Nepiten (Nebivolol Hydrochloride)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Nepiten Used For?
Nepiten contains nebivolol hydrochloride and belongs to a group of medicines called beta-blockers. It is prescribed to treat high blood pressure and chronic heart failure, usually in combination with other medicines.
Primary Uses
Nepiten is used to treat high blood pressure (essential hypertension) and chronic heart failure. For heart failure, it is used alongside other medicines to improve symptoms and reduce the risk of hospitalization.
How It Works
For high blood pressure: Nepiten 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 heart failure: It slows the heart rate, makes it beat more regularly, and reduces the pressure the heart pumps against, improving symptoms and reducing hospitalization risk.
Good to know: This medicine helps control your condition but does not cure it. It’s important to keep taking it even if you feel well.
How to Take Nepiten
Take Nepiten exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Swallow tablets whole with a full glass of water at about the same time each day. Do not crush or chew the tablets.
Dosage Instructions
For high blood pressure: Usually start with one 5mg tablet once daily. Your doctor may start you on a lower dose. For chronic heart failure: Start with one 1.25mg tablet once daily. Your doctor will gradually increase your dose over several weeks until you reach the best dose for you. The highest dose is 10mg once daily. When starting or increasing doses, 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 Nepiten.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your 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. Do not stop taking this medicine suddenly without checking with your doctor.
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 (gas)
- Diarrhea
- 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
- Slow heartbeat
- Low blood pressure
- Rashes, itching or hives on skin
- Abnormal thinking, depression or hallucinations
- Impotence
- Worsening of psoriasis
- Dry eyes or vision problems
- Increased cramp-like leg pain when walking
- Tingling or pins and needles
Important Warnings
Before taking Nepiten, tell your doctor about all your medical conditions and medications. Some people should not take this medicine.
Who Should Not Take Nepiten
Do not take Nepiten if you are allergic to nebivolol hydrochloride or any ingredients; have liver problems; have acute heart failure or cardiogenic shock; have a 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; history of psoriasis; severe blood vessel disorder; thyroid disorders; liver or kidney problems; phaeochromocytoma; or lactose intolerance.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Do not take Nepiten if you are pregnant as it may affect your developing baby. Do not breastfeed while taking this medicine as the active ingredient passes into breast milk and may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
Children: Do not give Nepiten to children under 18 years as safety and effectiveness have not been established.
Drug Interactions
Some medicines may interfere with Nepiten and affect how it works. Tell your doctor about all medicines you take, including over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and supplements.
- 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 Nepiten with meals and antacid between meals
- Digoxin for heart failure
- Other beta-blocker medicines including eye drops
- Anaesthetics
- Baclofen (antispasmodic)
- Amifostine (cancer treatment medicine)
Alcohol & Driving
Nepiten may cause dizziness, light-headedness, or drowsiness. Be careful with alcohol consumption and avoid driving until you know how this medicine affects you.
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. Getting up slowly may help.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Nepiten affects you. This medicine may cause dizziness, light-headedness, or drowsiness in some people. If you experience these symptoms, do not drive or operate machinery.
Storage
Keep tablets in the original pack until it’s time to take them. Store in a cool, dry place where temperature stays below 25°C. Do not store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car, or on window sills as heat and dampness can destroy the medicine. Keep out of reach of children in a locked cupboard at least 1.5 meters above ground.
Overdose Information
If you think you have taken too much Nepiten, seek urgent medical attention immediately. Phone the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26 in Australia), 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 low, 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 to 2 weeks, although it may take up to 4 weeks for the full effect to occur.
Yes, it does not matter if you take Nepiten 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 Nepiten.
Do not stop taking Nepiten 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.
Yes, if you are being treated for diabetes, check your blood sugar level regularly and report any changes to your doctor. Nepiten may change how well your diabetes is controlled and may cover up some symptoms of low blood sugar like fast heartbeat. Your dose of diabetic medicines, including insulin, may need to change.
Yes, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription. Some medicines may interfere with Nepiten and affect how it works.
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.