Vasotrim

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Medically reviewed

Marina Burgos

Last updated on 10/01/2026

This page provides general, reference-level information compiled from official medical sources. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For decisions about your health, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Overview of Vasotrim

Property Description
Active ingredient Trimetazidine dihydrochloride
Form Modified-release tablet, extended-release capsule (Oral)
Pharmacological class Anti-anginal, Metabolic Agent
Common use Enhancing cardiac energy efficiency
Origin Synthetic chemical compound

The Pharmacological Identity of Vasotrim (Trimetazidine)

Vasotrim is a pharmaceutical preparation whose single active ingredient is Trimetazidine dihydrochloride, a synthetic compound classified chemically as a piperazine derivative. It is designated as an anti-anginal agent but operates distinctly as a metabolic agent with cytoprotective properties. This classification confirms that its primary action is to influence the biochemical energy production within heart muscle cells, which differentiates it from medications that primarily modify systemic blood flow or heart rate.

Composition and Available Pharmaceutical Forms

This medicine is a single-ingredient product of synthetic origin intended for oral administration. The Trimetazidine core is typically formulated into a modified-release tablet or an extended-release capsule (ER). This specific dosage form is a key differentiating feature, as pharmacological studies confirm the necessity of sustained delivery for Trimetazidine to maintain consistent metabolic support. These compounds are recognized for their role in protecting myocardial tissue during reduced blood flow.

General Function: Metabolic Agent and Cytoprotector

The overall purpose of the Trimetazidine in Vasotrim is to act as an oxygen-sparing and metabolic regulator. This is achieved by promoting a metabolic shift where heart cells preferentially use glucose for energy, a more efficient pathway than fatty acid oxidation, especially when oxygen availability is limited. Within this metabolic framework, Trimetazidine improves the efficiency of energy use in the heart. This indicates that the medicine provides cytoprotection, which helps the cardiac cells maintain their energetic balance and functional resilience.

What side effects are possible with Vasotrim?

Possible Side Effects and Safety Information

The safety profile for Trimetazidine (Vasotrim) is formally documented in government regulatory texts, detailing adverse reactions by frequency and physiological system. This information is organized to provide a clear regulatory understanding of the medicine's risks.

Official Classification of Adverse Reactions

The most commonly listed adverse effects are primarily related to the gastrointestinal and nervous systems:

  • Common Reactions (Affects 1 to 10 users in 100): Includes dizziness, headache, asthenia (weakness), abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, dyspepsia (indigestion), rash, pruritus (itching), and urticaria (hives).
  • Rare Reactions (Affects 1 to 10 users in 10,000): Include cardiac events such as palpitations, tachycardia, extrasystoles, and vascular issues like arterial hypotension, orthostatic hypotension, and flushing.
  • Frequency Not Known: Serious adverse reactions documented through post-marketing reports include Parkinsonian symptoms, severe skin reactions (angioedema, AGEP), blood disorders (agranulocytosis, thrombocytopenia), and hepatitis.

Regulatory Safety Limitations and Considerations

The official label mandates specific safety constraints. Trimetazidine is contraindicated in patients with established Parkinson's disease, existing parkinsonian symptoms, tremors, or restless leg syndrome. It is also strictly contraindicated in individuals with severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance <30 mL/min).

Caution is required for patients with moderate renal impairment and for older adults, who may have increased systemic exposure. Official documentation notes that Trimetazidine-induced movement disorders are usually reversible upon stopping the medicine, with most patients recovering within four months of treatment withdrawal. The label also highlights the potential for dizziness or drowsiness, which may affect physical activities.

Overdose and Emergency Response

The official regulatory documentation for Vasotrim (Trimetazidine) provides very limited information regarding the clinical characteristics of an acute overdose. A formally established set of symptoms or a specific clinical profile of poisoning by Trimetazidine overdose has not been reported in authorized government labeling, such as the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) or Prescribing Information (PI). Due to the absence of a defined clinical profile for toxicity, the regulatory guidance focuses entirely on mandated emergency action to ensure patient safety.

Official Action Required in Overdose
Immediate Consultation In the event an overdose is suspected or has occurred, official prescribing information mandates that the individual consult a physician immediately or contact the nearest hospital Emergency Department immediately.
Management The required procedure for management is restricted to symptomatic and supportive therapy, as no specific antidote is known for Trimetazidine overdose.

The overall overdose profile is defined by the scarcity of officially documented specific symptoms or life-threatening outcomes, reflecting the limited number of reported acute cases. This necessitates that any suspected overdose must immediately trigger an urgent consultation with a healthcare professional to initiate the appropriate supportive care as required by regulatory guidance.

Therapeutic Uses of Vasotrim

Vasotrim is commonly used as an add-on therapy for the symptomatic management of stable angina pectoris. The medication is applied across therapeutic domains involving symptoms related to physical discomfort arising from this chronic heart condition. The application of this therapy is focused on cardiac conditions.

