Patient leaflet - CARDICOR 5.0 MG FILM-COATED TABLETS
What is in this leaflet:
-
1. What Cardicor is and what it is used for
-
2. What you need to know before you take Cardicor
-
3. How to take Cardicor
-
4. Possible side effects
-
5. How to store Cardicor
-
6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. what cardicor is and what it is used for
The active substance in Cardicor is bisoprolol. Bisoprolol 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, bisoprolol slows down the heart rate and makes the heart more efficient at pumping blood around the body.
Heart failure occurs when the heart muscle is weak and unable to pump enough blood to supply the body’s needs. Cardicor is used to treat stable chronic heart failure.
It is used in combination with other medicines suitable for this condition (such as ACE-inhibitors, diuretics, and heart glycosides).
2. what you need to know before you take cardicor
Do not take Cardicor
Do not take Cardicor if one of the following conditions applies to you:
- allergy (hypersensitivity) to bisoprolol or to any of the other ingredients (see section 6 ‘What Cardicor contains’)
- severe asthma
- severe blood circulation problems in your limbs (such as Raynaud’s syndrome), which may cause your fingers and toes to tingle or turn pale or blue
- untreated phaeochromocytoma, which is a rare tumour of the adrenal gland
- metabolic acidosis, which is a condition when there is too much acid in the blood.
Do not take Cardicor if you have one of the following heart problems:
- acute heart failure
- worsening heart failure requiring injection of medicines into a vein, that increase the force of contraction of the heart
- slow heart rate
- low blood pressure
- certain heart conditions causing a very slow heart rate or irregular heartbeat
- cardiogenic shock, which is an acute serious heart condition causing low blood pressure and circulatory failure.
Other medicines and Cardicor
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
Do not take the following medicines with Cardicor without special advice from your doctor:
- certain medicines used to treat irregular or abnormal heartbeat (Class I antiarrhythmic medicines such as quinidine, disopyramide, lidocaine, phenytoin; flecainide, propafenone)
- certain medicines used to treat high blood pressure, angina pectoris or irregular heartbeat (calcium antagonists such as verapamil and diltiazem)
- certain medicines used to treat high blood pressure such as clonidine, methyldopa, moxonodine, rilmenidine. However, do not stop taking these medicines without checking with your doctor first.
Check with your doctor before taking the following medicines with Cardicor; your doctor may need to check your condition more frequently:
- certain medicines used to treat high blood pressure or angina pectoris (dihydropyridine-type calcium antagonists such as felodipine and amlodipine)
- certain medicines used to treat irregular or abnormal heartbeat (Class III antiarrhythmic medicines such as amiodarone)
- beta-blockers applied locally (such as timolol eye drops for glaucoma treatment)
- certain medicines used to treat for example Alzheimer’s disease or glaucoma (parasympathomimetics such as tacrine or carbachol) or medicines that are used to treat acute heart problems (sympathomimetics such as isoprenaline and dobutamine)
- antidiabetic medicines including insulin
- anaesthetic agents (for example during surgery)
- digitalis, used to treat heart failure
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) used to treat arthritis, pain or inflammation (for example ibuprofen or diclofenac)
- any medicine, which can lower blood pressure as a desired or undesired effect such as antihypertensives, certain medicines for depression (tricyclic antidepressants such as imipramine or amitriptyline), certain medicines used to treat epilepsy or during anaesthesia (barbiturates such as phenobarbital), or certain medicines to treat mental illness characterized by a loss of contact with reality (phenothiazines such as levomepromazine)
- mefloquine, used for prevention or treatment of malaria
- depression treatment medicines called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (except MAO-B inhibitors) such as moclobemide.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Pregnancy
There is a risk that use of Cardicor during pregnancy may harm the baby. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, tell your doctor. He or she ^^b will decide whether you can take Cardicor during pregnancy. ^^b
Breast-feeding
It is not known whether bisoprolol passes into human breast milk. Therefore, breastfeeding is not recommended during therapy with Cardicor.
Warnings and precautions
If you have any of the following conditions tell your doctor before taking Cardicor; he or she may want to take special care (for example give additional treatment or perform more frequent checks):
- diabetes
- strict fasting
- certain heart diseases such as disturbances in heart rhythm, or severe chest pain at rest (Prinzmetal’s angina)
- kidney or liver problems
- less severe blood circulation problems in your limbs
- chronic lung disease or less severe asthma
- history of a scaly skin rash (psoriasis)
- tumour of the adrenal gland (phaeochromocytoma) thyroid disorder.
