Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent. The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes Visken (Pindolol). If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of Visken (Pindolol) with your doctor.

The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking Visken (Pindolol). Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time.

Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome. Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects.

• decreased sexual ability
• Diarrhea
• dizziness or lightheadedness
• drowsiness (slight)
• dry, sore eyes
• headache
• nausea
• nightmares and vivid dreams
• numbness or tingling of fingers or toes
• stomach discomfort
• sweating
• tiredness
• tremor
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• vomiting

Although most of these side effects listed below don't happen very often, they could lead to serious problems if you do not check with your doctor or seek medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

• breathing difficulty or wheezing
• cold hands and feet
• dizziness upon getting up from a sitting or lying down position
• hallucinations
• red, scaling, or crusted skin
• shortness of breath
• signs of Depression (e.g., poor concentration, changes in weight, changes in sleep, decreased interest in activities, thoughts of suicide)
• slow heartbeat (especially less than 50 beats per minute)
• swelling of ankles, feet, or lower legs
• symptoms of irregular heartbeat (e.g., chest pain, dizziness, rapid, pounding heartbeat, shortness of breath)

Stop taking the medication and seek immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:

• signs of heart problems (e.g., abnormally slow heartbeat, irregular heartbeat, sudden chest pain, difficulty breathing, tiredness with activity, swelling of feet, ankles, or lower legs)
• symptoms of a serious allergic reaction (e.g., swelling of the face or throat, Hives, or difficulty breathing)

Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking Visken (Pindolol).

5 mg
Each whitish, compressed tablet, 7 mm diameter, slope-faced and bisected with "LB" embossed on one side, and flat-faced, bevelled edge, with "VISKEN* 5" embossed on the other side, contains 5 mg of Visken (Pindolol). Nonmedicinal ingredients: starch, cellulose microcrystalline, pregelatinized starch, magnesium stearate, and silica colloidal anhydrous.

10 mg
Each whitish, compressed tablet, 8 mm diameter, slope-faced and bisected on one side, and flat-faced, bevelled edge, with "VISKEN* 10" embossed on the other side, contains 10 mg of Visken (Pindolol). Nonmedicinal ingredients: starch, cellulose microcrystalline, pregelatinized starch, magnesium stearate, and silica colloidal anhydrous.

15 mg
Each whitish, compressed tablet, 9 mm diameter, slope-faced and bisected with "JU" embossed on one side, and flat-faced, bevelled edge, with "VISKEN* 15" embossed on the other side, contains 15 mg of Visken (Pindolol). Nonmedicinal ingredients: starch, cellulose microcrystalline, pregelatinized starch, magnesium stearate, and silica colloidal anhydrous.

Do not take Visken (Pindolol) if you:

• are allergic to Visken (Pindolol) or to any of the ingredients of the medication
• are receiving or will receive anesthesia (e.g., ether)
• have right ventricular failure caused by pulmonary hypertension (excessive blood pressure in the lungs)
• have a serious heart block
• have an irregular or severely slow heart rate
• have a severe circulatory disturbance
• have Asthma or other obstructive respiratory diseases
• have Congestive Heart Failure
• have had cardiogenic shock
• have untreated pheochromocytoma
• have Prinzmetal’s angina
• have sick sinus syndrome

There may be an interaction between Visken (Pindolol) and any of the following:

