Hemangeol

Hemangeol belongs to a group of drugs called beta-blockers. It is used either alone or in combination with other medications for the treatment of hypertension. Lowering the blood pressure may decrease the risk of stroke and heart attacks.

Hemangeol is also used to treat angina (severe chest pain) and migraine headaches, arrhythmias, and pheochromocytoma.

This medicine is available only through a doctor's prescription.

This product is available in the following dosage forms:

• Tablet
• Solution
• Capsule, Extended Release

Before using Hemangeol, you must know all about the risks and complications associated with it. Your doctor will consider these risks before prescribing the drug and will inform you about them.

Following factors should be considered before taking this drug:

Allergies

If you have had an allergic reaction to this drug in the past, inform your doctor. You should also tell your healthcare provider if you are allergic to any other drugs or food products.

Age-specific problems

The data regarding the effects of this medicine specific to the pediatric age group is not yet available. Its safety and efficacy have not been established in children.

The studies specific to the geriatric age group have not been carried out, therefore its safety and efficacy have not been established in older age group. However, geriatric population is more prone to having kidney, liver and heart problems.

Pregnancy

Regarding the safety of usage of this drug during pregnancy, it comes under “C” category, which means that clinical trials on animals have revealed harmful effects to the developing fetus or relevant studies have not been performed.

Drug Interactions

Certain drugs should not be used together because they can interact inside the body which can have a harmful effect. On the other hand, certain drugs are allowed to be used together.

So, you should tell your doctor about any other medications you are taking. If there is a chance of interaction between those two drugs, the doctor may change the dose or may prescribe an alternative drug.

This medication should be used cautiously with the following drugs:

• Bupivacaine Liposome
• Amiodarone
• Bupivacaine
• Bupropion
• Clozapine
• Clonidine
• Crizotinib
• Diatrizoate
• Darunavir
• Diltiazem
• Epinephrine
• Dronedarone
• Eslicarbazepine Acetate
• Fingolimod
• Fenoldopam
• Fluoxetine
• Lacosamide
• Haloperidol
• Lidocaine
• Mefloquine
• Lomitapide
• Peginterferon Alfa-2b
• Mepivacaine
• Nilotinib
• Pixantrone
• Rivastigmine
• Prilocaine
• Simeprevir
• Verapamil
• Tocophersolan

Furthermore, certain medications should not be taken with alcohol or tobacco, which may also result in harmful interactions. Ask your doctor about the concurrent use of this drug along with alcohol or tobacco.

You should also inform your doctor about any other medical condition you may be suffering from, especially:

• Glaucoma 
• Anaphylactic reaction (severe)
• Angina (severe chest pain)
• Muscle problems (eg, myopathy, myotonia)
• Heart attack
• Bradycardia (slow heartbeat), without a pacemaker 
• Asthma
• Heart block, without a pacemaker
• Cardiogenic shock (shock caused by heart attack)
• Heart failure, decompensated
• Tremors due to Parkinson's disease
• Sick sinus syndrome (type of abnormal heart rhythm), without a pacemaker
• Asthma
• Bronchospasm
• Bradycardia (slow heartbeat)
• Infants weighing less than 2 kilograms
• Hypotension (low blood pressure)
• Premature infants with corrected age younger than 5 weeks of age—Hemangeol™ should not be given to patients with these conditions
• Pheochromocytoma (an adrenal problem)
• Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
• Diabetes
• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)—May covers up some of the signs and symptoms of these diseases, such as a fast heartbeat
• Liver disease—Use with caution. The effects may be increased because of slower removal from the body
• Kidney disease
• Lung disease (eg, bronchitis, emphysema)—Use with caution. May cause difficulty with breathing in patients with this condition
• Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (rare heart condition)—May cause very slow heartbeat in patients with these conditions
• Tachycardia (fast heartbeat)

To use Hemangeol properly, you must follow all instructions given by your doctor. In addition to the medication, high blood pressure is also managed with weight control and salt restriction in the diet.

