Ivabradine [Lancora™]
Ivabradine [Lancora™] is a medication used mainly in the treatment of certain forms of heart failure.
This medication acts directly on the heart’s natural electrical activity by slowing the heart rate. In some patients with heart failure, a heart rate that is too fast can increase the workload on the heart and contribute to worsening symptoms.
By reducing the heart rate, ivabradine may:
- reduce the workload on the heart
- improve certain symptoms
- decrease the risk of hospitalization related to heart failure in selected patients
This treatment is generally used in patients who continue to have an elevated heart rate despite already optimized medical therapy.
Ivabradine is usually taken twice daily.
Possible side effects
The most common side effects are mainly related to the slowing of the heart rate, including:
- dizziness
- fatigue
- a feeling of weakness
- a slower-than-expected pulseThe pulse is the sensation of beating that one feels by applying slight pressure on an artery, usually at the wrist or neck. It corresponds to the blood flow pulsated by the heart through the arteries with
Some individuals may also experience temporary visual phenomena called phosphenes. These are often described as:
- bright flashes
- halos
- sensations of visual flickering
These symptoms usually occur intermittently, especially during sudden changes in light intensity. They are generally not dangerous but may be bothersome.
Caution is therefore recommended, particularly when driving or operating machinery.
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