What Is Bicor Used For?

Bicor contains bisoprolol fumarate and is prescribed to treat heart failure. It is usually used in combination with other medicines to help manage this condition.

Primary Uses

Bicor is used to treat heart failure, a condition where the heart muscle is weak and unable to pump enough blood to supply the body’s needs. Heart failure may start with no symptoms, but as it progresses, patients may feel short of breath and notice swelling of the feet and ankles due to fluid buildup.

How It Works

Bicor belongs to a group of medicines called beta blockers. These medicines work by affecting the body’s response to some nerve impulses, especially in the heart. As a result, it decreases the heart’s need for blood and oxygen and reduces the amount of work the heart has to do. Bicor also slows your heart rate, which increases the efficiency of your heart. It can help reduce the number of heart failure episodes needing hospital admission and also the risk of sudden death.

How to Take Bicor

Bicor should be taken exactly as prescribed by your doctor. The tablets should be swallowed whole with water and taken in the morning, with or without food.

Dosage Instructions

The usual starting dose is 1.25 mg once daily for a week. If well tolerated, your doctor will gradually increase your dose over the next ten weeks. The usual dose for maintenance therapy is 10 mg once daily. In some patients, a maintenance dose lower than 10 mg may be sufficient. Your doctor will monitor your blood pressure, heart rate and other vital signs carefully after you start treatment and during dose increases. Swallow the tablets whole with a glass of water. Do not crush or chew the tablets, as they will not work as well.

What If You Miss a Dose?

If you miss your dose at the usual time and it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to. Otherwise, take the missed dose as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your tablets as you would normally. If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

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:

• Tiredness, feeling weak
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Sleep disturbances, nightmares
• Nausea, vomiting
• Diarrhea, constipation
• Feeling of coldness or numbness in hands or feet
• Allergic runny nose
• Hair loss
• Sexual problems

Important Warnings

There are several important conditions and situations where Bicor should not be used or requires special caution. Always inform your doctor about your complete medical history.

Who Should Not Take Bicor

Do not take Bicor if you are allergic to bisoprolol or any ingredients in the medicine; have severe heart failure that is not controlled medically; have worsening heart failure requiring injection of medicines into a vein; have cardiogenic shock; have certain heart conditions causing very slow heart rate or uneven heart beating; have low blood pressure; have severe asthma or severe chronic obstructive lung disease; have severe blood circulation problems in your limbs; have untreated phaeochromocytoma; or have metabolic acidosis.

Medical Conditions to Discuss

Tell your doctor if you have asthma, difficulty breathing or other lung problems; heart diseases; diabetes; any allergic conditions; psoriasis; thyroid disorder; any blood vessel disorder causing poor circulation; kidney problems; liver problems; or phaeochromocytoma. Your doctor may want to take special care if you have any of these conditions.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Bicor may affect your developing baby if you take it during pregnancy. Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of taking Bicor during pregnancy. Like most beta-blocker medicines, Bicor is not recommended while you are breastfeeding. Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of taking Bicor when breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Some medicines may interfere with Bicor and affect how it works. Always tell your doctor about all medicines you are taking, including over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and supplements.

• Anti-arrhythmic medicines (disopyramide, lidocaine, phenytoin, flecainide, amiodarone)
• Calcium antagonists (diltiazem, verapamil, felodipine, amlodipine)
• Blood pressure medicines (clonidine, methyldopa, moxonidine)
• Anti-inflammatory medicines (ibuprofen, diclofenac)
• Eye drops for glaucoma treatment
• Insulin and oral diabetes drugs
• Anaesthetic agents
• Digoxin
• Ergot derivatives for migraines
• Rifampicin
• Tricyclic antidepressants
• Barbiturates
• Phenothiazines
• Mefloquine
• Adrenaline (epinephrine)
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (phenelzine, tranylcypromine)

Alcohol & Driving

Bicor may affect your ability to drive or operate machinery and can interact with alcohol. Take precautions until you know how the medication affects you.

Alcohol

Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. Effects of alcohol should be considered particularly at the start of treatment and upon change of medication.

Driving and Operating Machinery

Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how Bicor affects you. Bicor may cause tiredness, dizziness or lightheadedness in some people, especially after the first dose. If any of these occur, do not drive, operate machinery or do anything else that could be dangerous. Be careful getting up from a sitting or lying position, as dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting may occur, especially when you get up quickly.

Storage

Store Bicor 2.5 mg below 25°C and Bicor 5 mg and 10 mg below 30°C. Keep your tablets in the blister pack until it is time to take them and store in a cool dry place away from moisture, heat or sunlight. Do not store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car or on window sills. Keep where young children cannot reach it – a locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half meters above the ground is recommended.

Overdose Information

If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much Bicor, urgent medical attention may be needed. Immediately phone the Poisons Information Centre (Australia telephone 13 11 26) for advice, contact your doctor, or go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. Symptoms of an overdose may include slowed heart rate, difficulty breathing, marked drop in blood pressure, severe heart failure, or a decrease in blood sugar.

Frequently Asked Questions