Therapeutic Relief and Benefit

The medication is applied to help ease the symptom burden for patients with recurrent or episodic manifestations of chest discomfort or pressure. It is considered relevant in clinical settings where additional symptomatic support may be appropriate, particularly when symptoms that interfere with daily functioning are triggered by exertion. The medication may assist with maintaining functional stability and delaying the onset of symptoms that create noticeable physiological strain.


Quick Fact: Symptomatic Support for Chronic Chest Discomfort


Adjunctive Use

It is generally applied as an add-on therapy when symptoms are not adequately controlled by first-line anti-anginal agents, which is relevant for easing symptoms that interfere with daily comfort and may help patients cope more steadily with symptom fluctuations.

Eligibility and Restrictions for Use

Official Eligibility Rules for Vasotrim (Trimetazidine)

Regulatory documents strictly define the populations permitted and prohibited from using Vasotrim, based on physiological status, age, and existing medical conditions. The medicine is approved only for use in adult patients (18 years and older) for the symptomatic management of stable angina pectoris.

Absolute Contraindications

Vasotrim must not be used in patients with the following conditions, as these are formal contraindications:

  • Known hypersensitivity to the active substance or any other component.
  • Parkinson disease or other related movement disorders, including restless leg syndrome, tremors, and parkinsonian symptoms.
  • Severe renal impairment, defined as a creatinine clearance less than 30 ml/min.

Restricted Use and Exclusions

Use is not recommended in children and adolescents under 18 years old, as safety and efficacy have not been established. Use is also advised against during pregnancy and breastfeeding due to insufficient clinical data to exclude risk.

Special caution is required for the elderly (over 75 years) and for patients with moderate renal impairment (creatinine clearance between 30 and 60 ml/min). The medicine is restricted to chronic, stable conditions and is not indicated for initial treatment of acute events like unstable angina or myocardial infarction.

What should I know about interactions with other medicines?

Interactions with other medicines and products

The regulatory documentation for Vasotrim (Trimetazidine) establishes a specific interaction profile, often noting that no drug interactions have been identified with the majority of co-administered medicinal products in formal studies. The official profile is structured around a few key precautions:

Category Official Regulatory Statement
Drug Combination Restriction Co-administration with Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) is subject to a restriction because non-interaction with these specific agents has not been formally established in regulatory investigations.
Pharmacodynamic Caution The potential for pharmacodynamic augmentation exists when the drug is co-administered with antihypertensive treatments. This combination may heighten the documented risk of adverse effects, specifically symptomatic hypotension and related falls.
Food and Timing Rules No interaction is documented with meals; the pharmacokinetic characteristics of the medicine are officially confirmed to be not influenced by foodstuffs. Regulatory labels do not contain any mandatory timing separation rules for co-administration.
Exposure Modification Note Increased drug exposure is documented as a key consideration in patients with moderate renal impairment ( CrCl 30-60 mL/min) and in elderly patients (over 75 years). This increased exposure is a physiological interaction, resulting from the drug's dependence on renal clearance which is reduced in these populations.

The overall interaction structure is defined by its high reliance on renal clearance, resulting in documented exposure alteration based on the patient’s physiological state. This is supplemented by specific drug-class restrictions and a confirmation of the absence of interaction with food.

Mechanism of Action

Metabolic Shift and Energy Optimization

Vasotrim functions as a selective inhibitor of the mitochondrial enzyme Long-chain 3-ketoacyl-CoA Thiolase (3-KAT) . This enzymatic blockade reduces the rate of fatty acid beta-oxidation within the cell. The subsequent metabolic shift promotes the compensatory oxidation of glucose for adenosine triphosphate (ATP) generation, resulting in enhanced oxygen efficiency for energy production under conditions of reduced oxygen supply.


Stabilization of Cellular Homeostasis

The optimization of metabolic substrate limits the accumulation of acidic by-products and aids in maintaining the appropriate function of key ion transporters, such as the Na^+/ Ca^2+ exchanger. This mechanistic cascade assists in stabilizing the cell's internal environment and maintaining structural and electrical integrity, which is required for continuous organ cell activity.


Modulated Contractile Function

The combined consequence of optimized energy substrate use and the maintenance of cellular ion balance contributes to the physiological effect of supporting myocardial contractility. This mechanism supports the maintenance of force generation within the heart muscle during conditions of metabolic stress or inadequate oxygen availability.

Dosage and Administration Information

How to Use Vasotrim

The usage of Vasotrim (Trimetazidine) is governed by established protocols detailing administration, dosage, frequency, and population-specific adjustments. The medicine is formulated as a modified-release tablet intended for oral administration and is typically taken as an add-on therapy for the symptomatic management of stable angina pectoris.


Administration and Dosage Regimen

The standard adult regimen for the 35 mg modified-release tablet involves a total daily dose of 70 mg. This is achieved by taking one 35 mg tablet twice daily, once in the morning and once in the evening. For appropriate absorption, the tablets must be administered during meals.


