General Information
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some of the common questions about Physiotens. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
Please read this leaflet before you start taking Physiotens.
If you are helping someone else take Physiotens, please read this leaflet before you give the first dose.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking Physiotens against the benefits they expect it will have for you. If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with the medication.
You may want to read it again. What Physiotens is used for The name of your medicine is Physiotens, which is also known as moxonidine. Physiotens lowers high blood pressure, which doctors call hypertension. There are usually no symptoms of hypertension. The only way of knowing if you have hypertension is to have your blood pressure checked regularly. If high blood pressure is not treated it can lead to serious health problems, including stroke, heart disease and kidney failure. Physiotens works by interacting with chemical receptors located in the brain known as imidazoline receptors. These receptors control the activity of nerves, which play a role in the control of blood pressure. Physiotens helps to relax the blood vessels and can help decrease your blood pressure if too high. Your doctor may have prescribed Physiotens for another use. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why it has been prescribed for you.
There is no evidence that this medicine is addictive. Before you take Physiotens When you must not take it
Do not take Physiotens if:
you have had an allergic reaction to any of the ingredients listed in the Ingredients section of this leaflet. Signs of allergic reaction may include itchy skin rash, shortness of breath and swelling of the face or tongue.
you are aged 75 years or more.
you have had a heart problem such as heart failure or abnormal rhythm.
you suffer from severe kidney disease.
you are pregnant, or think you may be pregnant.
Do not take it after the expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack.
Do not take it if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
Do not take it if the tablets show any signs of visual deterioration.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have taken Physiotens before and became unwell. There is no specific information available to recommend the use of Physiotens in children under the age of 16 years. Before you start to take Physiotens
Tell your doctor if:
You have allergies to:
any medicine that you have taken previously to treat your high blood pressure
any substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes.
You have, or have had, the following medical conditions:
kidney problems
heart problems
angio-oedema, which is unusual swelling of the face, lips or tongue
leg pains or cramps caused by poor blood circulation
Raynaud's disease (where your fingers go pale and blue and are painful in the cold)
Parkinson's disease (a disease of the nerves which causes uncontrolled shaking and stiffness)
epilepsy
glaucoma (a disease of increased pressure in the eye)
depression
You are pregnant or intend to become pregnant
You are breastfeeding, or plan to breastfeed.
Your doctor will discuss with you the possible risks and benefits of using Physiotens whilst you are breastfeeding. Interactions with other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines including any that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines may affect the way other medicines work. In particular, tell your doctor if you are already taking medicines to lower your blood pressure. These medicines can have an additive effect when used with Physiotens to reduce blood pressure.If your doctor has prescribed another medicine in addition to Physiotens to lower your blood pressure you may need to take different amounts of Physiotens. Tell your doctor if you are taking "tricyclic" medicines (such as imipramine and amitriptyline) since these medicines can also affect blood pressure. Tell your doctor if you are taking any medicines that cause drowsiness or affect alertness eg: sleeping tablets (including benzodiazepines). The sedative effects of these medicines could be enhanced when taken with Physiotens. Your doctor or pharmacist will be able to tell you more about which medicines can be taken with Physiotens. How to take it Follow your doctor's instructions about how and when to take Physiotens.
Read the directions on the label carefully. If you have any concerns about how to take this medicine, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
How much to take
Your doctor or pharmacist will tell you how many tablets to take each day.
The usual starting dose of Physiotens is one 0.2 mg tablet once per day. Depending on how your blood pressure responds after 2 weeks or so, your dosage may be increased by your doctor to 0.4 mg per day, either once or twice daily (taken in the morning and evening) and after a further 2 weeks to 0.6 mg per day. You should not take 0.6 mg as one dose - ask your doctor how to divide your daily dose. How and when to take it
Swallow the tablets with a full glass of water or another liquid.
Do not chew the tablets.
Physiotens tablets can be taken with or without food. Take Physiotens regularly at the same time each day. Taking your medicine at the same time each day will give the best effect. It will also help you to remember when to take your medicine. How long to take it
Take the tablets every day, for as long as your doctor tells you to.
Physiotens helps control high blood pressure, but does not cure it. If you forget to take it
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to. If there is still a long time to go before your next dose, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking it as you would normally.
DO NOT take two doses within 6 hours of each other.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed.
If you have trouble remembering when to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for hints.
