradine commonly causes an increase in blood pressure as a side effect. This change is temporary and does not affect the treatment with Ivabradine. However, it should not be given to patients with severely low blood pressure (blood pressure < 90/50 mmHg).
Q. Is Ivabradine a beta-blocker?
No, Ivabradine is not a beta-blocker. It lowers the heart rate by selectively blocking the channel (f-channel) present in heart pacemaker cells responsible for the increase in the heart rate.
Q. What is the most important information that I should know about Ivabradine?
You should remember that Ivabradine may cause serious side effects in adults and children. Its use in pregnant women can harm the unborn baby. Some of the other serious side effects may include increased risk of irregular or rapid heartbeat (atrial fibrillation or heart rhythm problems) and slower than normal heart rate (bradycardia).
Q. How should I take Ivabradine?
Take Ivabradine exactly as directed by your doctor. It is usually prescribed to be taken twice a day with food. Some Ivabradine come with a line down the middle. If your doctor tells you to take half a tablet, break it carefully on the line. Take half the tablet as directed, and save the other half for your next dose.
Q. What are the symptoms of overdosage of Ivabradine?
The symptoms of overdosage of Ivabradine include slow heartbeat, dizziness, excessive tiredness and lack of energy. If you have taken higher than the recommended dose or experience any of these, consult your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical attention.
Q. Does Ivabradine affect vision?
Ivabradine may cause temporary brightness in the field of vision (luminous visual phenomena). This usually disappears with continuous use of Ivabradine. If this happens to you, be careful when driving or using machines at times when there could be sudden changes in light intensity, especially when driving at night.