Nicardipine (Oral)

Generic name: Nicardipine (nye-kar-di-peen)
Drug class: Calcium channel blocking agents

Usage of Nicardipine (Oral)

Nicardipine is used alone or together with other medicines to treat severe chest pain (angina) or high blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure adds to the workload of the heart and arteries. If it continues for a long time, the heart and arteries may not function properly. This can damage the blood vessels of the brain, heart, and kidneys, resulting in a stroke, heart failure, or kidney failure. High blood pressure may also increase the risk of heart attacks. These problems may be less likely to occur if blood pressure is controlled .

Nicardipine is a calcium channel blocker. It works by affecting the movement of calcium into the cells of the heart and blood vessels. As a result, nicardipine relaxes blood vessels and increases the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart while reducing its workload .

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription .

Nicardipine (Oral) side effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

  • Arm, back, or jaw pain
  • chest pain or discomfort
  • chest tightness or heaviness
  • fast or irregular heartbeat
  • nausea
  • palpitations
  • shortness of breath
  • sweating
  • swelling of the legs

    • Less common

  • Shakiness
  • swelling

    • Rare

  • Blurred vision
  • cold hands and feet
  • cold sweats
  • confusion
  • cough or hoarseness
  • difficulty swallowing
  • dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position suddenly
  • extra heartbeat
  • fever or chills
  • hives
  • increase in frequency of urination
  • itching
  • lower back or side pain
  • painful or difficult urination
  • puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
  • skin rash
  • unusual tiredness or weakness
  • wheezing

    • Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

    Symptoms of overdose

  • Sleepiness
  • slurred speech

    • Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

    More common

  • Feeling of warmth
  • headache
  • lack or loss of strength
  • redness of the face, neck, arms and occasionally, upper chest

    • Less common

  • Acid or sour stomach
  • belching
  • burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
  • difficulty in moving
  • dry mouth
  • heartburn
  • indigestion
  • joint pain
  • muscle aching or cramping
  • muscle pains or stiffness
  • rash
  • stomach discomfort, upset, or pain
  • swollen joints

    • Rare

  • Changes in vision
  • constipation
  • continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in ears
  • decreased interest in sexual intercourse
  • difficult or labored breathing
  • discouragement
  • fear or nervousness
  • feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
  • feeling sad or empty
  • hearing loss
  • inability to have or keep an erection
  • increase in body movements
  • irritability
  • lack of appetite
  • loss of interest or pleasure
  • loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
  • nervousness
  • pain or tenderness around eyes and cheekbones
  • runny nose
  • sensation of spinning
  • sneezing
  • sore throat
  • stuffy nose
  • trouble concentrating
  • trouble sleeping

    • Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

    Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

    Before taking Nicardipine (Oral)

    In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

    Allergies

    Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

    Pediatric

    Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of nicardipine in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established .

    Geriatric

    Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatrics-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of nicardipine in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related kidney, liver, or heart problems which may require an adjustment of dose in patients receiving nicardipine .

    Breast Feeding

    There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

    Interactions with Medicines

    Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

    Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

  • Levoketoconazole

    • Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Atazanavir
  • Clarithromycin
  • Clopidogrel
  • Cyclosporine
  • Dantrolene
  • Darunavir
  • Digoxin
  • Droperidol
  • Epirubicin
  • Fentanyl
  • Itraconazole
  • Lacosamide
  • Melphalan
  • St John's Wort
  • Tacrolimus
  • Vecuronium

    • Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Dalfopristin
  • Fluconazole
  • Indinavir
  • Ketoconazole
  • Magnesium
  • Quinupristin
  • Rifapentine

    • Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

    Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

    Other Medical Problems

    The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

  • Aortic stenosis (narrowing of a valve in your heart), severe—Should not be used in patients with this condition .
  • Congestive heart failure—Use with caution. May make this condition worse .
  • Kidney disease or
  • Liver disease—Use with caution. The effects may be increased because of slower removal of the medicine from the body .
  • Stroke, recent—Blood pressure–lowering effects of this medicine may be increased .

    • Relate drugs

    How to use Nicardipine (Oral)

    In addition to the use of this medicine, treatment for your high blood pressure may include weight control and changes in the types of foods you eat, especially foods high in sodium. Your doctor will tell you which of these are most important for you. You should check with your doctor before changing your diet .

    Many patients who have high blood pressure will not notice any signs of the problem. In fact, many may feel normal. It is very important that you take your medicine exactly as directed and that you keep your appointments with your doctor even if you feel well .

    Remember that this medicine will not cure your high blood pressure, but it does help control it. You must continue to take it as directed if you expect to lower your blood pressure and keep it down. You may have to take high blood pressure medicine for the rest of your life. If high blood pressure is not treated, it can cause serious problems such as heart failure, blood vessel disease, stroke, or kidney disease .

    Dosing

    The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

    The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

  • For chest pain:
  • For oral dosage form (capsules):
  • Adults—At first, 20 milligrams (mg) three times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed.
  • Children—Use must be determined by your doctor .
  • For high blood pressure:
  • For oral dosage form (capsules):
  • Adults—At first, 20 milligrams (mg) three times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed.
  • Children—Use must be determined by your doctor .
  • For oral dosage form (extended-release capsules):
  • Adults—At first, 30 milligrams (mg) two times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed.
  • Children—Use must be determined by your doctor .

    • Missed Dose

    If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

    Storage

    Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

    Keep out of the reach of children.

    Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

    Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

    Warnings

    It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure this medicine is working properly and to check for unwanted effects .

    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.

    The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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