Bilkate 5 Dosage/Direction for Use

Posology: Hypertension: Adults: The dose is one tablet (5 mg) daily, preferably at the same time of the day.
The blood pressure lowering effect becomes evident after 1-2 weeks of treatment. Occasionally, the optimal effect is reached only after 4 weeks.
Combination with other antihypertensive agents: Beta-blockers can be used alone or concomitantly with other antihypertensive agents. Till date, an additional antihypertensive effect has been observed only when Nebivolol 5 mg is combined with Hydrochlorothiazide 12.5-25 mg.
Patients with renal insufficiency: In patients with renal insufficiency, the recommended starting dose is 2.5 mg daily. If needed, the daily dose may be increase to 5 mg.
Patients with hepatic insufficiency: Data in patients with hepatic insufficiency or impaired liver function are limited. Therefore, the use of Nebivolol in these patients is contraindicated.
Older people: In patients over 65 years, the recommended starting dose is 2.5 mg daily. If needed, the daily dose may be increased to 5 mg. However, in view of the limited experience in patients above 75 years, caution must be exercised and these patients monitored closely.
Pediatric population: The efficacy and safety of Nebivolol in children and adolescents aged below 18 years has not been established. No data are available. Therefore, use in children and adolescents is not recommended.
Chronic heart failure (CHF): The treatment of stable chronic heart failure has to be initiated with a gradual up-titration of dosage until the optimal individual maintenance dose is reached. Patients should have stable chronic heart failure without acute failure during the past six weeks. It is recommended that the treating physician should be experienced in the management of chronic heart failure. For those patients receiving cardiovascular drug therapy including diuretics and/or Digoxin and/or ACE inhibitors and/or angiotensin II antagonists, dosing of these drugs should be stabilized during the past two weeks prior to initiation of Nebivolol treatment.
The initial up-titration should be done according to the following steps at 1-2 weekly intervals based on patient tolerability: 1.25 mg Nebivolol, to be increased to 2.5 mg Nebivolol once daily, then to 5 mg once daily and then to 10 mg once daily. The maximum recommended dose is 10 mg Nebivolol once daily.
Initiation of therapy and every dose increase should be done under the supervision of an experienced physician over a period of at least 2 hours to ensure that the clinical status (especially as regards blood pressure, heart rate, conduction disturbances, signs of worsening of heart failure) remains stable. Occurrence of adverse events may prevent all patients being treated with the maximum recommended dose. If necessary, the dose reached can also be decreased step by step and reintroduced as appropriate. During the titration phase, in case of worsening of the heart failure or intolerance, it is recommended first to reduce the dose of Nebivolol, or to stop it immediately if necessary (in case of severe hypotension, worsening of heart failure with acute pulmonary edema, cardiogenic shock, symptomatic bradycardia or AV block). Treatment of stable chronic heart failure with Nebivolol is generally a long-term treatment. The treatment with Nebivolol is not recommended to be stopped abruptly since this might lead to a transitory worsening of heart failure. If discontinuation is necessary, the dose should be gradually decreased divided into halves weekly.
Patients with renal insufficiency: No dose adjustment is required in mild to moderate renal insufficiency since up-titration to the maximum tolerated dose is individually adjusted. There is no experience in patients with severe renal insufficiency (serum creatinine ≥250 μmol/L). Therefore, the use of Nebivolol in these patients is not recommended.
Patients with hepatic insufficiency: Data in patients with hepatic insufficiency are limited. Therefore the use of Nebivolol in these patients is contraindicated.
Older people: No dose adjustment is required since up-titration to the maximum tolerated dose is individually adjusted.
Pediatric population: The efficacy and safety of Nebivolol in children and adolescents aged below 18 years has not been established. No data are available. Therefore, use in children and adolescents is not recommended.
Method of administration: Oral.
Tablets may be taken with meals.