Bisoprolol

Package leaflet: Information for the patient

Warning!
Keep this leaflet. Information on the immediate packaging in a foreign language.
Bisocard (Bisocard 5 mg)
5 mg, film-coated tablets
Bisoprolol fumarate
Bisocard and Bisocard 5 mg are different brand names of the same medicine.
Please read this leaflet carefully before using the medicine, as it contains
important information for the patient.

• Keep this leaflet to be able to read it again if necessary.
• If you have any doubts, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
• This medicine has been prescribed for a specific individual. Do not pass it on to others. This medicine may harm other people, even if their symptoms are the same.
• If you experience any adverse reactions, including any not listed in this leaflet, inform your doctor or pharmacist. See section 4.

Table of contents

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

1. What Bisocard is and what it is used for

Bisocard is a medicine that selectively blocks beta-adrenergic receptors (present, among others, in the heart and blood vessels). It exerts beneficial effects, particularly in patients with heart failure and symptomatic stable systolic dysfunction, by protecting the heart from excessive activity.
Bisocard is used to treat:

• hypertension;
• angina pectoris (chest pain due to insufficient oxygen supply to the heart);
• stable, moderate to severe chronic heart failure with impaired left ventricular systolic function (ejection fraction ≤ 35% as assessed by echocardiography), in combination with ACE inhibitors (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors), diuretics, and, if necessary, digitalis glycosides.

2. Important information before using Bisocard

When not to use Bisocard:

• if the patient is allergic to bisoprolol fumarate or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6);
• if the patient has cardiogenic shock - a severe heart condition with rapid, weak pulse, low blood pressure, cold and clammy skin, weakness and fainting;
• if the patient has severe asthma or severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD);
• 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 peripheral circulatory disorders (which may cause tingling, paleness or blueness of fingers and toes);
• if the patient has heart rhythm disorders - slow or irregular heartbeat;
• if the patient has sudden heart failure or worsening of existing heart failure requiring intravenous administration of drugs that increase the force of heart contractions;
• if the patient is taking floctafene (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) or sultopride (a medicine used to treat psychiatric disorders);
• if the patient has metabolic acidosis (a condition in which blood pH is too low);
• if the patient has an untreated adrenal medulla tumour (pheochromocytoma).

Warnings and precautions
Before starting treatment with Bisocard, discuss the following with your doctor:

• if the patient has mild asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - bronchodilators should be used concomitantly, and their dose may need to be increased;
• if the patient has diabetes - Bisocard may mask symptoms of hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose levels);
• if the patient is on a strict diet;
• if the patient has first-degree atrioventricular block (a heart conduction disorder);
• if the patient has Prinzmetal's angina (chest pain caused by spasm of the coronary arteries supplying blood to the heart muscle);
• if the patient has mild peripheral circulatory disorders;
• if the patient has thyroid dysfunction (bisoprolol may mask some symptoms of hyperthyroidism, such as rapid heartbeat);
• if the patient has a pheochromocytoma (adrenal medulla tumour) - before prescribing Bisocard, the doctor must initiate appropriate treatment;
• if the patient has (or has had in the past) psoriasis (a recurrent skin disease characterised by reddish-brown patches and skin scaling);
• if the patient has ever experienced allergic reactions - Bisocard may increase sensitivity to allergens and intensify allergic reactions;
• if the patient is undergoing allergen immunotherapy (treatment aimed at reducing allergy, e.g. to bee or wasp stings);
• if the patient is scheduled for surgery - Bisocard may alter the body's response to anaesthetic drugs.

Treatment of heart failure with Bisocard requires regular medical supervision. This is essential, particularly at the beginning of treatment, during dose escalation, and when discontinuing treatment.
Consult your doctor if any of the above warnings apply to the patient or applied in the past.

Children and adolescents
Due to lack of experience with the use of bisoprolol in children and adolescents, its use is not recommended in this age group.

Bisocard with other medicines
Inform your doctor or pharmacist about all medicines the patient is currently taking or has recently taken, as well as any medicines the patient plans to take.

The doctor will not recommend using Bisocard if the patient is taking:

• floctafene (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) or sultopride (a medicine used to treat psychiatric disorders).

Do not take the following medicines together with Bisocard without specific medical advice:

• certain medicines used to treat heart rhythm disorders (Class I antiarrhythmics such as quinidine, disopyramide, lidocaine, phenytoin, flecainide, propafenone);
• certain medicines used to treat high blood pressure, angina, or heart rhythm disorders (calcium channel blockers such as verapamil and diltiazem);
• certain medicines used to treat high blood pressure, such as clonidine, methyldopa, moxonidine, rilmenidine. However, do not stop taking these medicines without consulting your doctor.

