As with any medicine, pindolol may cause side effects.
However, not everyone who takes the drug will experience side effects (most people actually tolerate it quite well). If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider. Serious side effects are less common.
Some of the most common side effects include, but are not limited to:
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Muscle pain
- Nervousness.
(Click Pindolol Side Effects to learn more, including potentially serious side effects that you should report immediately to your healthcare provider.)
What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider Before Taking Pindolol?
You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking pindolol if you have:
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about all other medicines you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Pindolol belongs to a group of drugs called beta-adrenergic blocking agents, more often known as
beta blockers. As the name implies, these medications block beta receptors in the body. In addition to blocking beta receptors, however, pindolol also very slightly stimulates the beta receptors. Only a few beta blockers do this; this slightly stimulatory action is known as "intrinsic sympathomimetic activity," or ISA.
Beta receptors are located in a number of places within the body, including the heart and blood vessels. Stress hormones (such as adrenaline) bind to these receptors and cause certain reactions in the body, such as:
By blocking beta receptors, pindolol causes the reverse effect of stress hormones and reduces blood pressure. It may have less effect on heart rate and the workload of the heart compared to most other beta blockers, due to the fact that it slightly stimulates the beta receptors.
When and How to Take Pindolol
Some general considerations include the following:
- Pindolol comes in tablet form. It is usually taken by mouth twice a day.
- You can take this drug with a meal or on an empty stomach.
- For the medication to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed. Pindolol will not work if you stop taking it.
- In general, this medication should not be stopped suddenly, as serious problems (including heart attacks) may result.
The dose that your healthcare provider recommends will vary depending on a number of factors, including:
- The severity of your high blood pressure
- How you respond to the medication
- Other medications you are taking
- Other medical conditions you may have.
As always, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
Pindolol Drug Interactions
An overdose is likely to cause dangerously low
blood pressure (hypotension), a slow heart rate (bradycardia), and other serious problems. If you happen to overdose on pindolol, seek medical attention immediately.
What Should I Do If I Miss a Dose of Pindolol?
If you forget to take your dose, take the missed dose as soon as your remember. However, if it almost time for your next dose, simply skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose.
This medication is available in generic form (it is no longer available in brand-name form).
Brand-name pindolol was made by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation but is no longer available. Generic versions of the medicine are still available.
Generic pindolol tablets come in the following strengths:
- Pindolol 5 mg
- Pindolol 10 mg.
