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Pindolol
Brand Name: Visken
Overview
Pindolol, also known by the brand name Visken, is a beta-blocker usually
used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Pindolol also blocks
certain serotonin (5-HT1A) autoreceptors increasing the available serotonin
in the brain which makes it useful as an augmentation to Selective Serotonin
Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) and Monoamine Oxidase (MAO) Inhibitor
antidepressants.
Why
is this drug prescribed?
Pindolol’s psychiatric use is as a supplement to Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and Monoamine Oxidase (MAO) Inhibitors to increase their effectiveness in treating depression.
Pindolol is also used to treat:
- Mild to moderate hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Angina (chest pain)
- Heart attack (preventative)
- Fibromyalgia (FM)
Warnings
and Precautions
For Pregnant or Nursing Mothers: Pindolol has caused harm to the fetus in
animal studies, and is not recommended during pregnancy. Pindolol passes
into breast milk.
Contraindications
Pindolol should Not be used for people with the following medical conditions:
- An allergy to Pindolol
- Very low blood pressure
Precautions
Pindolol may be used with caution in people with the following conditions:
- Diabetes, especially insulin-dependent diabetes – Pindolol may hide the signs of low blood sugar
- Liver disease
- Kidney disease
- Allergies, including hay fever
- Bronchitis
- Emphysema
- heart disease
- blood vessel disease
- mental depression
- myasthenia gravis (a disease of muscle weakness)
- psoriasis
- hyperthyroidism
Adverse
Reactions
Pindolol may cause the following reactions:
- Dizziness (due to lowered blood pressure)
- Somewhat slower heart rate (a desirable effect when used to treat hypertension)
- Fatigue
- Nervousness
- Weakness
- Drowsiness
- Insomnia
- Edema (localized swelling or fluid retention)
- Joint pain
- Muscle cramps
- Nausea
- Decreased libido and sexual ability
Interactions
with Drugs and Other Substances
Drugs or substances that may interact with Pindolol include:
- Catecholamine-depleting drugs (e.g. reserpine) – these drugs may increase Pindolol’s blood pressure reducing effects, the additive effect must be closely monitored.
- Thioridazine – Pindolol may increase blood serum levels of this medication.
- Alcohol – may react with Pindolol and cause further lowering of blood pressure.
- Allergy shots
- Theophylline derivatives
- Caffeine
- Oral antidiabetics
- Insulin
- Calcium channel blockers
- Clonidine
- Guanabenz
- Ginseng, ephedra (Ma huang), forskolin, garlic, hawthorn, licorice, and potassium – when taken as supplements (rather than the amounts that might be found in food) these may alter the effectiveness of Pindolol, especially in treating hypertension.
Sources
http://www.pindolol.com
http://www.biopsychiatry.com/buspfast.htm
http://www.priory.com/pindolol.htm
http://www.wholehealthmd.com/refshelf/drugs_interact/1,1748,504,00.html
http://www.proactivehealth.com/Drug/DrugData.asp?ID=110
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/ncdeu/abstracts2002/ncdeu3067.cfm
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