Before taking the following medicines together with Bisocard, talk to your doctor – the doctor may recommend more frequent monitoring of the patient's condition:

• certain medicines used to treat high blood pressure or angina (dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers such as felodipine and amlodipine);
• certain medicines used to treat heart rhythm disorders (Class III antiarrhythmics such as amiodarone);
• locally applied beta-blockers (such as eye drops containing timolol, used in glaucoma treatment);
• certain medicines used to treat, for example, Alzheimer's disease or glaucoma (parasympathomimetics such as donepezil or pilocarpine), or medicines used to treat acute heart disorders (sympathomimetics such as isoprenaline and dobutamine);
• antidiabetic medicines, including insulin;
• anaesthetics (e.g. during surgery);
• cardiac glycosides, used in the treatment of heart failure;
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), used to treat inflammatory conditions and relieve pain (e.g. ibuprofen and diclofenac);
• all medicines that may lower blood pressure, either as a desired or adverse effect, such as antihypertensives, some tricyclic antidepressants (e.g. imipramine or amitriptyline), some antiepileptics or medicines used during general anaesthesia (barbiturates such as phenobarbital), and some antipsychotics used in disorders characterised by loss of contact with reality (phenothiazine derivatives such as levomepromazine);
• mefloquine, used for prevention and treatment of malaria;
• antidepressants known as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), such as moclobemide (except MAO-B inhibitors);
• rifampicin (an antibiotic);
• ergotamine derivatives (used to treat migraine).

Bisocard and alcohol
Alcohol may worsen dizziness and drowsiness caused by Bisocard. In such cases, alcohol consumption should be avoided.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding
There is a risk that using Bisocard during pregnancy may harm the unborn child.
If the patient is pregnant or breastfeeding, suspects she may be pregnant, or is planning to become pregnant, she should consult her doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine. The doctor will decide whether Bisocard can be used during pregnancy.
It is not known whether bisoprolol passes into human breast milk; therefore, breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with Bisocard.

Driving and using machines
Depending on the individual patient's response to treatment, the ability to drive or operate machinery may be impaired. This should be particularly considered at the beginning of treatment, after increasing the dose or changing the medicine, and when alcohol is consumed concurrently.

Bisocard contains lactose monohydrate
If the patient has been previously diagnosed with intolerance to certain sugars, the patient should consult a doctor before taking this medicine.

Bisocard contains sodium
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol (23 mg) of sodium per tablet, i.e. the medicine is considered "sodium-free".

3. How to use Bisocard

This medicine should always be taken exactly as directed by your doctor.
If you have any doubts, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Bisocard is available in doses of 2.5 mg, 5 mg, and 10 mg.
The tablets should be taken in the morning. They may be taken either during or before a meal.
Swallow the tablets whole with liquid. Do not crush or chew them.
Bisocard should be taken once daily, at the same time each day.

Hypertension and angina pectoris
The dose is individually determined by the doctor for each patient, based on heart rate and treatment effectiveness.
The recommended initial dose is 5 mg once daily. If necessary, the dose may be increased to 10 mg once daily.
Your doctor may decide to increase or decrease this dose.
The maximum recommended dose is 20 mg once daily.
In some milder cases of hypertension, a dose of 2.5 mg once daily may be sufficient.
Discontinuation of Bisocard or dose reduction should be carried out gradually, especially in patients with ischemic heart disease.

Renal or hepatic impairment
In patients with severe renal or hepatic impairment, the maximum dose is 10 mg per day.

Elderly patients
Dose adjustment is usually not necessary.

Heart failure (reduced cardiac contractility)
Your doctor will start treatment with a low dose of bisoprolol and gradually increase it—your doctor will decide how to adjust the dose. Typically, the dose escalation proceeds as follows:

• 1.25 mg bisoprolol once daily for 1 week
• 2.5 mg bisoprolol once daily for 1 week
• 3.75 mg bisoprolol once daily for 1 week
• 5 mg bisoprolol once daily for 4 weeks
• 7.5 mg bisoprolol once daily for 4 weeks
• 10 mg bisoprolol once daily for long-term maintenance therapy.

The maximum recommended daily dose is 10 mg bisoprolol.
Depending on how the medicine is tolerated, your doctor may decide to extend the interval before the next dose increase.
If the condition worsens or if the medicine is not well tolerated, it may be necessary to reduce the dose again or discontinue treatment.
In some patients, a maintenance dose lower than 10 mg bisoprolol may be sufficient.
Your doctor will determine the appropriate course of action.
If treatment needs to be discontinued, your doctor will usually recommend gradually reducing the dose.
Otherwise, the condition may worsen.

