About celiprolol

People with hypertension (high blood pressure) often do not feel unwell but, if left untreated, high blood pressure can harm your heart and damage blood vessels. This damage can then lead to a heart attack or stroke. Taking a medicine to reduce high blood pressure, reduces the risk of this happening.

Celiprolol slows down the activity of your heart by stopping messages sent by some nerves to your heart. It does this by blocking tiny areas (called beta-adrenergic receptors) where the messages are received by your heart. It also relaxes (widens) some blood vessels. These two things allow the pressure of blood within your blood vessels to be reduced.

Before taking celiprolol

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking celiprolol it is important that your doctor or pharmacist knows:

• If you are pregnant, trying for a baby or breast-feeding.
• If you have liver or kidney problems.
• If you have low blood pressure or poor circulation.
• If you have asthma or breathing difficulties.
• If you have sugar diabetes.
• If you have psoriasis (a skin problem).
• If you have myasthenia gravis (a condition causing muscle weakness).
• If you have been told you have a slow heartbeat or heart block (a slow and irregular heartbeat).
• If you have been told you have Prinzmetal's angina (chest pain caused by spasms of the heart's blood vessels).
• If you have phaeochromocytoma (a tumour on your adrenal gland).
• If you are taking other medicines, including those available to buy without a prescription, herbal and complementary medicines.
• If you have ever had an allergic reaction to a medicine, or if you have ever had any other severe allergic reaction.

How to take celiprolol

• Before you start this treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. The leaflet will give you more information about celiprolol and a full list of side-effects which you may experience from taking it.
• Take celiprolol exactly as your doctor has told you. There are two strengths of tablet - 200 mg and 400 mg. It is usual to start by taking one 200 mg tablet daily, although your doctor may later increase this to the 400 mg strength tablet. You should take the tablet first thing in the morning, preferably 'on an empty stomach'. This means that you should take it at least 30 minutes before breakfast or wait until two hours afterwards. Swallow the tablet with a drink of water.
• If you forget to take a dose, take it when you remember. (If possible, remember to take it half an hour before a meal, or two hours after a meal). If you do not remember until the following day, skip the missed dose. Do not take two doses together to make up for a forgotten dose.

Getting the most from your treatment

• Try to keep your regular appointments with your doctor. This is so your doctor can check on your progress.
• It is very important to follow any dietary and lifestyle advice that you may have been given by your doctor, such as eating a healthy diet, not smoking, and taking regular exercise.
• If you drink alcohol, ask your doctor for advice about taking celiprolol and alcohol. Alcohol will add to the blood pressure lowering effect of celiprolol and so may not be recommended for you.
• If you have diabetes, celiprolol may block the symptoms of low blood sugar. Your doctor will be able to advise you about this.
• If you are having an operation or dental treatment, tell the person carrying out the treatment that you are taking a beta-blocker.
• Treatment with celiprolol is usually long-term so continue to take these tablets unless your doctor tells you to stop. Stopping treatment suddenly can cause problems in some people, so your doctor will probably want you to reduce your dose gradually if this is necessary.
• If you buy any medicines, check with a pharmacist that they are suitable for someone with high blood pressure to take. Some medicines (including some cough, cold and flu remedies) may not be.

Can celiprolol cause problems?

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. These usually improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following side-effects continue or become troublesome.

If you experience any other symptoms which you think may be due to this medicine, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.

How to store celiprolol

• Keep all medicines out of the reach and sight of children.
• Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct heat and light.

Important information about all medicines