Nadolol

Last Reviewed: Nov 19, 2024

Warnings

Nadolol (Corgard) Risks, Warnings, and Complications

Nadolol can cause or worsen health problems in some people. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other medications for the treatment of high blood pressure and prevention of angina if you are at an increased risk of adverse reactions from this drug. Some of the risks of taking nadolol include:

WORSENING HEART FAILURE: Taking nadolol can lead to worsening symptoms in people with congestive heart failure. Beta-blockers are usually avoided in people with heart failure, but are sometimes used if the heart failure is well controlled on medications such as digitalis and water pills (diuretics).
Continued use of beta blockers such as nadolol can also lead to heart failure in people with no previous history of heart failure. Tell your healthcare professional immediately if you experience difficulty breathing, swelling in your hands or feet, or unusual weight gain.
WORSENING HEART DISEASE AFTER ABRUPT WITHDRAWAL OF NADOLOL: Suddenly stopping nadolol therapy can lead to worsening angina, and in some cases, heart attack. Risk factors include ischemic heart disease (a condition in which the coronary arteries are blocked).
Do not stop treatment with nadolol without consulting your doctor. Your doctor will gradually reduce the dose of nadolol over 1-2 weeks when discontinuing treatment after long-term use. You may need to temporarily restart nadolol if your angina becomes markedly worse or you develop acute coronary insufficiency (sudden reduction in blood flow to the heart) or an irregular heart rate.
BRONCHOSPASM (NARROWING OF THE AIRWAYS): People with bronchospastic diseases (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis, emphysema) should not take beta blockers because these drugs can block the responsiveness of the airways and lead to worsening symptoms.
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH MAJOR SURGERY: Chronic use of beta blockers is not routinely stopped before major surgery; however, it can impair the heart’s ability to respond to certain drugs during surgery. This can increase the risks associated with surgical procedures done using general anesthesia. Tell all your healthcare providers you are on nadolol before any surgical procedure.
DIABETES AND LOW BLOOD SUGAR: Beta blockade can mask the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), such as a fast heartbeat. This can cause serious problems in people with diabetes whose blood sugar levels fluctuate. In addition, beta-blockers also decrease the amount of insulin released in response to high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia). Tell your doctor if you have diabetes and take antidiabetic drugs. Your healthcare provider may need to adjust the dose of your diabetes medicines while you are on nadolol.
THYROID DISORDERS: Beta-blocker drugs can mask the signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism, such as a fast heart rate. Abrupt withdrawal of beta-blockade can trigger a thyroid storm or thyrotoxicosis (very high levels of thyroid hormones). Tell your doctor if you have a history of thyroid disorders before starting treatment with nadolol.

Precautions Before Starting Nadolol (Corgard)

Tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction to nadolol, any of the active or inactive ingredients in nadolol tablets, other beta-blockers, or any other medications. Your pharmacy can give you a list of ingredients.

Give your healthcare provider a complete list of all your other drugs, including prescription medications, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products. This can help avoid possible interactions between nadolol and your other medicines.

Give your healthcare provider a complete medical history. Nadolol may not be safe for people with certain medical conditions such as asthma, COPD, other lung conditions, heart failure, slow or irregular heartbeat, heart disease, heart block, cardiogenic shock, diabetes, kidney disease, kidney failure, blood vessel disease, pheochromocytoma, hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland), or serious allergic reactions.

Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant, could be pregnant, and plan to get pregnant soon. We don’t know for sure if this drug can harm the unborn baby. Also, tell your healthcare provider if you are nursing an infant with breast milk.

Precautions During Use of Nadolol (Corgard)

Keep all your medical and lab appointments while on nadolol. Your doctor may adjust your dose based on your response to the medicine.

Nadolol can cause dizziness and fatigue. Alcohol can make these side effects worse. Be careful while driving, operating machinery, and doing other hazardous activities until you know how nadolol affects you. Get up slowly from a lying or sitting position to standing to prevent falls due to lightheadedness and low blood pressure.

Nadolol can increase the risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and also prevent the warning signs of low blood sugar. Talk to your doctor about adjusting the dose of your diabetes medications. Tell your doctor if you are having problems eating or drinking normally or are vomiting while on nadolol. You should know how to recognize the symptoms of low blood sugar and what to do if it occurs.

If you have allergic reactions to foods or other substances, your reactions can be worse while on nadolol. Also, you may not respond to the usual doses of medications used to treat allergic reactions, such as epinephrine injection.

Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while on nadolol.

Tell all your healthcare providers you are on nadolol before any surgery, including dental procedures.

Nadolol (Corgard) Drug Interactions

Concomitant treatment with nadolol and certain other medicines can affect how the medicines work. Drug interactions can also increase the risk of severe adverse effects. Your doctor may change the dose, switch you to a different medication, and/or monitor you carefully for side effects if there are known interactions between your medications. Some of the medications that can interact with nadolol include:

Other beta-blockers such as atenolol, bisoprolol, labetalol, metoprolol, and others
Calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem and verapamil
Cardiac glycosides such as digoxin
Certain antiparasitic agents such as fexinidazole
Dementia medications such as rivastigmine
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

This list does not include all the potential drug interactions of nadolol. Give your doctor or pharmacist a complete list of your medications. This includes prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, dietary supplements, and herbal remedies. Also, tell your healthcare professional if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use recreational drugs because some of these substances can cause serious health complications when used with prescription medications.

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