Betim® Tablets

Betim^® Tablets

timolol maleate

This leaflet gives you some helpful information about Betim Tablets. Please read it carefully before you take the Tablets. If you have any questions or are not sure about anything, ask your doctor or pharmacist (chemist).

What is in Betim Tablets?

Betim Tablets are white, flat circular tablets engraved with "102" on the scored face and a lion on the other face. Each tablet contains 10 mg of timolol maleate, the active ingredient.

The Tablets also contain some inactive ingredients. These are microcrystalline cellulose, starch and magnesium stearate .

The Tablets are available only on prescription in packs of 100 tablets or as packed by your pharmacist.

Who makes Betim Tablets?

The Tablets are made by Leo Pharmaceutical Products, Ballerup, Denmark. The Product Licence Holder is Leo Laboratories Limited, Longwick Road, Princes Risborough, Bucks. HP27 9RR.

How do Betim Tablets work?

Betim Tablets belong to a group of medicines called beta-blockers which are used mainly to treat certain heart disorders but they can be prescribed for other conditions.

What are Betim Tablets used for?

Betim Tablets are used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and chest pain (angina). The Tablets are also used to prevent heart attacks in people who may be at risk of attack and in reducing the number of migraine attacks for those who suffer from migraine.

Before Taking the Tablets

Before taking any medicines tell your doctor if you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or are breast feeding. You should not take these tablets if you

have ever had an allergy or a reaction to any other medicines containing timolol maleate, or any of the other ingredients in Betim Tablets.

Tell your doctor if you answer yes to any of the following questions:

Have you had any previous heart disease?

Have you been told that you have a slower than normal heart beat?

Do you have bronchitis, asthma or any other problems with your lungs?

Are you diabetic?

Do you have any liver or kidney problems?

Do you have any problems with your blood circulation?

Are you taking any other medicines, in particular:

medicines for depression (monamine oxidase inhibitors – MAOls)
medicines for blood pressure (e.g. reserpine or guanethidine or clonidine)
an anti-ulcer drug called cimetidine
an antibiotic called rifampicin
anti-inflammatory medicines (e.g. aspirin or indomethacin)
. medicines to improve circulation
medicines for breathing difficulties, e.g. salbutamol or isoprenaline
other beta-blockers
other medicines for heart problems e.g. to correct heart rhythm - verapamil, disopyramide, lignocaine and tocainide.

Betim Tablets may need to be stopped gradually before you have a general anaesthetic.

Discuss this with your doctor or dentist before any surgery.

Taking the Tablets

Your doctor will work out the right number of tablets for you. Take the tablets as your doctor tells you. Read the label on the pack carefully. It will tell you how many tablets to take and when to take them on each day, depending on the condition being treated. The usual dose for adults is half a tablet to three tablets twice a day for chest pains, one to six tablets a day for high blood pressure, half a tablet to one tablet twice a day after a heart attack and one to two tablets a day to prevent migraine attacks.

If you are elderly the doctor will probably start with the lower adult dose and then adjust your dose carefully, depending on how you respond to treatment.

Betim Tablets are not suitable for children.

Take the Tablet(s) with a glass of water.

If you forget to take your Tablet(s), take your normal daily dose as soon as you remember, then carry on taking your Tablet(s) as before. Do not take two tablets together unless otherwise advised by the doctor.

Your doctor may change the number of Tablets you take. This will depend on how well you respond to the treatment. Do not alter the number of Tablets you are taking without checking with your doctor.

Do not stop taking the Tablets without first consulting your doctor. If it is right for you to stop taking the medicine then your doctor will probably reduce the dose gradually. Some conditions become worse if the medicine is stopped suddenly and in some people the danger of heart attack is increased.

If you accidentally take too many Tablets, contact your doctor immediately.
After taking the Tablets

Your doctor will see you regularly during your treatment to monitor your progress and decide whether your

treatment is working properly. As with all medicines, some side-effects may occur in a few people. See your doctor if you have any of the following problems:

Unusual tiredness or weakness, slow heart beat, cold hands and feet, "pins and needles", nausea or vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness or light headedness, feeling faint, vertigo, headaches, trouble with sleeping, nightmares, depression, hallucinations, drowsiness, disorientation, breathing difficulties, skin rashes, painful joints and dry eyes.

Remember, this treatment is for you. Only a doctor can prescribe it for you. Do not let other people take your Tablets.
If you feel unwell or notice anything unusual or which you do not understand, tell your doctor as soon as possible.
Storing Betim Tablets

Store your Tablets in a safe place where children cannot reach them.

If shown on the pack, do not use after the expiry date given. If you are unsure, ask your pharmacist.

As with any medicines, if your doctor decides to stop your treatment, return any leftover Tablets to your pharmacist.

This leaflet was prepared in April 1995.

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