Esmolol

What it is used for

Esmolol hydrochloride injection is a beta adrenergic blocker indicated for the short-term treatment of: Control of ventricular rate in supraventricular tachycardia including atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter and control of heart rate in noncompensatory sinus tachycardia Control of perioperative tachycardia and hypertension 1.1 Supraventricular Tachycardia or Noncompensatory Sinus Tachycardia Esmolol hydrochloride injection is indicated for the rapid control of ventricular rate in patients with atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter in perioperative, postoperative, or other emergent circumstances where short term control of ventricular rate with a short-acting agent is desirable.

Esmolol hydrochloride injection is also indicated in noncompensatory sinus tachycardia where, in the physician’s judgment, the rapid heart rate requires specific intervention. Esmolol hydrochloride injection is intended for short-term use. Intraoperative and Postoperative Tachycardia and/or Hypertension Esmolol hydrochloride injection is indicated for the short-term treatment of tachycardia and hypertension that occur during induction and tracheal intubation, during surgery, on emergence from anesthesia and in the postoperative period, when in the physician’s judgment such specific intervention is considered indicated.

Use of esmolol hydrochloride injection to prevent such events is not recommended.

Who should not take it

Esmolol hydrochloride in sodium chloride injection is contraindicated in patients with:

• Severe sinus bradycardia: May precipitate or worsen bradycardia resulting in cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrest.
• Heart block greater than first degree: Second- or third-degree atrioventricular block may precipitate or worsen bradycardia resulting in cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrest.
• Sick sinus syndrome: May precipitate or worsen bradycardia resulting in cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrest.
• Decompensated heart failure: May worsen heart failure.
• Cardiogenic shock: May precipitate further cardiovascular collapse and cause cardiac arrest.
• Intravenous administration of cardiodepressant calcium-channel antagonists (e.g., verapamil) and esmolol hydrochloride in sodium chloride injection in close proximity (i.e. while cardiac effects from the other are still present); fatal cardiac arrests have occurred in patients receiving esmolol hydrochloride in sodium chloride injection and intravenous verapamil.
• Pulmonary hypertension: May precipitate cardiorespiratory compromise.
• Hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, to esmolol or any of the inactive ingredients of the product (cross-sensitivity between beta blockers is possible).

Other medicines and interactions

Concomitant use of esmolol hydrochloride in sodium chloride injection with other drugs that can lower blood pressure, reduce myocardial contractility, or interfere with sinus node function or electrical impulse propagation in the myocardium can exaggerate esmolol hydrochloride in sodium chloride injection’s effects on blood pressure, contractility and impulse propagation. Severe interactions with such drugs can result in, for example, severe hypotension, cardiac failure, severe bradycardia, sinus pause, sinoatrial block, atrioventricular block and/or cardiac arrest. In addition, with some drugs, beta blockade may precipitate increased withdrawal effects (see clonidine, guanfacine and moxonidine below). Esmolol hydrochloride in sodium chloride injection should therefore be used only after careful individual assessment of the risks and expected benefits in patients receiving drugs that can cause these types of pharmacodynamic interactions, including but not limited to:

• Digitalis glycosides: Concomitant administration of digoxin and esmolol hydrochloride in sodium chloride injection leads to an approximate 10% to 20% increase of digoxin blood levels at some time points. Digoxin does not affect esmolol hydrochloride in sodium chloride injection pharmacokinetics. Both digoxin and beta blockers slow atrioventricular conduction and decrease heart rate. Concomitant use increases the risk of bradycardia.
• Anticholinesterases: Esmolol hydrochloride in sodium chloride injection prolonged the duration of succinylcholine-induced neuromuscular blockade and moderately prolonged clinical duration and recovery index of mivacurium.
• Antihypertensive agents clonidine, guanfacine, or moxonidine: Beta blockers also increase the risk of clonidine-, guanfacine-, or moxonidine-withdrawal rebound hypertension. If, during concomitant use of a beta blocker, antihypertensive therapy needs to be interrupted or discontinued, discontinue the beta blocker first, and the discontinuation should be gradual.
• Calcium channel antagonists: In patients with depressed myocardial function, use of esmolol hydrochloride in sodium chloride injection with cardiodepressant calcium channel antagonists (e.g., verapamil) can lead to fatal cardiac arrests.
• Sympathomimetic drugs: Sympathomimetic drugs having beta-adrenergic agonist activity will counteract effects of esmolol hydrochloride in sodium chloride injection.
• Vasoconstrictive and positive inotropic agents: Because of the risk of reducing cardiac contractility in presence of high systemic vascular resistance, do not use esmolol hydrochloride in sodium chloride injection to control tachycardia in patients receiving drugs that are vasoconstrictive and have positive inotropic effects, such as epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine.