Nadolol

What is nadolol?

Nadolol is a medication used to lower blood pressure. It may also be used to treat certain heart conditions or infantile hemangiomas (non-cancerous growths in babies).

You may hear nadolol called by its brand name, Apo-Nadol. Nadolol comes in tablet form. Certain pharmacies can also make nadolol as a liquid.

Before giving nadolol to your child

Tell the doctor or pharmacist if your child:

• is allergic to nadolol

Talk with the doctor or pharmacist if your child is less than one month old or has any of the following conditions. Precautions may need to be taken with this medicine if your child has:

• congenital heart disease, heart failure, heart block or heart rhythm problems
• breathing problems such as asthma, bronchitis or emphysema
• diabetes
• overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
• low blood sugar
• kidney disease
• constipation

How should you give your child nadolol?

• Give nadolol exactly as the doctor or pharmacist tells you to do, even if your child seems better.
• Talk to your child's doctor before you stop giving this medicine for any reason. Your child may become ill if they stop taking this medicine suddenly.
• Nadolol has to be given twice a day, and ideally around the same time or one to two hours outside the expected time.
• Nadolol may be given with or without food. If it causes an upset stomach, give it with food.
• If your child has persistent vomiting and is not taking any food or liquid, do not give the medication. Call the clinic and/or see your doctor.
• If your child is taking liquid nadolol, shake the bottle well before you give your child the medicine for each dose.
• Double check the volume before giving the medication to your child.
• Measure the liquid dose with the special spoon or syringe that the pharmacist gave you.

What should you do if your child misses a dose of nadolol?

• Give the missed dose as soon as you remember.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose. Give the next dose at the regular time.
• Do not give your child two doses to make up for one missed dose.
• If your child vomits (throws up) right after you give the medication, give the full dose again.
• If your child vomits 15–20 minutes after taking nadolol, give only half a dose.

How long does nadolol take to work?

It may take up to several weeks before nadolol takes its full effect.

What are the possible side effects of nadolol?

Your child may have some of these side effects while they take nadolol. Check with your child's doctor if your child continues to have any of these side effects and they do not go away, or they bother your child:

• dizziness
• feeling tired, sleepy, or weak
• stomach pain
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• sleep disturbance

Most of the following side effects are not common, but they may be a sign of a serious problem. Call your child's doctor right away or take your child to Emergency if your child has any of these side effects:

• trouble breathing and/or wheezing
• blue spells
• shortness of breath
• change in heartbeat: faster, slower or uneven heartbeat
• chest pain
• severe dizziness
• swelling of face, lips, tongue or throat
• paleness or cold feeling in fingertips and toes
• abnormal movements or suspected seizure
• drop in blood sugar, which may cause unusual tiredness, sleepiness or weakness, or your child may be difficult to rouse from sleep

Notify your doctor if your child does not pass a bowel movement for more than three days (or is more constipated than normal) or if any of the following are present:

• decreased eating or drinking
• vomiting
• wheezing

What safety measures should you take when your child is using nadolol?

Before your child has any medical tests, emergency treatment, or surgery (including dental surgery), tell the doctor or dentist that they are taking nadolol.

Keep all appointments at the clinic or doctor's office so that the doctor can check your child's reaction to nadolol. The doctor may need to change the dose so that your child is getting the right amount.

This medicine may make your child dizzy, drowsy or less alert than normal. Watch carefully when your child is doing something that they need to be alert for, such as climbing stairs. Your child's teacher should also know that they are taking medication with these effects.

This medicine may cause dizziness. To help avoid this, your child should get out of bed or get up from a sitting position slowly. Your child should sit down or lie down if they feel dizzy.

Constipation may lead to excessively high drug levels of nadolol in the body. Monitor your child's stool patterns closely and contact your doctor if your child has not had a bowel movement in three days.

If your child is diabetic, nadolol may cause changes in blood sugar levels. Also, this medicine may cover up signs of low blood sugar levels, such as a fast heart rate. Check with your doctor if you notice a change in the results of your child's blood or urine sugar tests.

Give infants the medication at the same time as one of their feeds to prevent drops in blood sugar.

If your child could get pregnant, she should use some kind of birth control while taking nadolol. Tell your doctor right away if your child may be pregnant.

Check with your child's doctor or pharmacist before giving your child any other medicines (prescription, non-prescription, herbal or natural products). Examples of medicines that may interfere with nadolol, or may increase blood pressure, are:

• asthma medicines
• cold and cough medicines
• allergy medicine
• appetite control or diet pills

Your child should wear a MedicAlert bracelet or necklace and carry a wallet card that says they are taking nadolol.

What other important information should you know about nadolol?

• Nadolol will not cure high blood pressure, but it will help control it.
• Keep a list of all medications your child is on and show the list to the doctor or pharmacist.
• Do not share your child's medicine with others. Do not give anyone else's medicine to your child.
• Make sure you always have enough nadolol to last through weekends, holidays and vacations. Call your pharmacy at least two days before your child runs out of medicine to order refills.
• Nadolol liquid must be made by a pharmacy. Make sure your pharmacy is able to make nadolol for your child.
• Keep nadolol tablets and liquid at room temperature in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Do NOT store it in the bathroom or kitchen.
• Do not keep any medicines that are out of date. Check with your pharmacist about the best way to throw away outdated or leftover medicines.
  

Keep nadolol out of your child’s sight and reach and locked up in a safe place. If your child takes too much nadolol, call your local Poison Information Centre at one of these numbers. These calls are free. 

• Call 1-844 POISON-X, or 1-844-764-7669, from anywhere in Canada except Quebec.
• Call 1-800-463-5060 if you live in Quebec.