• alpha-agonists (e.g., Clonidine, methyldopa)
• alpha-blockers (e.g., Alfuzosin, Doxazosin, Silodosin, Tamsulosin)
• Aldesleukin
• Aliskiren
• Amiodarone
• amphetamines (e.g., Dextroamphetamine, Lisdexamfetamine)
• angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs; Captopril, Enalapril, Ramipril)
• angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs; e.g., Candesartan, Irbesartan, Losartan)
• antipsychotics (e.g., Chlorpromazine, Clozapine, Haloperidol, Olanzapine, Quetiapine, Risperidone)
• barbiturates (e.g., butalbital, Phenobarbital)
• beta-2 agonists (e.g., formoterol, salmeterol, salbutamol)
• Bethanechol
• Bortezomib
• brimonidine
• Bromocriptine
• calcium channel blocking agents (e.g., Diltiazem, Nifedipine, Verapamil)
• chloroquine
• Cimetidine
• conivaptan
• diabetes medications (e.g., insulin, Metformin, Glyburide)
• Digoxin
• Dipyridamole
• Disopyramide
• diuretics (water pills; e.g., Furosemide, Hydrochlorothiazide, triamterene)
• Donepezil
• Dronedarone
• Duloxetine
• epinephrine
• ergot products (e.g., ergotamine, ergonovine)
• Fentanyl
• Fingolimod
• Flecainide
• Galantamine
• grass pollen extract
• Guanfacine
• hydroxychloroquine
• Lanreotide
• levodopa
• Mefloquine
• Methylphenidate
• monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors (e.g., Moclobemide, Tranylcypromine, Phenelzine) taken within the past 2 weeks
• Morphine
• nitrates (e.g., Nitroglycerin, isosorbide dinitrate, isosorbide mononitrate)
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs; e.g., Naproxen, Ibuprofen)
• other beta-blockers (e.g., Propranolol, Metoprolol)
• Octreotide
• Pasireotide
• Pentoxifylline
• phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (e.g., Sildenafil, Tadalafil, Vardenafil)
• procainamide
• Propafenone
• quinidine
• quinine
• reserpine
• rifabutin
• rifampin
• Riociguat
• Rivastigmine
• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI; e.g., Fluoxetine, Paroxetine, Sertraline)
• theophyllines (e.g., Theophylline, Aminophylline)
• Tizanidine
• Tofacitinib
• tolcapone

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with Visken (Pindolol). Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the Nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or Allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use Visken (Pindolol).

Breathing problems: People with asthma and certain other breathing problems should, in general, not take a beta-blocker such as Visken (Pindolol). If you have these types of conditions and your doctor prescribed Visken (Pindolol) for you, it may be at a lower dose, and your doctor will monitor you regularly while you are taking Visken (Pindolol).

Congestive heart failure (CHF): Visken (Pindolol) may make heart failure worse. If you have CHF, discuss with your doctor how Visken (Pindolol) may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Visken (Pindolol), and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Diabetes: The signs of low blood sugar may not be as noticeable when taking Visken (Pindolol). If you have diabetes and take insulin or another medication that works by reducing the sugar in the blood, be cautious and monitor your blood sugar carefully while taking Visken (Pindolol).

Drowsiness/reduced alertness: Dizziness or fatigue may occur when starting treatment with Visken (Pindolol). This may impair your ability to drive or operate machinery. Exercise caution with these activities until you find out whether the medication affects you in this way.

Hyperthyroidism (high level of Thyroid hormones): Visken (Pindolol) may mask symptoms of high levels of thyroid in the body. People with hyperthyroidism should be cautious while taking Visken (Pindolol), as it may reduce the symptoms of this condition giving a false impression of improvement. Stopping Visken (Pindolol) suddenly could worsen this condition.

Liver disease: Liver disease or reduced liver function may cause Visken (Pindolol) to build up in the body, causing side effects. If you have liver problems, discuss with your doctor how Visken (Pindolol) may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Visken (Pindolol), and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Low Blood Pressure: Occasionally, blood pressure may drop too low after taking Visken (Pindolol), causing dizziness or lightheadedness. Move slowly when moving from a lying down or sitting position to a standing position to prevent dizziness, especially when you first start taking Visken (Pindolol).

Psoriasis: Visken (Pindolol) and other beta-blockers may aggravate or worsen psoriasis. If you have psoriasis, discuss with your doctor how Visken (Pindolol) may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Visken (Pindolol), and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Severe allergies: People with allergies severe enough to cause Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction) (a severe allergic reaction where swelling of the face, lips, and throat makes it difficult to breathe) should talk to their doctor about what to do if they have an allergic reaction. Visken (Pindolol) may make it more difficult to treat their allergic reaction with Epinephrine.

Skin conditions: Various skin rashes and dry eyes have been reported with use of Visken (Pindolol).

Stopping usage: Visken (Pindolol) should not be stopped suddenly by those who are taking it to treat angina. There have been reports of severe worsening of angina, and of Heart Attack or abnormal heart rhythms occurring in people with angina who have stopped Visken (Pindolol) abruptly.

Surgery: If you are scheduled for surgery, inform all doctors involved in your care that you are taking Visken (Pindolol).

Pregnancy: The safety of Visken (Pindolol) for use by pregnant women has not been established. It should not be taken by pregnant women unless the benefits outweigh the risks. If you become pregnant while taking Visken (Pindolol), contact your doctor immediately.

Breast-feeding: Visken (Pindolol) passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking Visken (Pindolol), it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.

Children: The safety and effectiveness of using Visken (Pindolol) have not been established for children.