Acebutolol Oral Capsule

Other conditions warning: Before taking acebutolol, let your doctor know about all of your health conditions. It’s especially important to tell your doctor if you have:

• asthma
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• diabetes
• poor circulation
• heart failure or other heart problems
• overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)

Stopping the drug warning: You should talk to your doctor first before you stop taking this drug. If you have certain conditions and stop taking this drug suddenly, you may have thyroid problems or worsened chest pain. This can even be fatal. Your doctor should gradually decrease your dosage.

Acebutolol is a prescription drug. It’s comes as an oral capsule.

Acebutolol is available as the brand-name drug Sectral and as a generic drug. Generic drugs usually cost less. In some cases, they may not be available in every strength or form as the brand-name version.

Acebutolol may be taken as part of a combination therapy with other medications.

Why it's used

Acebutolol is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and a type of irregular heart beat (premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs).

How it works

Acebutolol belongs to a class of drugs called beta blockers. A class of drugs is a group of medications that work in a similar way. These drugs are often used to treat similar conditions.

This drug works by blocking certain receptors (beta) found in your blood vessels and heart from being activated by hormones, such as adrenaline. By stopping activation of these receptors, your blood vessels and heart stay relaxed. This helps lower your blood pressure and your heart beat.

High blood pressure often happens when your blood vessels are tightened. That strains the heart and increases your body’s need for oxygen. Acebutolol also helps to lower your heart rate and your heart’s demand for oxygen.

Acebutolol oral capsule does not cause drowsiness but it can cause other side effects.

More common side effects

The more common side effects that occur with acebutolol include:

• a slower than normal heart rate
• dizziness
• tiredness
• headache
• constipation
• diarrhea
• upset stomach (indigestion)
• muscle aches or pains

If these effects are mild, they may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If they’re more severe or don’t go away, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life-threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency. Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following:

• very low blood pressure. Symptoms include:
  • severe dizziness
  • lightheadedness
  • fainting
• very slow heart rate. Symptoms include:
  • tiredness
  • severe dizziness
  • lightheadedness
  • fainting
• poor circulation. Symptoms include:
  • cold or blue fingers or toes
• erectile dysfunction. Symptoms include:
  • being unable to get or keep an erection
• depression
• pain when urinating
• liver damage. Symptoms include:
  • nausea
  • loss of appetite
  • dark-colored urine
  • tiredness
• systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a condition where your immune system attacks parts of your body. Symptoms include:
  • severe skin rash, which may look like a butterfly shape across your nose
  • mouth sores
  • tiredness
  • joint pain
  • muscle pain

Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible side effects. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always discuss possible side effects with a healthcare provider who knows your medical history.

Acebutolol is used for long-term treatment. It comes with serious risks if you don’t take it as prescribed.

If you stop taking the drug or don’t take it at all: If you don’t take this drug, your high blood pressure or irregular heart rate won’t get better. This may also raise your risk of having a heart attack or harming the blood vessels of your lungs, heart, or liver.

If you stop taking it suddenly: If you stop taking this drug suddenly, you raise your risk of having a heart attack. Talk to your doctor before stopping acebutolol. Your doctor needs to monitor you and adjust your dosage slowly.

If you miss doses or don’t take it on schedule: If you don’t take acebutolol every day or you take your doses at different times each day, your blood pressure may not be controlled and your irregular heart rate may not normalize. This may increase your risk for a heart attack.

If you take too much: If you take too much acebutolol, you are at risk of lowering your blood pressure and slowing your heart rate to a dangerously low level. It may also cause very low blood sugar, trouble breathing, heart failure, or seizures. You may have the following symptoms:

• dizziness
• faintness
• weakness
• tiredness
• confusion
• shortness of breath
• chest pains

If you think you’ve taken too much of the drug, act right away. Call your doctor or local poison control center, or go to the nearest emergency room.

What to do if you miss a dose: If you forget to take your dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it’s just a few hours until the time for your next dose, wait and only take one dose at that time.

Never try to catch up by taking two doses at once. This could cause dangerous side effects.

How to tell if the drug is working: You may be able to tell this drug is working if you check your blood pressure at home and it’s lower, or you check your heart rate at home and it’s regular. Your doctor may also do tests to check if acebutolol is working for you.