INFORMATION FOR CONSUMERS
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This leaflet answers some common questions about ACB. It does not contain all
the information available on this medicine. It does not take the place of
talking to your doctor or pharmacist. All medicines have risks and benefits.
Your doctor has weighed the risks of using ACB against the benefits expected it
will have for you. If you have any concerns about using this medicine, ask your
doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet. You may want to read it again.
Your ACB tablets contain the active ingredient acebutolol hydrochloride. It belongs to a group of medicines known as beta-blockers.
ACB is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and a number of heart conditions such as chest pain (angina pectoris) and fast heart rate (tachyarrhythmia's). ACB works by decreasing the hearts need for blood and oxygen and therefore reduces the amount of work the heart has to do. It also widens the blood vessels in the body, causing blood pressure to fall. It also helps the heart beat more regularly.
Your doctor may, however, prescribe ACB for another reason. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why ACB has been prescribed for you.
There is no evidence that ACB is addictive.
ACB is available on prescription from your doctor.
Do not take ACB if:
Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body; rash, itching or hives on the skin.
Tell your doctor if:
If you are taking any other medicines, including any you get without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop, tell your doctor or pharmacist.
Medicines that may interfere with ACB include:
These medicines may be affected by ACB or may affect how well ACB works. You may need different amounts of your medicines or you may need to take different medicines.
Your doctor or pharmacist has more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking ACB.
Your doctor will tell you how much ACB you need to take each day. It is important that you take ACB as directed by your doctor. Do not take more than the recommended dose.
The usual daily dose of ACB is 400mg daily however this will depend greatly on the condition that you are being treated for. The maximum daily dose is 1200mg given in divided doses
Your doctor may tell you to take different doses to these. If so, follow their instructions.
There are no specific dosage recommendations for the elderly.
ACB is not recommended for use in children.
ACB may be taken with or without food. The tablet(s) should be swallowed with a glass of water.
ACB helps to control your condition but does not cure it. Therefore ACB must be taken everyday. Continue taking ACB for as long as your doctor prescribes.
If you forget a dose, just take the next dose when it is due. Do not take more than one dose at a time to make up for missed doses.
Taking your medicine at the same time each day may help you to remember to take it regularly. If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask you pharmacist for some hints.
Tell all doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking ACB.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist that you are taking ACB before you start any new medicine.
Tell your doctor if you develop a skin rash or hives, or you become pregnant while taking ACB.
If you are going to have a surgery, tell the surgeon or anaesthetist that you are taking ACB.
If you are going to have any blood tests, tell your doctor that you are taking ACB.
Do not take ACB to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
Do not stop taking ACB or lower the dose without first checking with your doctor.
Do not give this medicine to anyone else, even if their symptoms seem similar to yours.
ACB may cause dizziness or drowsiness in some people. Be careful when driving, operating machinery or performing jobs that need you to be alert, until you are certain that ACB does not affect your performance.
Tell your pharmacist or doctor as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking ACB.
All medicines can have some unwanted effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you experience some of the side effects.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following:
These are all rare side effects that have been associated with ACB.
If any of the following happen, stop taking ACB and tell your doctor immediately, or go to accident and emergency at your nearest hospital:
These side effects are rare but serious. If you have them you may have had a serious allergic reaction to ACB. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation. All of these side effects are very rare.
The list of side effects mentioned above is not complete. Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you should suffer from any of these side effects or any other undesired effect please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.
You should only take the number of tablets that you have been told.
Immediately contact your doctor or the National Poisons Information Centre (0800 POISON or 0800 764 766) or go to the Emergency department at your nearest hospital, if you think that you may have taken too much, or if anyone else has taken any ACB by mistake. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention. Take the container of ACB with you if you can.
Keep telephone numbers for these places handy.
Do not take this medicine after the expiry date shown on the label or if the packaging shows signs of tampering.
Keep your ACB capsules in the container until it is time to take them.
Store below 25°C and out of reach of children. Avoid exposure to heat, light and moisture.
Do not store ACB, or any other medicine, in the bathroom or near a sink.
If your doctor tells you to stop taking ACB or if the capsules have passed the expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with the remaining medicine.
ACB 100mg capsules are half yellow and half cream in colour.
ACB 200mg capsules are half yellow and half flesh coloured.
ACB 400 mg tablets are white, circular in shape and film coated. One side is imprinted "ACB 400", the other side is plain.
Each 100 mg and 200 mg ACB capsule contains the active ingredient, acebutolol hydrochloride. Each capsule also contains maize starch, ethanol absolute HFG3, colloidal silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate, and a gelatin shell.
Each ACB 400 mg tablet contains the active ingredient, acebutolol hydrochloride. Each tablet also contains maize starch, povidone, ethanol absolute, colloidal silicon dioxide, talc, magnesium stearate, avicel, the colour film coat 5519 and carnauba wax.
Should you have any questions regarding this product, please contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Distributed in New Zealand by:
Pacific Pharmaceuticals Ltd,
P O Box 11183,
Ellerslie,
Auckland.
Telephone (09) 579 2792
2 March 2005
(Based on datasheet dated October 1998)