If you take too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor, or the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital, if you think you or anyone else may have taken too much Physiotens.
Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
You may need urgent medical attention. If possible, show the doctor the pack of tablets. While you are using it Things you must do
Be sure to keep all your appointments with your doctor so that your progress can be checked.
Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while taking Physiotens.
If you feel light-headed, dizzy or faint when getting out of bed or standing up, get up slowly.
After long periods of rest, anyone getting out of bed or standing up quickly may feel faint or dizzy.This is because it takes time for the body's circulation to adjust to a standing position. Many medicines that reduce blood pressure, including Physiotens, can increase this effect - known as"postural hypotension". If you experience this problem and it gets worse or continues, talk to your doctor. Make sure you drink enough water during exercise and hot weather when you are taking Physiotens, especially if you sweat a lot.
If you do not drink enough water while taking Physiotens, you may faint or feel light-headed or sick. This is because your body does not have enough fluid and your blood pressure is too low. Tell your doctor if you feel unwell. Tell your doctor if you have excessive vomiting and/or diarrhoea while taking Physiotens.
This can also mean that you are losing too much water and your blood pressure may become too low. If you are about to be started on a new medicine, tell your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking Physiotens.
If you plan to have surgery (even at the dentist) that requires a general anaesthetic, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking Physiotens.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Physiotens affects you.
Physiotens may cause drowsiness, dizziness or light-headedness, which may impair the ability to drive or operate machinery. If you have any concerns talk to your doctor or pharmacist. You should avoid drinking alcohol when taking Physiotens as the effect of taking alcohol with Physiotens has not been studied. Ask your doctor for advice. Things you must not do
Do not stop taking Physiotens without checking with your doctor.
Do not give the medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Side effects Physiotens helps most people with high blood pressure, however, like other medicines it may cause some side effects. If they occur, most are likely to be minor and temporary. However, some may be serious and need medical attention. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
dry mouth
headache
lack of energy
dizziness
drowsiness
feeling sick, nausea
problems sleeping
skin flushing
These are more commonly reported side effects of Physiotens, they are usually mild and may ease as treatment continues.
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if you have any problems while taking Physiotens, even if you do not think the problems are connected with the medicine or are not listed in this leaflet.
Like other medicines Physiotens can cause some side effects. If they occur, most are likely to be minor and temporary. However, some may be serious and need medical attention. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:
severe allergic skin reactions (rash, itching, inflamed or reddened skin)
swelling of the limbs
These are rare but serious side effects and may be symptoms of an allergic reaction. Allergy to Physiotens is rare.
If any of the following happens, stop taking Physiotens and tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital:
angio-oedema (unusual swelling of the face, eyes, lips, inside the nose, mouth or throat )
shortness of breath, breathing or swallowing difficulties.
These are very rare but serious side effects and may indicate a severe allergic reaction. Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed above may occur in some consumers. After using it Storage
Keep your tablets in the original pack until it is time to take them.
If you take the tablets out of the blister pack they may not keep well.
Keep the pack in a cool dry place (below 25 °C). Do not store it in the bathroom, near the sink, or on a window sill.
Do not leave it in the car.
Heat and damp can destroy some medicines.
Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines. Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking the tablets, or the tablets have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any that are left over. Return any unused medicine to your pharmacist.
Product description What it looks like
Physiotens 0.2 mg (200 micrograms) tablets - Pale pink, round, biconvex, film-coated tablet, imprinted 0.2 on one side. Packs of 30 tablets. AUST R 114119.
Physiotens 0.4 mg (400 micrograms) tablets -Dull red, round, biconvex, film-coated tablet, imprinted 0.4 on one side. Packs of 30 tablets. AUST R 114121. Ingredients
The active ingredient in Physiotens is moxonidine. The different strength tablets contain either 0.2 mg or 0.4 mg moxonidine.
The excipients in all Physiotens tablets are: lactose, povidone, crospovidone, magnesium stearate, hypromellose, ethylcellulose, macrogol 6000, talc, red ferric oxide and titanium dioxide.
Physiotens tablets do not contain tartrazine or any other azo dyes.
Sponsor Solvay Pharmaceuticals
A division of Solvay Biosciences Pty Ltd.
Level 1 Building 2, 20 Bridge Street
Pymble NSW 2073 Australia
Tel:(02) 944 00 977
Date of leaflet preparation: 16 November 2007
Physiotens is a registered trademark