Corgard

What is it?

An antihypertensive, noneardioselective β-blocker produced in the form of pale blue tablets of 2 different strengths containing either 40 or 80mg (scored tablet) of nadolol and marked 207 or 241, respectively.

Medical Uses

Heart arrhythmias, angina, hypertension, additional treatment in thyrotoxicosis, prevention of migraine.

Dosage

Heart arrhythmias, 40mg each day at first increasing as required to maximum of 160mg; angina, 40mg each day at first increasing as required with usual daily dose of 160mg; hypertension, 80mg each day at first increasing as needed with usual daily dose in the order of 80-240mg; thyrotoxicosis, 80-160mg once each day; prevention of migraine, 40mg each day at first increasing if necessary to a usual daily dose in the order of 80160mg.

Special Care

Pregnancy, breast-feeding, patients with weak hearts should receive diuretics and digitalis, liver or kidney disease, diabetes, metabolic acidosis, weakness, insufficient cerebral circulation, thyrotoxic crisis, tendency to exhibit allergic symptoms. Persons undergoing general anaesthesia; drug may need to be withdrawn before planned surgery. Withdraw drug gradually.

Avoid Use

Children, patients with obstructive airways disease or history of bronchospasm (asthma), various heart disorders including heart block, heart shock, heart failure, sick sinus syndrome, serious peripheral arterial disease, sinus bradycardia, disease of heart muscle, Prinzmetal's angina, hypotension, right ventricular failure resulting from pulmonary hypertension, untreated phaeochromocytoma (tumour of the adrenal glands).

Possible Drug and Food Interactions

Cardiac depressant anaesthetics, theophylline, anti- hypertensives, ergot alkaloids, diltiazem, sympathomimetics, verapamil, clonidine withdrawal, CNS depressants, class I antiarrhythmic drugs, rifampicin, cimetidine, class 11 calcium antagonists, warfarin, reserpine, ibuprofen, indomethacin, hypoglycaemics.

Known Side Effects

Bradycardia, fatigue on exercise, cold hands and feet, central nervous system effects, disturbance of sleep, gastrointestinal upset, bronchospasm, heart failure, low blood pressure, baldness, thrombocytopenia (reduction in blood platelets). Withdraw drug gradually if dry eyes or skin rash occur.