Nebilet tablets (Nebivolol Hydrochloride)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Nebilet Used For?
Nebilet contains nebivolol hydrochloride and belongs to a group of medicines called beta-blockers. It is used to treat high blood pressure and chronic heart failure, usually in combination with other medicines.
Primary Uses
Nebilet is prescribed to treat high blood pressure (essential hypertension) and chronic heart failure. It helps control these conditions but does not cure them.
How It Works
For high blood pressure: Nebilet blocks messages to beta receptors in the heart, slowing heart activity and relaxing blood vessels, reducing the resistance the heart pumps against. Blood pressure lowering effects occur after 1-2 weeks, with full effects taking up to 4 weeks. For chronic heart failure: It slows heart rate, makes it beat more regularly, reduces pressure the heart pumps against, and decreases the heart’s workload. This improves symptoms and reduces hospitalization and death risk.
Good to know: This medicine is not addictive.
How to Take Nebilet
Follow all directions from your doctor. Take at the same time each day and swallow tablets whole with a full glass of water. Do not crush or chew tablets.
Dosage Instructions
High Blood Pressure: Usual starting dose is one 5 mg tablet once daily. Your doctor may start with a lower dose. Chronic Heart Failure: Starting dose is one 1.25 mg tablet once daily, gradually increased over weeks until reaching the best dose for you. Maximum dose is 10 mg once daily. When starting or increasing dose, you should be observed by a doctor for at least 2 hours. Take at the same time each day, with or without food. If taking antacids, take them at least 2 hours before or after Nebilet.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose as scheduled. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, then return to your normal schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose. Avoid repeatedly skipping doses.
Important: Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Headache
- Tiredness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Stomach upset
- Wind
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
- Coldness or numbness in hands or feet
- Changes to finger and toe color in response to cold or stress
- Light-headedness or dizziness when standing up
- Disturbed sleep or nightmares
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Swelling of face, lips, tongue or throat causing difficulty swallowing or breathing
- Chest tightness, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Swelling of hands, feet or ankles
- Chest pain or changes in heart rate
- Severe light-headedness, dizziness or fainting
- Low blood pressure
- Slow heartbeat
- Rashes, itching or hives on skin
- Tingling or pins and needles
- Abnormal thinking, depression or hallucinations
- Impotence
- Skin rashes and itching
- Worsening of psoriasis
- Dry eyes
- Problems with eyesight
- Increased cramp-like pain in legs when walking
Important Warnings
Do not take Nebilet if you have certain medical conditions or are allergic to its ingredients. Discuss your medical history with your doctor before starting treatment.
Who Should Not Take Nebilet
Do not take if you are allergic to nebivolol hydrochloride or any ingredients; have liver problems; have acute heart failure or cardiogenic shock; have history of slow or uneven heart rate; have certain other heart conditions; have asthma, bronchitis or lung disease with airway tightening; have untreated phaeochromocytoma; have metabolic acidosis; have low blood pressure; or have severe blood vessel disorder causing poor circulation in arms and legs.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have: low blood pressure or poor circulation; slow heartbeat (under 60 beats per minute); asthma or breathing difficulties; angina, chest pain or heart problems; diabetes; psoriasis history; severe blood vessel disorders; thyroid disorders; liver or kidney problems; phaeochromocytoma; lactose intolerance; or take any other medicines.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Do not take during pregnancy as it may harm your developing baby by reducing blood flow to the placenta. If required during pregnancy, close monitoring is needed. Babies must be monitored for low blood sugar and slow heart rate within first three days of life. Do not breastfeed while taking Nebilet as the active ingredient passes into breast milk and may affect your baby.
Drug Interactions
Some medicines may interfere with Nebilet and affect how it works. Tell your doctor about all medicines, vitamins, and supplements you take.
- Medicines for irregular heartbeat (quinidine, flecainide, disopyramide, lignocaine, mexiletine, amiodarone)
- Blood pressure medicines (clonidine, guanfacine, moxonidine, methyldopa, amlodipine, felodipine, nifedipine, nicardipine, nimodipine, reserpine, guanethidine)
- Calcium channel blockers (verapamil, diltiazem)
- Insulin and diabetes tablets
- Depression and anxiety medicines (paroxetine, fluoxetine, phenothiazine, thioridazine, sedatives, antipsychotics)
- Stomach acid medicines (cimetidine) – take Nebilet with meals and antacid between meals
- Digoxin for heart failure
- Other beta-blocker medicines including eye drops
- Anaesthetics
- Baclofen (antispasmodic)
- Amifostine (cancer treatment protection)
- Diabetes medicines (insulin, oral antidiabetics)
Alcohol & Driving
Be careful with alcohol and driving as Nebilet may cause dizziness, light-headedness, or drowsiness in some people.
Alcohol
Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. Alcohol may worsen symptoms like dizziness or light-headedness. Be careful when getting up from lying or sitting positions as you may feel dizzy if you get up too quickly.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Nebilet affects you. This medicine may cause dizziness, light-headedness, or drowsiness. If you have these symptoms, do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything that could be dangerous.
Storage
Keep tablets in the pack until time to take them. Store in a cool dry place where temperature stays below 25°C for 1.25 mg tablets and below 30°C for 5 mg and 10 mg tablets. Keep away from moisture, heat, and sunlight. Do not store in bathroom, near sink, in car, or on window sills. Keep where young children cannot reach – a locked cupboard at least 1.5 meters above ground is recommended.
Overdose Information
If you think you have taken too much Nebilet, seek urgent medical attention immediately. Phone the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26 in Australia, 0800 764 766 in New Zealand), contact your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department, even if you feel fine. Overdose symptoms may include feeling faint or fainting, shortness of breath, blood pressure dropping too far, heart rate slowing too much, and in extreme cases, serious heart and lung problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
For high blood pressure, the blood pressure lowering effects occur after 1-2 weeks, although it may take up to 4 weeks for the full effect to occur.
Yes, it does not matter if you take Nebilet before or after food or with food. However, if you need to take an antacid, take it at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after your dose of Nebilet.
No, this medicine is not addictive.
Do not stop taking Nebilet suddenly or lower the dosage without checking with your doctor. If you stop taking it suddenly, your condition may worsen or you may have unwanted side effects. If possible, your doctor will gradually reduce the amount you take each day before stopping the medicine completely.
Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. Alcohol may worsen symptoms such as dizziness or light-headedness. Be careful getting up from a lying or sitting position as you may feel dizzy if you get up too quickly.
If you feel light-headed, dizzy or faint when getting out of bed or standing up, get up slowly. This helps your body adjust to the change in position and blood pressure. If this problem continues or gets worse, tell your doctor.
If you are being treated for diabetes, make sure you check your blood sugar level regularly and report any changes to your doctor. Nebilet has no effect on blood sugar, but may change how well your diabetes is controlled and may cover up some warning signs of low blood sugar. Your dose of diabetic medicines, including insulin, may need to change.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.