Procedural and Time Constraints

To preserve the sustained-delivery properties of the modified-release formulation, the tablet must be swallowed whole and must not be chewed, crushed, or divided. The benefit of continuous treatment is subject to reassessment; the efficacy of the medicine should be evaluated after three months of use, and treatment should be discontinued if no therapeutic response is observed.


Population-Specific Adjustments

Specific protocols require dose modifications for certain populations. Patients diagnosed with moderate renal impairment (Creatinine Clearance 30-60 mL/ min) must receive a reduced dose of one 35 mg tablet once daily. Conversely, the use of Trimetazidine is not established and is therefore not labeled for the paediatric population (under 18 years). Use is prohibited entirely in patients with severe renal impairment (Creatinine Clearance <30 mL/ min), as the required administration constraints cannot be met.

Recent Clinical Evidence

Vasotrim: Recent Clinical Evidence


Research Evidence for Symptomatic Management of Stable Angina

Much of the clinical research for Vasotrim (Trimetazidine) relates to its evaluation alongside standard therapy in patients with stable angina pectoris. These studies primarily consist of short- to intermediate-term Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) that compared the medicine to a placebo. Researchers studied outcomes related to physical discomfort and daily functioning, measuring changes in the frequency of angina episodes, the amount of rescue medication used, and physical effort duration during stress testing. Studies reported patterns related to these measurements. However, evidence remains limited for long-term effects on functional measurements, and comparative evidence against certain other anti-anginal drugs is mixed.


Research Focus Beyond Core Symptomatic Relief

Research has also explored the medicine’s evaluation on metrics related to heart muscle function, specifically in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Evidence, derived from systematic reviews of smaller trials, tracked physical capacity (like the 6-Minute Walk Test) and heart pumping function. However, the certainty remains low for findings related to long-term clinical events, as a large, definitive trial is not currently available.

Studies in Patients After Stenting (PCI)

The research landscape includes large, long-term trials that monitored Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events (MACE) over several years following a stenting procedure. The largest study focusing on this population did not report an observed difference for its primary endpoint, indicating that in well-treated patient groups, the long-term data for major cardiovascular events showed no substantial change.


Limitations and Areas of Research Uncertainty

The existing evidence base highlights that sample sizes were modest in many trials exploring hard clinical endpoints. Furthermore, data for special groups, such as children or pregnant populations, are still emerging. These research limitations highlight areas where further research is ongoing.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Common questions about Vasotrim (FAQ)

Q: What is Vasotrim used for?

A: Vasotrim is a prescription medication primarily used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) in adults. It may be used alone or in combination with other medications. By helping to lower blood pressure, Vasotrim can reduce the risk of serious complications like strokes and heart attacks.

Q: How should I take Vasotrim?

A: Always take Vasotrim exactly as your healthcare provider instructs. It is typically taken once daily, with or without food. You should try to take it at the same time each day to help maintain a consistent level in your body. Do not crush, chew, or break the tablets unless your healthcare provider tells you otherwise. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for your next dose; in that case, skip the missed dose and resume your regular schedule. Do not take two doses at once.

Q: What are the common side effects of Vasotrim?

A: Common side effects may include:

  • Dizziness or lightheadedness (especially when standing up quickly)
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
  • Nausea or upset stomach

These side effects are generally mild and often decrease as your body adjusts to the medication. If any side effect becomes severe or bothersome, you should contact your healthcare provider.

Q: Can I drink alcohol while taking Vasotrim?

A: You should limit or avoid alcohol while taking Vasotrim. Alcohol can increase the blood pressure-lowering effects of the medication, which may lead to excessive dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting. Discuss your alcohol consumption with your healthcare provider.

Q: What should I tell my doctor before starting Vasotrim?

A: Before starting Vasotrim, inform your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, especially if you have:

  • Kidney or liver problems
  • Heart problems (other than the condition being treated)
  • A history of severe allergic reactions (angioedema)
  • Diabetes
  • Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
  • Are breastfeeding

Also, provide a complete list of all prescription, over-the-counter medications, and herbal supplements you are currently taking to check for potential drug interactions.

How should Vasotrim be stored and disposed of?

How to Store and Dispose of Vasotrim (Trimetazidine Modified-Release)

The storage of Vasotrim tablets is defined by specific environmental and safety requirements to ensure product integrity until the printed expiry date.

Storage Requirements

  • Temperature: The medicine must be stored at a temperature not exceeding 30°C.
  • Protection: The tablets require protection and must be stored in a cool and dry place, protected from light and moisture.
  • Packaging: Keep the tablets in their original blister pack and outer box until they are needed.
  • Child Safety: It is mandatory to keep the medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

Disposal Instructions

  • Unused or expired tablets must not be thrown into household waste or wastewater.
  • Disposal should follow local regulatory requirements; any remaining medicine must be returned to a pharmacist who can dispose of the product safely.

Attention! Always consult to a doctor or pharmacist before using pills or medicines.

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