■ In addition, tell your doctor if you are going to have:
- desensitization therapy (for example for the prevention of hay fever), because Cardicor may make it more likely that you experience an allergic reaction, or such reaction may be more severe
- anaesthesia (for example for surgery), because Cardicor may influence how your body reacts to this situation.
If you have chronic lung disease or less severe asthma please inform your doctor immediately if you start to experience new difficulties in breathing, cough, wheezing after exercise, etc. when using Cardicor.
Children and adolescents
Cardicor is not recommended for use in children or adolescents
Driving and using machines
Your ability to drive or use machinery may be affected depending on how well you tolerate the medicine. Please be especially cautious at the start of treatment, when the dose is increased or the medication is changed, as well as in combination with alcohol.
3. how to take cardicor
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Treatment with Cardicor requires regular monitoring by your doctor. This is particularly necessary at the start of treatment, during dose increase and when you stop treatment.
Take the tablet with some water in the morning, with or without food. Do not crush or chew the tablet. The scored tablets can be divided into two equal doses.
Treatment with Cardicor is usually long-term.
Adults including the elderly:
Treatment with bisoprolol must be started at a low dose and increased gradually.
- Your doctor will decide how to increase the dose, and this will normally be done in the following way: 1.25 mg bisoprolol once daily for one week 2.5 mg bisoprolol once daily for one week 3.75 mg bisoprolol once daily for one week 5 mg bisoprolol once daily for four weeks 7.5 mg bisoprolol once daily for four weeks 10 mg bisoprolol once daily for maintenance (on-going) therapy.
3767670001 / TW2351891
The maximum recommended daily dose is 10 mg bisoprolol.
Depending on how well you tolerate the medicine, your doctor may also decide to lengthen the time between dose increases. If your condition gets worse or you no longer tolerate the drug, it may be necessary to reduce the dose again or to interrupt treatment. In some patients a maintenance dose lower than 10 mg bisoprolol may be sufficient.
Your doctor will tell you what to do.
If you have to stop treatment entirely, your doctor will usually advise you to reduce the dose gradually, as otherwise your condition may become worse.
If you take more Cardicor than you should
If you have taken more Cardicor tablets than you should, tell your doctor immediately. Your doctor will decide what measures are necessary.
Symptoms of an overdose may include slowed heart rate, severe difficulty in breathing, feeling dizzy, or trembling (due to decreased blood sugar).
If you forget to take Cardicor
Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. Take your usual dose the next morning.
If you stop taking Cardicor
Never stop taking Cardicor unless on your doctor’s advice. Otherwise your condition could become much worse.
If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
To prevent serious reactions, speak to a doctor immediately if a side effect is severe, occurred suddenly or gets worse rapidly.
The most serious side effects are related to the heart function:
- slowing of heart rate (may affect more than 1 in 10 people)
- worsening of heart failure (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
- slow or irregular heartbeat (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
If you feel dizzy or weak, or have breathing difficulties please contact your doctor as soon as possible.
Further side effects are listed below according to how frequently they may occur:
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
- tiredness, feeling weak, dizziness, headache
- feeling of coldness or numbness in hands or feet
- low blood pressure
- stomach or intestine problems such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, or constipation.
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
- sleep disturbances
- depression
- dizziness when standing up
- breathing problems in patients with asthma or chronic lung disease
- muscle weakness, muscle cramps.
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
- hearing problems
- allergic runny nose
- reduced tear flow
- inflammation of the liver which can cause yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes
- certain blood test results for liver function or fat levels differing from normal
- allergy-like reactions such as itching, flush, rash. Youshouldseeyourdoctorstraightawayifyou experience more severe allergic reactions, which may involve face, neck, tongue, mouth or throat swelling, or difficulty breathing.
- impaired erection
- nightmares, hallucinations
- fainting.
Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people):
- irritation and redness of the eye (conjunctivitis)
- hair loss
- appearance or worsening of scaly skin rash (psoriasis); psoriasis-like rash.
Reporting side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via
United Kingdom
Yellow Card Scheme
Website:
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. how to store cardicor
- Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children
- Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the blister and the carton after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last date of that month.
- Cardicor 1.25, 2.5 mg, 3.75 mg film-coated tablets: Do not store above 25°C.
