Kerlone is indicated in the management of hypertension.

It may be used alone or concomitantly with other antihypertensive agents, particularly thiazide-type diuretics.

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Hypertensive disease -- Persistently high systemic arterial BLOOD PRESSURE. Based on multiple readings (BLOOD PRESSURE DETERMINATION), hypertension is currently defined as when SYSTOLIC PRESSURE is consistently greater than 140 mm Hg or when DIASTOLIC PRESSURE is consistently 90 mm Hg or more.

Kerlone is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to the drug.Kerlone is contraindicated in patients with sinus bradycardia, heart block greater than first degree, cardiogenic shock, and overt cardiac failure.

(see Warnings).

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Hypersensitivity -- Altered reactivity to an antigen, which can result in pathologic reactions upon subsequent exposure to that particular antigen.

Sinus bradycardia -- A heart rate of less than 60 beats per minute, with its origin in the sinus node. (NCI)

Heart Block -- Impaired conduction of cardiac impulse that can occur anywhere along the conduction pathway, such as between the SINOATRIAL NODE and the right atrium (SA block) or between atria and ventricles (AV block). Heart blocks can be classified by the duration, frequency, or completeness of conduction block. Reversibility depends on the degree of structural or functional defects.

Cardiogenic shock -- Shock resulting from diminution of cardiac output in heart disease.

Heart failure -- inability of the heart to pump blood at an adequate rate to fill tissue metabolic requirements or the ability to do so only at an elevated filling pressure.