Ivabradine is used to treat certain patients with heart failure (condition in which the heart is unable to pump enough blood to the other parts of the body) to decrease the risk that their condition will worsen and need to be treated in a hospital. Ivabradine is in a class of medications called hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channel blockers. It works by slowing the heart rate so the heart can pump more blood through the body each time it beats.
How should this medicine be used?
Ivabradine comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken with food twice a day. Take ivabradine at around the same times every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take ivabradine exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it, or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Some ivabradine tablets 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.
Your doctor may increase or decrease your dose after 2 weeks depending on how well the medication works for you, and the side effects you experience. Be sure to tell your doctor how you are feeling during your treatment with ivabradine.
Ivabradine controls the symptoms of heart failure but does not cure it. Continue to take ivabradine even if you feel well. Do not stop taking ivabradine without talking to your doctor.
Your doctor or pharmacist will give you the manufacturer's patient information sheet (Medication Guide) when you begin treatment with ivabradine and each time you refill your prescription. Read the information carefully and ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. You can also visit the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website (http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm085729.htm) or the manufacturer's website to obtain the Medication Guide.
What are the precautions to be followed?
Before taking ivabradine,
tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to ivabradine, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in ivabradine tablets. Ask your pharmacist or check the Medication Guide for a list of the ingredients.
tell your doctor if you are taking certain antibiotics such as clarithromycin (Biaxin, in Prevpac) and telithromycin (Ketek), certain antifungals such as itraconazole (Onmel, Sporanox), certain HIV protease inhibitors such as nelfinavir (Viracept), and nefazodone. Your doctor will probably tell you not to take ivabradine if you are taking one or more of these medications.
tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, and nutritional supplements you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: amiodarone (Cordarone, Nexterone, Pacerone); beta blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin, in Tenoretic), carteolol, labetalol (Trandate), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL, in Dutoprol), nadolol (Corgard, Corzide), propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran XL, Hemangeol, in Inderide),sotalol (Betapace, Sorine, Sotylize), and timolol; digoxin (Lanoxin); diltiazem (Cardizem, Cartia, Tiazac, others); phenobarbital; phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek); rifampin (Rifadin, Rifamate, Rifater, Rimactane); and verapamil (Calan, Verelan, in Tarka). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. Many other medications may also interact with ivabradine, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list.
tell your doctor what herbal products you are taking, especially St. John's wort.
tell your doctor if you have an irregular or slow heartbeat, low blood pressure, a pacemaker, symptoms of heart failure that recently worsened, or liver disease. Your doctor will probably tell you not to take ivabradine.
tell your doctor if you have or have ever had any other heart problems.
tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. You should not become pregnant while you are taking ivabradine. Talk to your doctor about birth control methods that you can use during your treatment. If you become pregnant while taking ivabradine call your doctor.
you should know that ivabradine may affect your vision, especially when the brightness of the light around you changes. This may include seeing bright spots, bright circles around lights, bright colored lights, seeing double, and other unusual problems with your vision. These vision problems are most common when you first start taking ivabradine and they usually go away after a few months of treatment with this medication. Do not drive a car, especially at night, or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you.
What are possible side effects of this medication ?
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical treatment:
fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeat
slow or stopped heartbeat
chest pain or pressure
worsening shortness of breath
dizziness
excessive tiredness
lack of energy
swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, and eyes
difficulty swallowing or breathing
hoarseness
Ivabradine may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while you are taking this medication.
How to store the medication and dispose it of after its use later?
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.
Drug Category/Class
Cardiovascular Agents
Cardiovascular System
Cardiac Therapy
CYP3A4 Inhibitors
Other cardiac preparations
Prescribed
Ivabradine's indication by the FDA is to reduce the risk of hospitalization for worsening heart failure in patients with stable, symptomatic chroni...