Celiprolol
beta-blocker
Our referenceBy the Layer Nutrition editorial team · How the atlas classifies the 664 molecules
What this medicine is for
Celiprolol is a medicine in the category "beta-blocker". Beta-blockers slow and relieve the heart and lower blood pressure. They are never stopped abruptly.
For Celiprolol in practice: Slows the heart and lowers blood pressure. It is generally taken over the long term, within regular monitoring, and is not stopped on your own initiative.
Under which brands it is found
Celiprolol is found in about 10 presentations listed in France. It comes under various trade names and in generic form.
- Celectol
- Celiprolol Arrow
- Celiprolol Biogaran
- Celiprolol Cristers
- Celiprolol Eg
- Celiprolol Evolugen
- Celiprolol Sandoz
- Celiprolol Teva
- and other presentations
Generics and the original brand are equivalent for the active substance; only the appearance, the name or the excipients may differ.
Our product for this treatment
You take Celiprolol. For people who follow this type of treatment every day, we have designed a dedicated product.
Layer Nutrition Beta-Blockers
Melatonin helps you fall asleep faster. Magnesium and vitamin B6 help you reduce tiredness during the day.
- Contributes to the reduction of time taken to fall asleep (melatonin 1 mg, at bedtime)
- Contributes to the reduction of tiredness (magnesium, vitamin B6)
- Contributes to normal muscle function and to the normal functioning of the nervous system (magnesium)
Melatonin 1 mg · Magnesium 100 mg · B6 1.4 mg
One bottle, one dose per day. Reduced price from the second box, free delivery from two boxes.
How celiprolol works
Celiprolol belongs to the beta-blocker family, and more precisely to the group known as cardioselective beta-blockers. It blocks the beta-1 receptors, located mainly in the heart, which govern cardiac activity. By occupying them, it slows the heart rate and reduces the force of contraction of the heart muscle, two effects that lower the heart's demand for oxygen. Pharmacologically, it also acts as a partial agonist at beta-2 receptors and as a weak antagonist at alpha-2 receptors.
This beta-2 component sets it apart from many other beta-blockers: by partially stimulating these receptors, it produces a slight vasodilation, meaning a relaxation of the vessel wall. The heart pumps less forcefully and the arteries offer less resistance, so blood pressure falls. This dual effect, on cardiac output and on the calibre of the vessels, explains its value in blood pressure control.
Why it is prescribed
The approved indication of celiprolol is the management of mild to moderate arterial hypertension. Persistently elevated pressure strains the heart and damages the arterial wall, which raises the risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney injury. By reducing both the workload of the heart and the resistance of the vessels, the medicine brings pressure back toward safer values and eases this constant strain. This is its common and validated use.
Beyond this indication, celiprolol is being studied off-label in vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a rare disease of the vessel wall. It is thought to bring a benefit there by supporting normal synthesis of collagen, the protein that gives this wall its strength. This avenue belongs to the field of research and is not part of routine prescribing.
How to take it day to day
The usual dose is 200 mg once a day, sometimes raised to 400 mg. The tablet is best taken in the morning, 30 minutes before a meal or 2 hours after. This timing has a precise reason: the amount of medicine actually absorbed, between 30 and 70 percent of the dose, falls when it is swallowed during a meal. Taking it well away from food therefore protects its effectiveness.
The half-life of celiprolol in the blood is short, on the order of 5 to 6 hours, but its action on the heart and vessels lasts at least 24 hours. A single daily dose thus covers the whole day. Regularity matters more than the exact time: pairing the tablet with a fixed morning routine helps you not to forget it. Treatment for hypertension should not be stopped on your own initiative, and any change is decided with the doctor.
The effects to know about
Several effects reach at least one person in a hundred. The most frequent are headaches, dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, a skin rash, hot flushes, a drop in pressure on standing up (orthostatic hypotension), erectile dysfunction, a depressive state and muscle cramps. Many ease off after the first few weeks, once the body adapts to the slowing of the heart.
Other effects remain rarer. Uncommonly, insomnia, palpitations, shortness of breath, cold extremities and joint pain are described; more rarely, a marked slowing of the heart (bradycardia), heart failure or bronchospasm. The frequency is not established for variations in blood sugar, whether upward or downward. Like other beta-blockers, celiprolol can dampen the warning signs of hypoglycaemia, in particular the quickening of the heart, a point that deserves attention in people with diabetes.
