Bibloc

Package leaflet: Information for the patient

Warning! Keep the leaflet, information on the immediate packaging is in a foreign language!
Bibloc (BisoHEXAL 2.5 mg)
2.5 mg, film-coated tablets
Bisoprololum fumaricum
Bibloc and BisoHEXAL 2.5 mg are different brand names for the same medicinal product.
Please read the entire leaflet before using the medicine, as it contains important information for the patient.

• Keep this leaflet, so that you can read it again if necessary.
• If you have any doubts, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.
• This medicine has been prescribed for a specific individual. Do not share it with others. This medicine may harm other people, even if their symptoms appear identical.
• If you experience any adverse reactions, including any not listed in this leaflet, inform your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. See section 4.

Table of contents of the leaflet:

1. What Bibloc is and what it is used for
2. Important information before taking Bibloc
3. How to take Bibloc
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Bibloc
6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. What Bibloc is and what it is used for

Bibloc belongs to a group of medicines called beta-blockers. They protect the heart from excessive activity.
Bibloc is used in the treatment of:

• Heart failure, manifested by breathlessness during exertion or fluid retention in the body. In such cases, Bibloc may be used as an additional treatment for heart failure already being treated with other medicines.

2. Important information before using Bibloc

When not to use Bibloc

• If the patient is allergic to bisoprolol fumarate or to any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
• If the patient has cardiogenic shock – a severe heart condition characterized by rapid, weak pulse, low blood pressure, cold and clammy skin, weakness, and fainting.
• If the patient has ever experienced wheezing or severe bronchial asthma, as breathing problems may occur.
• If the patient has a slow heart rate (less than 60 beats per minute). In case of doubt, consult a doctor.
• If the patient has very low blood pressure.
• If the patient has severe circulatory disorders (which may cause tingling, paleness, or blueness of fingers and toes).
• If the patient has severe heart rhythm disorders.
• If the patient has sudden heart failure or existing heart failure that is uncontrolled and requires hospital treatment.
• If the patient has an accumulation of acids in the body, diagnosed as metabolic acidosis. The doctor will provide information on this.
• If the patient has a pheochromocytoma (a so-called chromaffin cell tumour) that is untreated.

In case of any doubts, consult a doctor.
Warnings and precautions
Before starting treatment with Bibloc, consult a doctor:

• if the patient has wheezing or breathing difficulties (bronchial asthma), they should be using bronchodilator medicines at the same time. A higher dose of a beta-2 mimetic may be necessary.
• if the patient has diabetes. Bibloc tablets may mask symptoms of low blood sugar (such as rapid heartbeat, palpitations, or excessive sweating).
• if the patient does not consume food of consistent composition.
• if the patient is undergoing anti-allergy treatment. Bibloc may increase sensitivity to allergens and worsen the severity of hypersensitivity reactions. Treatment with adrenaline may then be ineffective and a higher dose may be required.
• if the patient has first-degree atrioventricular block (a conduction disorder in the heart).
• if the patient has Prinzmetal's angina (chest pain caused by spasm of the coronary vessels supplying blood to the heart muscle).
• if the patient has circulation disorders in the hands and feet.
• if the patient is undergoing a procedure under anaesthesia, inform the doctor, hospital staff, or dentist about all medicines being taken.
• if the patient has psoriasis (a recurring skin condition characterized by skin peeling and dry skin rash), currently or in the past.
• if the patient has a chromaffin cell tumour (pheochromocytoma). Before prescribing Bibloc, the doctor must initiate appropriate treatment.
• if the patient has thyroid disorders. Bisoprolol tablets may mask symptoms of hyperthyroidism.

There is currently no therapeutic experience with the use of Bibloc in heart failure in the following patients:

• with type I diabetes treated with insulin
• with severe kidney disease
• with severe liver disease
• with certain heart diseases
• who have had a myocardial infarction within the last 3 months.

Treatment of heart failure with Bibloc requires regular medical monitoring. This is absolutely essential, especially at the beginning of treatment and after its discontinuation.
Bibloc must not be stopped suddenly unless absolutely necessary.
Consult a doctor if any of the warnings described apply to the patient or applied in the past.
Bibloc and other medicines
Inform the doctor or pharmacist about all medicines currently taken or recently taken, as well as any medicines the patient plans to take. This includes medicines available without a prescription. Some medicines must not be taken at the same time as Bibloc, while others require specific adjustments, e.g. dosage.
In every case, inform the doctor about taking or receiving, in addition to Bibloc, the following medicines:

• medicines used to control blood pressure or for heart disorders (e.g. amiodarone, amlodipine, clonidine, digitalis glycosides, diltiazem, disopyramide, felodipine, flecainide, lidocaine, methyldopa, moxonidine, phenytoin, propafenone, quinidine, rilmenidine, verapamil);
• sedatives and medicines used to treat psychosis (mental illness), e.g. barbiturates (also used in epilepsy treatment), phenothiazines (also used to treat nausea and vomiting);
• medicines used to treat depression, e.g. tricyclic antidepressants, MAO-A inhibitors;
• medicines used for anaesthesia during surgery (see also "Warnings and precautions");
• certain painkillers (e.g. acetylsalicylic acid, diclofenac, indometacin, ibuprofen, naproxen);
• medicines used to treat bronchial asthma, nasal congestion, or certain eye conditions such as glaucoma (increased intraocular pressure) or pupil dilation;
• certain medicines used to treat shock (e.g. adrenaline, dobutamine, noradrenaline);
• mefloquine (a medicine used to treat malaria);
• rifampicin (an antibiotic);
• ergotamine derivatives (used to treat migraine). All these medicines, as well as Bibloc, may affect blood pressure and/or heart function.
• insulin or other antidiabetic medicines. There may be an increased glucose-lowering effect and masking of symptoms of low blood sugar.

Bibloc and alcohol
Alcohol may worsen dizziness and drowsiness caused by Bibloc. In such cases, alcohol consumption should be avoided.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
If the patient is pregnant, breastfeeding, suspects she may be pregnant, or is planning to have a child, she should consult a doctor before using this medicine. Bibloc may have harmful effects on pregnancy and/or the fetus. The risk of premature birth, miscarriage, low blood sugar in the newborn, and slowed fetal heart rate increases. The medicine may also affect the child's development. Therefore, Bibloc should not be used during pregnancy.
It is not known whether bisoprolol passes into breast milk, therefore the use of Bibloc is not recommended during breastfeeding.
Driving and operating machinery
The medicine may cause fatigue, drowsiness, or dizziness. If these symptoms occur, do not drive or operate machinery. Be aware that such symptoms may occur, especially at the beginning of treatment, when switching from another medicine, and when consuming alcohol simultaneously.
Bibloc contains lactose and sodium
If the patient has previously been diagnosed with intolerance to certain sugars, they should consult a doctor before taking this medicine.
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol (23 mg) of sodium per coated tablet, meaning the medicine is considered "sodium-free".

3. How to take Bibloc

This medicine should always be taken exactly as directed by your doctor or pharmacist.
If in doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Your doctor will inform you how many tablets to take. The medicine should be taken in the morning, before, during or after breakfast. Swallow the tablet(s) whole with a small amount of water. Do not chew or crush the tablets.

Usual dose
Heart failure (reduced heart contraction strength)
Before starting treatment with Bibloc, the patient usually already takes an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, a diuretic or a cardiac glycoside (digitalis preparation) for heart and blood pressure conditions.
The dose of the medicine will be gradually increased until the appropriate dose for the patient is reached:
1.25 mg once daily for 1 week. If this dose is well tolerated, it may be increased to:
2.5 mg once daily for the next week. If this dose is well tolerated, it may be increased to:
3.75 mg once daily for the next week. If this dose is well tolerated, it may be increased to:
5 mg once daily for the following 4 weeks. If this dose is well tolerated, it may be increased to:
7.5 mg once daily for the following 4 weeks. If this dose is well tolerated, it may be increased to:
10 mg once daily (maintenance dose).
The maximum dose is 10 mg once daily.
Your doctor will determine the optimal dose for the patient, taking into account, among other factors, any adverse effects. After the first dose of 1.25 mg, your doctor will monitor your blood pressure, pulse rate and heart function.

Liver or kidney function disorders
Your doctor will increase the dose particularly cautiously.

Elderly patients
Dose adjustment is usually not necessary.

If you feel that the effect of Bibloc is too strong or too weak, inform your doctor or pharmacist.
Place the tablet on a hard, flat surface with the score line facing upwards.

Press your thumb on the centre of the tablet. The tablet will split in half.

Duration of treatment
Bibloc is generally used for long-term treatment.

Use in children and adolescents
Due to lack of data on the use of Bibloc in children and adolescents, its use is not recommended in this age group.

Taking more Bibloc than recommended
If you accidentally take more than the recommended dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist immediately. Take any remaining tablets or this leaflet with you so that medical personnel know which medicine has been taken. Symptoms of overdose may include dizziness, feeling faint, fatigue, shortness of breath and/or wheezing. Other possible effects include slowed heart rate, low blood pressure, weakened heart contractions and low blood glucose levels (which may cause feelings of hunger, excessive sweating and palpitations).

If you forget to take Bibloc
Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose. Take the usual dose as soon as you remember, then return to your normal dosing schedule the next day.

Stopping Bibloc
Do not stop taking Bibloc suddenly. Abrupt discontinuation may worsen your condition. The dose must be gradually reduced over several weeks, as directed by your doctor.

