acebutolol Health Article

• slow or uneven heartbeats;

• feeling light-headed, fainting;

• feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;

• swelling of your ankles or feet;

• nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

• depression; or

• cold feeling in your hands and feet.

Other less serious side effects are more likely to occur, such as:

• decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm;

• sleep problems (insomnia);

• tired feeling; or

• anxiety, nervousness.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect acebutolol?

Before taking acebutolol, tell your doctor if you are using:

• allergy treatments (or if you are undergoing allergy skin-testing);

• clonidine (Catapres);

• guanabenz (Wytensin);

• an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), phenelzine (Nardil), or selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam);

• a diabetes medication such as insulin, glyburide (Diabeta, Micronase, Glynase), glipizide (Glucotrol), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), or metformin (Glucophage);

• a heart medication such as nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), reserpine (Serpasil), verapamil (Calan, Verelan, Isoptin), diltiazem (Cartia, Cardizem);

• medicine for asthma or other breathing disorders, such as albuterol (Ventolin, Proventil), bitolterol (Tornalate), metaproterenol (Alupent), pirbuterol (Maxair), terbutaline (Brethaire, Brethine, Bricanyl), and theophylline (Theo-Dur, Theolair); or

• cold medicines, stimulant medicines, or diet pills.

If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to take acebutolol, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

There may be other drugs not listed that can affect acebutolol. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist has additional information about acebutolol written for health professionals that you may read.

What does my medication look like?

Acebutolol is available with a prescription under the brand name Sectral. Other brand or generic forms may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.

• Sectral 200 mg--purple/orange capsules

• Sectral 400 mg--brown/orange capsules

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.