Timolol tablets - a beta-blocker

About timolol tablets

Timolol belongs to the group of medicines known as betabloqueantes. It is a medicine which is used to treat several different medical conditions. It works on the heart and blood vessels.

Timolol slows down the activity of your heart by stopping messages sent by some nerves to your heart. It does this by blocking tiny areas (called beta-adrenergic receptors) where the messages are received by your heart. As a result, your heart beats more slowly and with less force. This allows the pressure of blood within your blood vessels to be reduced if you have presión arterial alta (hipertensión), and helps to prevent abnormally fast heart rhythms (arrhythmias). Because your heart is using less energy, this helps to reduce chest pain if you have angina. Timolol can also help to protect the heart following a ataque al corazón.

Timolol is also prescribed to help prevent migraines. It can be helpful for people who find other treatments for reducing the number of migraine attacks unsuitable.

Timolol is also available in combination with medicines known as diuréticos (often referred to as 'water tablets'). These combination tablets are only used for the treatment of high blood pressure.

Eye drops which contain timolol are available for the treatment of glaucoma. There is a separate medicine leaflet available called Timolol eye drops for glaucoma which gives more information about this.

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking timolol it is important that your doctor or pharmacist knows:

• Si estás embarazada, intentando tener un bebé o amamantando.

• Si tienes asma u otro trastorno respiratorio.

• Si tienes algún problema con el funcionamiento de tu hígado, o con el funcionamiento de tus riñones.

• Si tienes presión arterial baja o mala circulación.

• Si tienes niveles altos de azúcar en la sangre (diabetes mellitus).

• Si tienes un problema de piel llamado psoriasis.

• Si tienes una condición que causa debilidad muscular, llamada miastenia gravis.

• Si le han dicho que tiene un ritmo cardíaco lento o bloqueo cardíaco (un ritmo lento e irregular).

• If you have been told you have chest pain called Prinzmetal's angina (caused by spasms of your heart's blood vessels).

• Si está tomando otros medicamentos. Esto incluye cualquier medicamento que esté tomando y que esté disponible para comprar sin receta, así como medicamentos herbales y complementarios.

• Si alguna vez ha tenido una reacción alérgica a un medicamento, o si ha tenido alguna otra reacción alérgica grave.
  

• Before you start the treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about timolol and will provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you may experience from taking it.

• Take timolol exactly as your doctor tells you to. It is usual to take one or two doses each day. Your doctor may prescribe you a small dose initially (5-10 mg). As this may mean taking half a tablet, the tablets are scored so that they can be divided into two. If necessary, your doctor will increase your dose slowly over the next few weeks. Increasing your dose slowly allows your doctor to make sure that you have the dose that helps your condition but prevents unwanted side-effects.

• You can take the tablets before or after your meals, but try to take your doses at the same time of day each day, as this will help you to remember to take timolol regularly.

• If you do forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless your next dose is due. If your next dose is due then take the tablet which is due but leave out the forgotten one. Do not take two doses together to make up for a forgotten dose.

• Intenta mantener tus citas regulares con tu médico. Esto es para que tu médico pueda verificar tu progreso.

• Treatment with timolol can often be long-term. Continue to take the tablets unless your doctor tells you to stop. Stopping treatment suddenly can cause problems in some people, so your doctor may want you to reduce your dose gradually if this becomes necessary.

• If you are due to have an operation or dental treatment, it is important to tell the person carrying out the treatment that you are taking a beta-blocker. This is because some anaesthetics may increase the risk of unwanted effects.

• If you drink alcohol, ask your doctor for advice about taking timolol and alcohol. Alcohol will add to the blood pressure-lowering effect of timolol and so may not be recommended for you.

• If you buy any medicines, check with a pharmacist that they are suitable for you to take. Some medicines (including some cough, cold and flu remedies) may not be.

• Your doctor may give you dietary and lifestyle advice about eating a healthy diet, not smoking, and taking regular exercise. If so, it is important that you follow the advice you are given.

• If you have diabetes, timolol can block the symptoms of low blood sugar. Your doctor will advise you about this.

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with timolol. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

Si experimenta cualquier otro síntoma que crea que puede deberse a las tabletas, hable con su médico o farmacéutico para obtener más consejos.

• Mantenga todos los medicamentos fuera del alcance y la vista de los niños.

• Almacenar en un lugar fresco y seco, lejos del calor y la luz directos.