Esmolol, Injection EZ-moh-lol

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: beta blocker

Generic and brand names: esmolol, injection; Brevibloc

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by injection to:

• treat irregular or fast heartbeat
• treat high blood pressure, especially during or after surgery
• treat other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before you take this medicine, be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to other medicines
• breathing problems such as shortness of breath, coughing, or wheezing. (This medicine may make these problems worse.)
• depression
• diabetes
• heart failure or any other heart problems
• liver or kidney disease
• low blood pressure
• muscle disease such as myasthenia gravis
• pheochromocytoma (a tumor of the adrenal gland)
• problems with blood circulation such as Raynaud's disease or peripheral vascular disease
• psoriasis
• thyroid problems

Tell your healthcare provider if you are taking digoxin or diuretics (water pills).

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

This medicine is usually given by injection while you are in the hospital or clinic.

What should I watch out for?

Your healthcare provider may want you to check your pulse regularly. Report any unusual slowing or irregularity of your heart rate.

This medicine may cover up the rapid heartbeat that may occur in people who have an overactive thyroid gland. It may also reduce or eliminate chest pain you may have when you exercise or are very active. Ask your healthcare provider about a safe exercise program.

This medicine may make you drowsy or dizzy or cause blurred vision. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert and can see clearly. You may also feel dizzy or faint when you get up quickly after sitting or lying down. Getting up slowly may help.

If you need emergency care, surgery, lab tests, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

Talk to your healthcare provider before you use any nasal decongestants or take cold medicines, including nonprescription products.

Diabetics: This medicine may affect your blood sugar and cover up the symptoms of low blood sugar. It may be harder to tell if your blood sugar level is too low or too high. Talk with your healthcare provider about this. Be sure you understand how this medicine might affect you and what to do if you have a problem.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help.): Allergic reaction (hives, itching, rash, tightness in your chest, trouble breathing, swelling of your face, throat, or tongue).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Chest pain; cold hands or feet; swelling of the arms, feet, or legs; increased coughing or night cough; confusion; depression; slow or irregular heartbeat; fainting spells; change in vision; trouble breathing.

Other: Dizziness, drowsiness, tiredness, weakness, trouble sleeping, change in sexual ability or desire, abnormal dreams, headache, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, nervousness; injection site pain, redness, or swelling.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• ACE inhibitors such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril, enalapril (Vasotec), fosinopril, lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), quinapril (Accupril), and ramipril (Altace)
• antacids (take them at least 2 hours before or after this medicine)
• anesthetics such as bupivacaine, lidocaine, and mepivacaine
• asthma medicines such as albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin), epinephrine (Adrenalin), metaproterenol, theophylline, and zileuton (Zyflo)
• barbiturates such as butabarbital (Butisol), pentobarbital (Nembutal), and phenobarbital
• cold medicines including decongestants and antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine), and pseudoephedrine (Sudafed)
• diuretics such as bumetanide, ethacrynic acid (Edecrin), furosemide (Lasix), and torsemide (Demadex)
• heart or blood pressure medicines such as amiodarone (Cordarone), clonidine (Catapres), digoxin (Lanoxin), diltiazem (Cardizem), disopyramide (Norpace), felodipine, flecainide (Tambocor), hydralazine, isradipine (DynaCirc), nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia), prazosin (Minipress), procainamide, propafenone (Rythmol), quinidine, reserpine, terazosin (Hytrin), and verapamil (Calan, Isoptin)
• insulin and oral diabetes medicines such as glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (DiaBeta), metformin (Glucophage), pioglitazone (Actos), repaglinide (Prandin), rosiglitazone (Avandia), and tolbutamide
• MAO inhibitor antidepressants such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), and tranylcypromine (Parnate) (Do not take this medicine and an MAO inhibitor within 14 days of each other.)
• natural remedies such as dong quai, ephedra, garlic, ginseng, hawthorn, ma huang, St. John's wort, and yohimbe
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) such as diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), ibuprofen (Motrin, Motrin IB, Advil), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen, ketorolac (Toradol), nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Naprosyn, Anaprox, Aleve, Naprelan), oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), and sulindac (Clinoril)
• phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine, prochlorperazine, perphenazine, thioridazine, and trifluoperazine
• rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
• tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin, imipramine (Tofranil), and nortriptyline (Pamelor)
• warfarin (Coumadin)

Do not drink alcohol while you are taking this medicine unless your healthcare provider approves.

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.