Trasidrex® oxprenolol hydrochloride and cyclopenthiazide

Trasidrex^® oxprenolol hydrochloride and cyclopenthiazide

Ciba

Information for Patients
What you need to know about Trasidrex tablets

Please read this leaflet carefully before you start to take your tablets. It contains important information about your tablets.

What's in your medicine

Trasidrex tablets contain 1 60mg of oxprenolol hydrochloride in a slow-release form and 0.25mg of cyclopenthiazide. Oxprenolol is a beta-blocker. Cyclopenthiazide is a diuretic ('water tablet'). The tablets also contain the following inactive ingredients:

stearic acid, silicon dioxide, povidone, cellulose, polyethylene glycol, talc, sucrose, erythrosine (E127).

Trasidrex comes in calendar packs containing 28 tablets.

Made by: Ciba Pharmaceuticals, Horsham West Sussex.

Product Licence Holder: Ciba-Geigy plc, Hulley Road, Macclesfield, Cheshire.

What this medicine is used for

Trasidrex is used to treat high blood pressure.

Before taking your medicine

Are you allergic to any beta-blockers, diuretics or sulphonamides?
Do you suffer now or have you suffered in the past from asthma or attacks of wheezing?
Do you suffer from any heart, kidney or liver disease?
Do you have a very low pulse rate (less than 50-55 beats per minute)?
Do you suffer from gout or kidney stones?
Do you suffer from Addison's disease?
Do you suffer from low blood pressure?
Do you suffer from phaeochromocytoma?
Do you suffer from Raynaud's disease (very poor circulation in the hands and feet)?
Are you taking lithium tablets?
Are you pregnant or breast feeding?

If the answer to any of these questions is YES, do not take the tablets without talking to your doctor again.

Do you suffer from bronchitis or emphysema?
Are you diabetic and taking insulin or anti-diabetic tablets?
Do you have an overactive thyroid gland?
Do you suffer from any serious blood vessel disorders?
Do you suffer from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)?
Are you being treated for high cholesterol levels?

If the answer to any of these questions is YES, tell your doctor or pharmacist.

Are you taking any of the following:

Medicines for high blood pressure or heart problems e.g. ACE inhibitors, verapamil or digoxin which your doctor does not know about?
Medicines for depression?
Cimetidine (an ulcer medicine)?
Steroids?
Medicines used to relieve pain or inflammation e.g. non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents like indomethacin?
Medicines bought from the chemist, especially anti-histamines or cold remedies?
Medicines for migraine which include ergotamine?
Medicines used to treat cancer?
Amphotericin, carbenoxolone, amantadine, anticholinergics, cholestyramine, cyclosporin, diazoxide and methyldopa?
Are you taking Vitamin D or calcium salts?
Any other medicines which your doctor does not know about?

If the answer to any of these questions is YES, tell your doctor or pharmacist.

Other special warnings

Be careful when drinking alcohol - it may affect you more than usual.
If you feel dizzy or sleepy or have problems with vision when you start taking these tablets, do not drive or work machinery until these effects have worn off.
If you are going to have a general anaesthetic, tell the doctor or dentist in charge that you are taking Trasidrex.
If you are diabetic, take particular care with your blood sugar control since this medicine may make you less aware of low blood sugar levels.
When taking Trasidrex for a long time your doctor may wish to do regular tests e.g. check the potassium level in your blood.
Since these tablets may reduce the amount of salt in the body, you should avoid very strict low-salt diets.
Trasidrex is not suitable for children.
These tablets also contain sugar (sucrose) and erythrosine (E127) and may be unsuitable for some people.

Taking your medicine

It is important to take your tablets at the right times. You must take them as instructed by your doctor. The usual dose is one or two tablets a day. Elderly people are sometimes more sensitive to the effects of Trasidrex and your doctor will want to monitor your progress carefully.

If you are not sure how many tablets to take. ask your doctor or pharmacist.

It is best to take Trasidrex in the morning.
Swallow your tablets whole with a drink of water.
Do not crush or chew the tablets as this will affect their special 'slow-release' system.
Do not stop taking your tablets suddenly. Ask your doctor first.
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Then go on as before. DO NOT take a double dose.
If you accidentally take too many Trasidrex tablets, tell your doctor at once or contact your nearest hospital casualty department.

After taking your medicine

These tablets sometimes cause unwanted effects in some people. If you get any of the following tell your doctor:

Attacks of wheezing or feeling short of breath.

Unexplained bruising.

Yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes.

Attacks of gout.

A very slow pulse (under 50-55 beats per minute).

Dry or sore eyes.

Increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight.

Any skin rash, itching or blistering of the skin.

Muscle pains or cramps.

Persistent sore throat or high temperature.

Inflammation of the pancreas.

Irregular heart rate.

Increased sugar in the blood or urine.

Other effects which may occur include:

Dizziness, sleepiness, unusual tiredness or weakness.

Dry mouth or loss of appetite.

Impotence in men or reduced sex drive.

Headache or problems with vision.

Sleeplessness or nightmares.

Mood changes.

Stomach upset including stomach pain, diarrhoea, constipation, flatulence or sickness.

Coldness, numbness or tingling in your hands and feet.

Fainting or dizziness when getting up from a sitting or Iying position.

These effects are often mild and may wear off after a few days' treatment. If they are severe or last for more than a few days, tell your doctor. Also, if your tablets upset you in any other way, tell your doctor.

Storing your medicine

The expiry date for these tablets is given on the carton. Do not take the tablets after this date.
Keep your tablets in a cool (below 25°C), dry place, out of reach of children. Return any unused tablets to your pharmacist.

REMEMBER: this medicine is for you. Only a doctor can prescribe it for you. Never give it to someone else. It may harm them even if they have the same symptoms as you.

The information in this leaflet applies only to Trasidrex. This leaflet does not contain the complete information about your tablets. If you have any questions or are not sure about anything, ask your doctor or pharmacist.