Trimetazidine

No, Trimetazidine is not a beta blocker. It is an anti-anginal medicine which is used in combination with other medicines to treat angina pectoris (chest pain caused by coronary disease). It protects the heart cells from getting affected by the reduced oxygen supply during an episode of angina.

You should not take Trimetazidine if you are allergic to it or have severe kidney problems. Patients with Parkinson’s disease should also avoid taking Trimetazidine. Parkinson’s disease is a disease of the brain which affects movement and causes trembling, rigid posture, slow movements and a shuffling, unbalanced walk.

Trimetazidine should be used with caution in patients aged more than 75 years of age. Usually, a lower dose is prescribed in elderly patients to reduce the chances of adverse effects. It is important to continuously monitor such patients.

Though it is rare, falls may occur with use of Trimetazidine. This may be due to instability while walking or fall in blood pressure while standing up. The risk may be higher in elderly patients. Therefore, they need to be more careful and should be monitored.

You should take Trimetazidine exactly as prescribed by your doctor. It is meant for oral use. So, take the tablets with sufficient amount of liquid, e.g. a glass of water. You can take this medicine with or without food.

Yes, Trimetazidine may make you feel dizzy and drowsy. Therefore, you should avoid driving or using heavy machinery in case it causes these side effects.

The common side effects of Trimetazidine include dizziness, headache, abdominal pain, diarrhea, indigestion, and hives, rash and itching. Its use may also make you feel sick and weak. The rare side effects may include fast or irregular heartbeats (also called palpitations), fall in blood pressure on standing which can further cause dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting, fall, and flushing.