Keep in mind that this medication will not cure your blood pressure permanently; it will just keep it in a normal range as long as you take it. To avoid adverse effects, this drug should be used exactly as prescribed by your doctor.

Do not overuse or misuse this drug and do not use it longer than the recommended time. Read all the instructions mentioned in the medication guide. 

Missed dose

Do not miss any dose. The dose of this drug varies according to the condition of each person. The number of doses per day, the time interval between the doses and the length of time you have to take the medicine depends on your condition individually and all these factors should only be determined by your healthcare provider. Follow each and every instruction of your doctor and also read the label carefully.

In case you miss one dose of this drug, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your subsequent dose, you can then skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take two doses at once.

Storage

This medicine should be stored at room temperature within a closed container, away from heat, direct light, and moisture. Keep this drug out of the reach of children. Do not store expired or outdated medicines or the medicine no longer needed.

In using Hemangeol, you must be careful and take some precautions as advised by your doctor. Hemangeol may cause heart failure in some patients; it can also cause severe allergic reactions including anaphylaxis.

This drug may alter your blood sugar levels. Do not stop this drug abruptly; instead, you should taper it off under the supervision of a doctor. It is important for your doctor to monitor your response to the medicine and look for any side effects.

Therefore, regular follow-up is necessary during and after the treatment. Contact your doctor if your symptoms have not improved even after taking the full course of treatment. 

Avoid taking any other medicine unless thoroughly discussed with your doctor. Always ask your doctor before using any prescription, non-prescription or herbal medicine.

As with many medications, there are several potential side effects associated with Hemangeol. Although these side effects may occur only in a handful of patients but if they do occur, contact your physician immediately.

This medication is associated with the following side effects:

• Difficulty in breathing
• Cough producing mucus
• Tightness in the chest
• Abdominal or stomach pain and tenderness
• Blistering, peeling or loosening of the skin
• Black, tarry stools
• Blood in the urine
• Bloody stools
• Bloody nose
• Blurred or loss of vision
• Burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
• Body aches or pain
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Congestion
• Confusion about identity, place, and time
• Constipation
• Cough
• Crying
• Cracks in the skin
• Decreased awareness or responsiveness
• Depersonalization
• Decreased urine output
• Diarrhea
• Dilated neck veins
• Difficulty with swallowing
• Disturbed color perception
• Double vision
• Dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
• Dryness or soreness of the throat
• Euphoria
• Dysphoria
• Fever and chills
• Extreme fatigue
• Fast, pounding, slow, or irregular heartbeat
• General feeling of discomfort, illness, or weakness
• Halos around lights
• Hair loss
• Headaches
• Hoarseness
• Heavier menstrual periods
• Irregular breathing
• Lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
• Loss of heat from the body
• Mental depression
• Mimicry of speech or movements
• Mutism
• Muscle or joint pain
• Nausea
• Night blindness
• Negativism
• Noisy breathing
• Paleness or cold feeling in the fingertips and toes
• Overbright appearance of lights
• Paranoia
• Pinpoint red or purple spots on the skin
• Peculiar postures or movements, mannerisms, or grimacing
• Puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
• Rapidly changing moods
• Quick to react or overreact emotionally
• Red skin lesions, often with a purple center
• Rectal bleeding
• Red, irritated eyes
• Reddening of the skin, especially around the ears
• Red, swollen skin
• Runny nose
• Seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
• Scaly skin
• Severe sleepiness
• Short-term memory loss
• Shortness of breath
• Skin irritation or rash, including rash that looks like psoriasis
• Sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips
• Skin rash, hives, or itching
• Sweating
• Swollen glands
• Swelling of the eyes face, fingers, feet, or lower legs
• Tender, swollen glands in the neck
• Tingling or pain in fingers or toes when exposed to cold
• Tightness in the chest
• Tunnel vision
• Unusual tiredness or weakness
• Unusual bleeding or bruising
• Voice changes
• Weight gain
• Vomiting

Seek medical help instantly, if you experience any of these symptoms while on this drug. Also contact your health care professional immediately, if you have overdosed on this drug. If any of these side effects becomes more bothersome or does not go away, contact your doctor.