Cardicor 5, 7.5 mg, 10 mg film-coated tablets:
- Do not store above 30°C.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away of medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6. contents of the pack and other information
What Cardicor contains
Cardicor 1.25 mg film-coated tablets
- The active substance is bisoprolol fumarate. Each film-coated tablet contains 1.25 mg.
- The other ingredients are:
Tablet core: Silica, colloidal anhydrous; magnesium stearate; crospovidone; pregelatinised maize starch; maize starch; microcrystalline cellulose; calcium hydrogen phosphate (anhydrous).
Film coating: dimethicone; talc; macrogol 400; titanium dioxide (E171); hypromellose.
Cardicor 2.5 mg film-coated tablets
- The active substance is bisoprolol fumarate. Each film-coated tablet contains 2.5 mg.
- The other ingredients are:
Tablet core: Silica, colloidal anhydrous; magnesium stearate; crospovidone; maize starch; microcrystalline cellulose; calcium hydrogen phosphate (anhydrous).
Film coating: dimethicone; macrogol 400; titanium dioxide (E171); hypromellose.
Cardicor 3.75 mg film-coated tablets
- The active substance is bisoprolol fumarate. Each film-coated tablet contains 3.75 mg.
- The other ingredients are: Tablet core: Silica, colloidal anhydrous; magnesium stearate; crospovidone; maize starch; microcrystalline cellulose; calcium hydrogen phosphate (anhydrous).
Film coating: Iron oxide yellow (E172); dimethicone; macrogol 400; titanium dioxide (E171); hypromellose.
Cardicor 5 mg film-coated tablets
- The active substance is bisoprolol fumarate. Each film-coated tablet contains 5 mg.
- The other ingredients are:
Tablet core: Silica, colloidal anhydrous; magnesium stearate; crospovidone; maize starch; microcrystalline cellulose; calcium hydrogen phosphate (anhydrous).
Film coating: Iron oxide yellow (E172); dimethicone; macrogol 400; titanium dioxide (E171); hypromellose.
Cardicor 7.5 mg film-coated tablets
- The active substance is bisoprolol fumarate. Each film-coated tablet contains 7.5 mg.
- The other ingredients are:
Tablet core: Silica, colloidal anhydrous; magnesium stearate; crospovidone; maize starch; microcrystalline cellulose; calcium hydrogen phosphate (anhydrous).
Film coating: Iron oxide yellow (E172); dimethicone; macrogol 400; titanium dioxide (E171); hypromellose.
Cardicor 10 mg film-coated tablets
- The active substance is bisoprolol fumarate. Each film-coated tablet contains 10 mg.
- The other ingredients are:
What Cardicor looks like and contents of the pack
Cardicor 1.25 mg film-coated tablets are white and round.
Cardicor 2.5 mg film-coated tablets are white and heart-shaped with a break-line on both sides.
Cardicor 3.75 mg film-coated tablets are off-white and heart-shaped with a break-line on both sides.
Cardicor 5 mg film-coated tablets are yellowish-white and heart-shaped with a break-line on both sides.
Cardicor 7.5 mg film-coated tablets are pale yellow and heart-shaped with a break-line on both sides.
Cardicor 10 mg film-coated tablets are pale orange – light orange and heart-shaped with a break-line on both sides.
Each pack contains 20, 28, 30, 50, 56, 60, 90, or 100 tablets.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
UK: Merck Serono Ltd, 5 New Square, Bedfont Lakes Business Park, Feltham, Middlesex, TW14 8HA, UK
Manufacturer
Merck S.L., Poligono Merck, 08100 Mollet del Valles (Barcelona), Spain or
Merck Healthcare KGaA, Frankfurter Strasse 250, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany or
P&G Health Austria GmbH & Co. OG, Hosslgasse 20, 9800 Spittal/Drau, Austria or
Tjoapack B.V. Emmen, Columbusstraat 4, 7825 VR Emmen, The Netherlands or
Famar Lyon, 29 Avenue Charles de Gaulle, 69230 Saint Genis Laval, France
This medicinal product is authorised in the Member States of the EEA under the following names:
Austria: Concor COR, Belgium: Emconcor Minor, Croatia: Concor COR, Finland: Emconcor CHF, France: Cardensiel, Germany: Concor COR, Ireland: Cardicor, Italy: Sequacor, Luxemburg: Concor Cor, Netherlands: Emcor Deco, Portugal: Concor IC, Spain: EMCONCOR COR, Sweden: Emconcor CHF, United Kingdom: Cardicor
This leaflet was last revised in
3767670001 / TW2351891
PAGE 2