Concor-T 5 Tablet

Concor-T 5 Tablet – Bisoprolol Fumarate 5 mg + Telmisartan 40 mg by Merck

Concor-T 5 from Merck contains Bisoprolol Fumarate IP 5 mg and Telmisartan IP 40 mg in an uncoated bilayered tablet. Concor is the original bisoprolol brand, and bisoprolol is the most cardioselective of the commonly used beta blockers – it acts on beta-1 receptors in the heart while largely leaving the beta-2 receptors in the airways alone. That selectivity is why it is generally better tolerated by patients with mild airway disease than older beta blockers, though it never makes a beta blocker safe in asthma. Combined with telmisartan, the tablet slows and protects the heart while relaxing the vessels it pumps into. The pack notes these are moisture-sensitive tablets – leave them in the strip until the moment you take one. Strip of 10 tablets. Schedule H prescription medicine.

Key Features

• Bisoprolol Fumarate IP 5 mg + Telmisartan IP 40 mg, uncoated bilayered tablet
• Bisoprolol is the most cardioselective of the common beta blockers
• Slows and protects the heart while relaxing the blood vessels
• Moisture sensitive – keep in the strip until the moment you take it
• Strip of 10 tablets from Merck Ltd.

Composition

• Bisoprolol Fumarate IP – 5.0 mg
• Telmisartan IP – 40 mg
• Colour – Quinoline Yellow Lake. Per uncoated bilayered tablet

Composition as printed on the pack. Refer to the package insert for the complete list of excipients.

Uses & Benefits

• Lowers blood pressure while slowing and steadying the heart
• Bisoprolol is highly cardioselective, so better tolerated than older beta blockers
• Useful where high pressure comes with a fast pulse or angina
• Protects the heart in heart failure and after a heart attack
• Two medicines in one daily tablet
• No dry cough, unlike ACE inhibitor combinations

Directions for Use

• Take one tablet once daily, exactly as prescribed, at the same time each day
• Swallow the tablet whole. Do not crush or chew it, as the pack directs
• Do not remove the tablet from the strip until immediately before taking it – these are moisture sensitive
• Never stop suddenly – the beta blocker must be tapered by your doctor
• Report a very slow pulse, new breathlessness or swollen ankles to your doctor

Precautions

• Stop immediately and contact your doctor if you become pregnant. The pack warns that telmisartan can cause injury and even death to the developing baby when used in the second and third trimesters
• Never stop suddenly. Abruptly stopping a beta blocker can cause chest pain, a surge in blood pressure or a heart attack – it must be tapered by your doctor
• Beta blockers mask the warning signs of low blood sugar – diabetics should monitor more closely
• Not for use in asthma or severe COPD without specialist advice; it can trigger wheezing
• Tell your doctor about a slow heart rate, heart block, severe liver disease or circulation problems in the hands and feet
• Blood tests for kidney function and electrolytes are done before and during treatment

Storage

• Store protected from light and moisture at a temperature not exceeding 30°C, as printed on the pack
• Keep the tablets in the strip until use – they are moisture sensitive
• Keep out of reach of children

Disclaimer

Schedule H prescription drug – not to be sold by retail without the prescription of a Registered Medical Practitioner. This information is for general awareness and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Telmisartan must be stopped as soon as pregnancy is detected; blood pressure treatment must be reviewed regularly by your doctor.