If you have any further questions about the use of this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

4. Possible adverse reactions

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause adverse reactions, although not everyone will experience them.
If an adverse reaction is serious, occurs suddenly, or worsens rapidly, contact your doctor immediately to prevent severe reactions.
The most serious adverse reactions are related to heart function:

• Slowing of heart function (may occur in more than 1 in 10 people)
• Worsening of existing heart failure (may occur in fewer than 1 in 10 people)
• Slow or irregular heartbeat (may occur in fewer than 1 in 100 people)

If the patient experiences dizziness, weakness, or difficulty breathing, contact a doctor as quickly as possible.
If the patient develops severe allergic reactions, which may include swelling of the face, neck,
tongue, lips or throat, or difficulty breathing, seek immediate medical attention.

The following adverse reactions are listed below according to their frequency of occurrence:

Common (may affect fewer than 1 in 10 people):

• Feeling of fatigue, exhaustion
• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Sensation of coldness or numbness in fingers of hands or feet, ears and nose; increased occurrence of cramping leg pain during walking
• Very low blood pressure (hypotension), especially in patients with heart failure
• Nausea, vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Constipation

Uncommon (may affect fewer than 1 in 100 people):

• Drop in blood pressure upon standing, which may cause dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting
• Sleep disturbances
• Depression
• Irregular heartbeat
• Breathing difficulties in patients with bronchial asthma or a history of respiratory disorders
• Muscle weakness and muscle cramps

Rare (may affect fewer than 1 in 1,000 people):

• Nightmares
• Hallucinations
• Fainting
• Hearing impairment
• Nasal mucosal inflammation causing watery nasal discharge with irritation
• Skin allergic reactions (such as itching, sudden reddening of the skin, rash)
• Dryness of the conjunctiva due to reduced tear production (which may be particularly bothersome in patients wearing contact lenses)
• Hepatitis, causing abdominal pain, loss of appetite, and sometimes jaundice with yellowing of the eyes and skin, as well as darkening of urine
• Reduced sexual function (impotence)
• Increased blood lipid levels (triglycerides) and increased liver enzyme activity

Very rare (may affect fewer than 1 in 10,000 people):

• Worsening of psoriasis symptoms or occurrence of similar dry, scaly rash, and hair loss
• Itching or redness of the eyes (conjunctivitis)

Reporting of adverse reactions
If any adverse reactions occur, including any not listed in this leaflet, inform your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. Adverse reactions can be reported directly to the Department of Monitoring Adverse Drug Reactions at the Office for Registration of Medicinal Products, Medical Devices and Biocidal Products: Al. Jerozolimskie 181C, 02-222 Warsaw, tel.: +48 22 49 21 301, fax: +48 22 49 21 309, website: https://smz.ezdrowie.gov.pl
Reporting adverse reactions helps to gather more information on the safety of the medicine.

5. How to store the medicine Bibloc

Keep the medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date stated on the packaging.
The expiry date refers to the last day of the stated month.
No special storage precautions are required.
Translation of some information on the immediate packaging:
Ch.-B./verwendbar bis: siehe Prägung – batch number/expiry date: see imprint.
Medicines must not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer in use. This will help protect the environment.

6. Contents of the packaging and other information

What Bibloc contains

• The active substance is bisoprolol fumarate. Each coated tablet contains 2.5 mg of bisoprolol fumarate.
• Other ingredients are: calcium hydrogen phosphate, microcrystalline cellulose, pregelatinized maize starch, sodium croscarmellose, colloidal anhydrous silica, magnesium stearate, coating: lactose monohydrate, hypromellose, titanium dioxide (E 171), macrogol 4000.

What Bibloc looks like and contents of the pack
White, round coated tablets with a score line and marked "BIS 2.5" on one side.
The tablets can be divided into equal doses.
Coated tablets are packed in blisters made of OPA/Al/PVC/Al foil, placed in a cardboard box. The blisters contain 25, 30, 50, 60, 90 or 100 tablets.
For more detailed information, please contact the responsible party or the parallel importer.
Marketing Authorisation Holder in Germany, the country of export:
Hexal AG
Industriestraße 25
83607 Holzkirchen
Germany
Manufacturer:
Lek S.A.
Podlipie 16 Street
Stryków 95-010
Poland
Salutas Pharma GmbH
Otto-von-Guericke-Allee 1
39179 Barleben
Germany
ROWA Pharmaceuticals Limited
Newtown, Bantry, Co. Cork
Ireland
Lek Pharmaceuticals d.d
Verovskova ulica 57
1526 Ljubljana
Slovenia
Parallel Importer:
Medezin Sp. z o.o.
Zbąszyńska 3 Street
91-342 Łódź
Poland
Repackaged in:
Medezin Sp. z o.o.
Zbąszyńska 3 Street
91-342 Łódź
Poland
Marketing Authorisation Number in Germany, the country of export: 71879.00.00
Parallel Import Licence Number: 34/24