What Is Acebutolol?
Acebutolol is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) and heart rhythm disorders.
Acebutolol may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Do not stop taking acebutolol without first talking to your doctor. Stopping suddenly may make your condition worse.
If you need to have any type of surgery, you may need to temporarily stop using acebutolol. Be sure the surgeon knows ahead of time that you are using acebutolol.
Acebutolol can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Avoid drinking alcohol, which could increase drowsiness and dizziness while you are taking acebutolol.
Acebutolol is only part of a complete program of treatment for hypertension that may also include diet, exercise, and weight control. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely if you are being treated for hypertension.
Keep using this medicine as directed, even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medication for the rest of your life.
If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use acebutolol, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment:
- asthma, bronchitis, emphysema;
- diabetes;
- low blood pressure;
- a heart problem such as heart block, sick sinus syndrome, slow heart rate, or congestive heart failure;
- depression;
- liver or kidney disease;
- a thyroid disorder;
- myasthenia gravis;
- pheochromocytoma; or
- problems with circulation (such as Raynaud's syndrome).
Acebutolol can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Acebutolol Side Effects
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
- slow or uneven heartbeats;
- feeling light-headed, fainting;
- feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;
- swelling of your ankles or feet;
- nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
- depression; or
- cold feeling in your hands and feet.
- decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm;
- sleep problems (insomnia);
- tired feeling; or
- anxiety, nervousness.
Acebutolol Interactions
Avoid drinking alcohol, which could increase drowsiness and dizziness while you are taking acebutolol.
Before taking acebutolol, tell your doctor if you are using:
- allergy treatments (or if you are undergoing allergy skin-testing);
- clonidine (Catapres);
- guanabenz (Wytensin);
- an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), phenelzine (Nardil), or selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam);
- a diabetes medication such as insulin, glyburide (Diabeta, Micronase, Glynase), glipizide (Glucotrol), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), or metformin (Glucophage);
- a heart medication such as nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), reserpine (Serpasil), verapamil (Calan, Verelan, Isoptin), diltiazem (Cartia, Cardizem);
- medicine for asthma or other breathing disorders, such as albuterol (Ventolin, Proventil), metaproterenol (Alupent), pirbuterol (Maxair), terbutaline (Brethaire, Brethine, Bricanyl), and theophylline (Theo-Dur, Theolair); or
- cold medicines, stimulant medicines, or diet pills.
Acebutolol Dosage
Take this medication with a full glass of water.
Take acebutolol at the same time every day.
Do not skip doses or stop taking acebutolol without first talking to your doctor. Stopping suddenly may make your condition worse.
To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood pressure will need to be checked on a regular basis. It is important that you not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.
If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon that you are using acebutolol. You may need to briefly stop using acebutolol before having surgery.
Acebutolol is only part of a complete program of treatment for hypertension that may also include diet, exercise, and weight control. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely if you are being treated for hypertension.
Keep using this medicine as directed, even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medication for the rest of your life.
Store acebutolol at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.
Overdose symptoms may include uneven heartbeats, shortness of breath, bluish-colored fingernails, dizziness, weakness, fainting, or seizure (convulsions).
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If your next dose is less than 4 hours away, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Acebutolol Pictures