On the plate
Among the common effects are muscle cramps. Magnesium takes part in the normal working of the muscles, and the plate provides it through spinach, almonds, pumpkin seeds, legumes and dark chocolate. A varied diet that gives a regular place to these foods covers a good part of the daily needs for this mineral.
A practical point concerns citrus fruits: orange juice strongly reduces the absorption of celiprolol, by about 90 percent, by blocking an intestinal transporter that brings the medicine into the body. It is therefore better to space the glass of juice well apart from taking the tablet. Food provides magnesium, but the amounts vary a great deal from one day and one plate to the next; a targeted intake, in addition to your treatment and never in its place, helps you aim for a steady dose.
Interactions and monitoring
Some combinations call for caution. Celiprolol does not readily combine with verapamil or diltiazem, two heart medicines, because the risk of conduction block and weakened contraction becomes too high. Digoxin can lengthen the conduction time between the atria and the ventricles. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs reduce its effect on pressure, and thiazide diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide lower the amount of medicine absorbed. With antidiabetic drugs, it can strengthen the fall in blood sugar while masking its signals.
Monitoring beta-blocker treatment rests on two simple and regular measurements: heart rate and blood pressure. They show whether the dose is well adjusted and whether the heart is not slowed too much. Celiprolol shows a notable feature here: unlike some non-selective beta-blockers, it has not shown an unfavourable effect on blood fats. This monitoring is carried out with the doctor, who adapts the treatment over time.
Sources
Related molecules
To explore in the « Heart and blood pressure » family and its neighbours.
See the whole « Heart and blood pressure » family · Back to the atlas
Frequently asked questions
What is celiprolol used for?
Celiprolol is a cardioselective beta-blocker used for high blood pressure and angina (chest pain). To find out which indication applies to you, refer to the patient leaflet and to your doctor or pharmacist.
What are the side effects of celiprolol?
The patient leaflet lists side effects such as tiredness, dizziness, headaches, cold hands and feet, and a slowing of the heartbeat. This list is not exhaustive: read the full leaflet and report any troublesome effect to your doctor or pharmacist.
When and how should you take celiprolol?
According to the patient leaflet, it is preferably taken in the morning, away from meals. The exact regimen and timing are set by your doctor: follow their prescription and the leaflet, and never adjust them yourself.
Does celiprolol have any drug interactions?
Its patient leaflet notes contraindications (floctafenine, sultopride) and combinations to avoid such as amiodarone and certain calcium channel blockers (bepridil, diltiazem, verapamil). Tell your doctor or pharmacist about all your medicines, including over-the-counter ones.
Does celiprolol mask the warning signs of low blood sugar?
Like other beta-blockers, celiprolol can blunt some of the warning signs of low blood sugar such as palpitations, a racing heart and sweating. This is worth knowing, particularly if you have diabetes: discuss it with your doctor or pharmacist.
Can you take celiprolol during pregnancy or breastfeeding?
The patient leaflet advises caution: use during pregnancy is a medical decision, and monitoring of the newborn may be needed in late pregnancy. For breastfeeding, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking it.
Can you drink alcohol while taking celiprolol?
Alcohol can increase some of the effects of medicines that lower blood pressure. For your specific situation, refer to the patient leaflet and to the advice of your doctor or pharmacist.
How do you stop taking celiprolol?
The patient leaflet states that treatment should not be stopped abruptly, but reduced gradually, especially if you have heart disease. Any stopping or adjustment must be decided with your doctor.
Are generic and brand-name celiprolol the same thing?
Celiprolol is the active substance, available as several generics named after the manufacturer (Biogaran, Teva, Viatris, Arrow, EG, etc.). For any question about equivalence, speak to your pharmacist.
Can celiprolol disrupt your sleep?
A study (Stoschitzky et al., 1999) observed that beta-blockers lower the night-time secretion of melatonin, the hormone that supports falling asleep. Research thus links this class of medicines to sometimes more fragile nights, without celiprolol being held as the sole cause.
Why combine melatonin and magnesium when taking a beta-blocker?
Since research links beta-blockers to a drop in night-time melatonin (Stoschitzky et al., 1999), melatonin is the first thing to consider, alongside magnesium, which is involved in its synthesis. This is the focus of our BB01 reference, designed for this class.
Which form of magnesium is best with a beta-blocker?
For magnesium, a form that is gentle on digestion such as bisglycinate is preferred over oxide. This is the form used in BB01, combined with melatonin, to support the sleep of people taking a beta-blocker.
Ces réponses portent sur le volet nutritionnel. Pour toute question sur votre médicament, la notice et votre médecin ou pharmacien font foi.