Corlopam

Generic name: Fenoldopam
Drug class: Agents for hypertensive emergencies

Usage of Corlopam

Corlopam is used to quickly lower blood pressure for a short period of time.

Corlopam is usually given in an emergency situation, until you can be given other medicines to control your blood pressure.

Corlopam may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Corlopam side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Corlopam may cause you to have fast heartbeats, or a light-headed feeling (like you might pass out).

After treatment, call your doctor at once if you have:

vision changes, severe headache;

swelling, rapid weight gain;

shortness of breath;

pounding in your neck or ears; or

low potassium level--leg cramps, constipation, irregular heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, increased thirst or urination, numbness or tingling, muscle weakness or limp feeling.

Common side effects of Corlopam may include:

feeling light-headed;

headache;

nausea; or

flushing (sudden warmth, redness, or tingly feeling).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Corlopam

If possible before you receive Corlopam, tell your caregivers if you have ever had:

glaucoma;

low levels of potassium in your blood; or

asthma or a sulfite allergy.

It is not known whether Corlopam will harm an unborn baby. However, having high blood pressure during pregnancy may cause complications such as diabetes or eclampsia (dangerously high blood pressure that can lead to medical problems in both mother and baby). The benefit of treating hypertension may outweigh any risks to the baby.

You should not breastfeed while you are receiving Corlopam.

In an emergency, you may not be able to tell caregivers if you are pregnant or breast feeding. Make sure any doctor caring for your pregnancy or your baby knows you received this medicine.

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How to use Corlopam

Corlopam is given as an infusion into a vein. A healthcare provider will give you this injection.

Corlopam is usually given only until your blood pressure is normal again.

Once your blood pressure has become stable, you may be given other medicine to help keep your blood pressure from getting too high. Keep using your blood pressure medicine as directed, even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medicine for the rest of your life.

After you are treated with Corlopam, your blood pressure may need to be checked often. Follow your doctor's instructions about how to keep your blood pressure from getting too high.

Warnings

In an emergency, you may not be able to tell caregivers about your health conditions. Make sure any doctor caring for you afterward knows you received Corlopam.

What other drugs will affect Corlopam

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

a beta blocker--atenolol, carvedilol, labetalol, metoprolol, nadolol, nebivolol, propranolol, sotalol, and others.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect Corlopam, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

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