Ivabradine
Description
Ivabradine is a medicine used for the treatment of chronic angina (a type of chest pain, often described as squeezing, pressure, heaviness, or tightness in the chest caused due to reduced blood flow to the heart) and chronic heart failure (a condition where the heart is unable to pump adequate blood throughout the body). This medicine works by slowing the heart rate and promoting a smooth flow of blood.
Ivabradine has side effects like headache, diarrhoea, slow or irregular heartbeats, increased blood pressure, nausea, blurred vision, etc. This medicine may cause dizziness. Hence avoid driving vehicles or operating machines and rise slowly from a sitting or lying down position while on treatment with Ivabradine. Avoid taking this medicine if you are allergic to it.
Ivabradine is usually taken with food to avoid stomach discomfort. The dose and duration of the treatment will be decided by your doctor based on the severity of your condition. Take it at the same time daily for ease of remembering and to maintain a constant level of the medicine in your body. Avoid abrupt discontinuation of Ivabradine without consulting your doctor, as it can worsen your condition.
Ivabradine is not recommended for use if you have severe liver problems, low blood pressure, acute decompensated heart failure (a sudden worsening of the signs and symptoms of heart failure), sick sinus syndrome (inability to create an adequate heart rate by the heart's natural pacemaker), third-degree AV block (a condition that makes your heart beat slowly or skip beats), or if your heart rate is controlled by the pacemaker (a device used to control an irregular heart rhythm). Inform your doctor about all your current medications and pre-existing medical conditions before taking this medicine. This will help your doctor adjust the dose to avoid side effects.
Ivabradine is not recommended for use in children below 18 years of age due to the lack of safety and efficacy data. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Ivabradine
- Blurred vision
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Fast or slow or irregular heartbeat
- Unusal tiredness
- Skin Rash
- Diarrhoea
- Abdominal pain
Uses of Ivabradine
What is it prescribed for?
- Congestive Heart Failure
- Angina pectoris
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe amount of time required for Ivabradine to show its action is not clinically established.
- Duration of effectThe effect of Ivabradine lasts for an average duration of 12 hours.
- Safe with alcohol?Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
- Is it habit forming?No habit-forming tendency has been reported for Ivabradine.
- Usage in pregnancy?Ivabradine is unsafe for use during pregnancy as it may cause harm to your developing foetus. Hence consult your doctor if you are pregnant.
- Usage while breast-feeding?Due to the lack of safety information, Ivabradine is not recommended for use while breastfeeding unless necessary. If you are breastfeeding, consult your doctor before taking this medicine.
Allergy
Ivabradine is not recommended for use if you are allergic to it. Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms such as skin rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, breathing difficulty, etc.
Severe hepatic impairment
Ivabradine is broken down in the liver. This medicine is not recommended if you have severe liver problems as it can further cause damage to your liver.
Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors
CYP3A inhibitors are medicines that block the action of an enzyme called CYP3A4 in the liver. Thus, CYP inhibitors may inhibit the breakdown of other medicines in the liver if taken together, causing an increased risk of side effects. Ivabradine is not recommended for use if you are taking strong CYP3A inhibitors like Ketoconazole, Clarithromycin, Nelfinavir, Voriconazole, Itraconazole, Nefazodone, etc.
Acute Decompensated heart failure
Acute decompensated heart failure is a sudden worsening of the signs and symptoms of heart failure. Ivabradine is not recommended for use in case of acute decompensated heart failure due to the increased risk of worsening your health condition.
Conduction abnormalities
Ivabradine is not recommended if you have sick sinus syndrome (inability to create an adequate heart rate by the heart's natural pacemaker), third-degree AV block (a disorder in the normal rhythm of the heart that makes your heart beat slowly or skip beats), or if your heart rate is controlled by the pacemaker (a device used to control an irregular heart rhythm). This medicine may further worsen your condition in such cases.
Severe bradycardia
Bradycardia refers to a slow heartbeat. Ivabradine is not recommended for use if you have severe bradycardia as it may worsen your condition.
Hypotension
Ivabradine is not recommended for use if you have hypotension (low blood pressure) as it may worsen your condition.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
Ivabradine is unsafe for use during pregnancy as it may cause harm to your developing foetus. Hence consult your doctor if you are pregnant.
Breast-feeding
Due to the lack of safety information, Ivabradine is not recommended for use while breastfeeding unless necessary. If you are breastfeeding, consult your doctor before taking this medicine.
General warnings
Driving vehicle or operating machines
Ivabradine may cause dizziness or blurred vision. Hence, avoid driving vehicles or operating machines if you experience such symptoms while taking this medicine.
Other medications
Ivabradine may interact with certain medications and cause undesired effects. Hence inform your doctor about all your current medications, including herbs and supplements, before starting the treatment with this medicine.
Missed Dose
Take the missed dose of Ivabradine as soon as you remember. If it is time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for the missed one.
Overdose
Never take more than the prescribed dose. Seek emergency medical treatment in case of an overdose of Ivabradine.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Amitriptyline
Atazanavir
Ciprofloxacin
Azithromycin
Fluconazole
Disease interactions
Liver impairment
Ivabradine should be used with caution if you have mild to moderate liver problems as it may further worsen your condition.
Food interactions
Avoid consumption of grapefruit juice while taking Ivabradine as it may increase the concentration of this medicine in the body. Consult your doctor if you experience symptoms such as dizziness, fainting, lightheadedness, fast or pounding heartbeats, low blood pressure, etc.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Ivabradine should be taken with food. Do not break, chew, or crush the tablet in your mouth. Swallow as a whole with plenty of water. Follow all the instructions given on the prescription label/packing insert.
Do not take more or less than the recommended dose of Ivabradine. Take this medicine for the recommended duration. Do not discontinue this medication abruptly without consulting your doctor, as your condition may become worse.
Take Ivabradine at the same time every day for ease of remembering.
Consult your doctor if you experience any side effects that persist or worsen.
Keep Ivabradine away from the reach of children and pets. Ensure that the unused or expired medication is disposed of properly.
Exercise regularly and follow a healthy lifestyle to get maximum benefits from the treatment.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Ivabradine lowers the heart rate and improves blood and oxygen supply to the heart muscles.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Miscellaneous cardiovascular agents
Schedule
Schedule H
Medicines.org.uk. 2022. [online] Available at: [Accessed 20 July 2022].
Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2022. DailyMed - CORLANOR- ivabradine tablet, film coatedCORLANOR- ivabradine solution. [online] Available at: [Accessed 20 July 2022].
Drugs, H., 2022. Ivabradine: MedlinePlus Drug Information. [online] Medlineplus.gov. Available at: [Accessed 20 July 2022].
Information on this page was last updated on 12 Sep 2022
Disclaimer
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