Hepatic or renal impairment
Your doctor will increase the dose particularly cautiously.

Elderly patients
Dose adjustment is usually not necessary.

Duration of treatment
Treatment with Bisocard is long-term. You should continue taking this medicine for as long as your doctor recommends.

Taking more Bisocard than recommended
If you take more than the prescribed dose, contact your doctor immediately or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
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 symptoms include bradycardia (slow heart rate), hypotension (low blood pressure), bronchospasm, acute heart failure, or seizures (caused by low blood glucose levels).

Missing a dose of Bisocard
Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose. If you forget to take your dose at the scheduled time, take it as soon as possible.
However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule.

Stopping Bisocard
Do not stop taking Bisocard unless your doctor advises you to do so.
Suddenly stopping this medicine may worsen the condition for which it was prescribed.
Discontinuation of the medicine and dose reduction should be done gradually, especially in patients with ischemic heart disease.

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.
The adverse reactions listed below are classified according to their frequency of occurrence as follows:

Very common (may affect at least 1 in 10 people):

• Slow heart rate (in patients with chronic heart failure).

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):

• Dizziness, headache;
• Worsening of heart failure (in patients with chronic heart failure);
• Cold sensation or numbness in the extremities (hands or feet);
• Gastrointestinal disturbances such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation;
• Very low blood pressure (hypotension), especially in patients with heart failure;
• Feeling of fatigue, exhaustion (asthenia) in patients with chronic heart failure.

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):

• Sleep disorders, depression;
• Irregular heart rate or worsening of heart failure (in patients with hypertension or angina pectoris);
• Slow heart rate (in patients with hypertension or angina pectoris);
• Low blood pressure occurring upon changing position from lying or sitting to standing;
• Bronchospasm in patients with bronchial asthma or obstructive respiratory disease;
• Muscle weakness and muscle cramps;
• Asthenia in patients with hypertension or angina pectoris.

Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1000 people):

• Nightmares, hallucinations;
• Fainting;
• Dry eyes due to reduced tear production (which may be particularly bothersome in patients wearing contact lenses);
• Hearing disturbances;
• Allergic rhinitis;
• Hepatitis;
• Hypersensitivity reactions such as itching, sudden skin redness, rash;
• Reduced sexual function (impotence);
• Increased blood lipid levels (triglycerides) and increased liver enzyme activity (AlAT, AspAT).

Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people):

• Conjunctivitis;
• Worsening of psoriasis symptoms or appearance of similar dry, scaly rash;
• Hair loss.

Reporting of adverse reactions
If any adverse reactions occur, including any not listed in this leaflet, inform your doctor or pharmacist.
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 181 C, 02-222 Warsaw, phone: +48 22 49 21 301, fax: +48 22 49 21 309
Website: https://smz.ezdrowie.gov.pl
Reporting adverse reactions helps to provide more information on the safety of the medicine.

5. How to store Bisocard

Store below 30°C.
Keep in the original packaging to protect from light and moisture.
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 month indicated.
Medicines must not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines you no longer use. This will help protect the environment.

6. Contents of the packaging and other information

What Bisocard contains

• The active substance is bisoprolol fumarate. One coated tablet contains 5 mg of bisoprolol fumarate.
• Other components: monohydrate lactose, maize starch, colloidal anhydrous silica, sodium lauryl sulfate, talc, magnesium stearate. Coating of the coated tablet: hypromellose, polyethylene glycol 400, titanium dioxide (E 171), yellow iron oxide (E 172).

What Bisocard looks like and contents of the pack
Bisocard is a coated tablet.
Light yellow, round, biconvex tablets, with a break line imprinted on one side and the mark "5" on the other side.
This medicine is packed in PVC/Al blisters within a cardboard box.
Pack size:
30 coated tablets.
For more detailed information, please contact the responsible party or parallel importer.
Marketing Authorisation Holder in Slovakia, country of export:
Bausch Health Ireland Limited
3013 Lake Drive, Citywest Business Campus, Dublin 24, D24PPT3, Ireland
Manufacturer:
ICN Polfa Rzeszów S.A.
Przemysłowa 2 Street
35-959 Rzeszów
Poland
Parallel Importer:
Delfarma Sp. z o.o.
Św. Teresy od Dzieciątka Jezus 111 Street
91-222 Łódź
Repackaged in:
Delfarma Sp. z o.o.
Św. Teresy od Dzieciątka Jezus 111 Street
91-222 Łódź
Marketing Authorisation Number in Slovakia, country of export: 41/0366/01-S
Parallel Import Licence Number: 300/20