Nifedical XL

Generic name: Nifedipine
Drug class: Calcium channel blocking agents

Usage of Nifedical XL

Nifedipine 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.

Nifedipine 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, nifedipine 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.

Nifedical XL 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

Bloating or swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet

cough

difficult or labored breathing

dizziness or lightheadedness

fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse

feeling of warmth

headache

muscle cramps

rapid weight gain

shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet

shortness of breath

tightness in the chest

tingling of the hands or feet

trembling or shaking of the hands or feet

unusual weight gain or loss

weakness

wheezing

Less common

Blue lips and fingernails

chest congestion

chest pain

chills

coughing that sometimes produces a pink frothy sputum

decreased urine output

difficult, fast, or noisy breathing, sometimes with wheezing

dilated neck veins

extreme fatigue

fever

increased sweating

irregular breathing

nausea

pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck

pale skin

severe unusual tiredness or weakness

sweating

troubled breathing

vomiting

Rare

Black, tarry stools

bleeding gums

blood in the eyes

blood in the urine or stools

bloody stools

bluish color

blurred vision

body aches or pain

changes in skin color

cold sweats

dark urine

difficulty with swallowing

dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position

dry mouth

dryness or soreness of throat

ear congestion or pain

extra heartbeats

eye pain

feeling unusually cold

general tiredness and weakness

headache, severe and throbbing

hoarseness

increased urge to urinate during the night

irritation in the mouth

itching

large, hive-like swelling on face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs

light-colored stools

nasal congestion

neck pain

nervousness

no blood pressure or pulse

noisy breathing

pain

pain in the groin or genitals

pain or burning while urinating

painful or difficult urination

pinpoint red spots on the skin

puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue

redness and swelling of the gums

redness in the whites of the eyes

runny nose

shakiness and unsteady walk

sharp back pain just below ribs

shivering

skin rash

small clicking, bubbling, or rattling sounds in the lung when listening with a stethoscope

sneezing

sore throat

sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth

stopping of heart

swelling around the eyes

swollen glands

tenderness

tender, swollen glands in the neck

troubled breathing with exertion

unconsciousness

unsteadiness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination

unusual bleeding or bruising

upper right abdominal or stomach pain

vision changes

voice changes

vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds

waking to urinate at night

yellow eyes and skin

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

Belching

feeling of indigestion

mood changes

pain in the chest below the breastbone

redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest

Less common

Abnormal ejaculation

bloody nose

burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings

decreased interest in sexual intercourse

decreased sexual performance or desire

diarrhea

difficulty having a bowel movement (stool)

excess air or gas in stomach or intestines

feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings

full feeling

general feeling of discomfort or illness

inability to have or keep an erection

increased need to urinate

joint stiffness

leg cramps or pain

loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance

nervousness

passing gas

passing urine more often

sneezing

stuffy nose

trouble sleeping

Rare

Acid or sour stomach

ankle, knee, or great toe joint pain

cracks in the skin

difficulty with moving

discouragement

excessive muscle tone

fear or nervousness

feeling sad or empty

hair loss or thinning of the hair

heartburn

increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight

irritability

itching, pain, redness, swelling, tenderness, or warmth on the skin

lack of appetite

lack or loss of strength

loss of heat from the body

loss of interest or pleasure

loss of strength or energy

loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance

lower back or side pain

muscle pain or weakness

muscle stiffness

muscle tension or tightness

pain or burning in the throat

red, swollen skin

redness or other discoloration of the skin

scaly skin

severe sunburn

sleepiness or unusual drowsiness

sleeplessness

stomach discomfort, upset, or pain

swelling of the breasts or breast soreness in both females and males

tiredness

trouble concentrating

unable to sleep

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 Nifedical XL

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 nifedipine in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

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

Breast Feeding

Studies in women suggest that this medication poses minimal risk to the infant when used during 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 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.

Abametapir

Amobarbital

Aprobarbital

Armodafinil

Atazanavir

Butalbital

Clarithromycin

Clobazam

Clopidogrel

Cobicistat

Conivaptan

Cyclosporine

Dantrolene

Darunavir

Dexamethasone

Digoxin

Efavirenz

Enzalutamide

Epirubicin

Erythromycin

Etravirine

Fedratinib

Fentanyl

Fexinidazole

Fluconazole

Fluoxetine

Fosnetupitant

Fosphenytoin

Idelalisib

Itraconazole

Ketoconazole

Lacosamide

Lonafarnib

Mavacamten

Melphalan

Mephobarbital

Methohexital

Mibefradil

Micafungin

Mifepristone

Modafinil

Nafcillin

Nefazodone

Nelfinavir

Netupitant

Nevirapine

Omaveloxolone

Oxcarbazepine

Pentobarbital

Phenobarbital

Phenytoin

Pioglitazone

Posaconazole

Prednisone

Primidone

Quinidine

Ribociclib

Rifabutin

Rifampin

Rifapentine

Ritonavir

Rufinamide

Saquinavir

Secobarbital

St John's Wort

Tacrolimus

Telaprevir

Telithromycin

Thiopental

Topiramate

Troleandomycin

Tucatinib

Voriconazole

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.

Cimetidine

Dalfopristin

Doxazosin

Ginkgo

Ginseng

Indinavir

Magnesium

Quinupristin

Vincristine

Vincristine Sulfate Liposome

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.

Using this medicine with any of the following may cause an increased risk of certain side effects but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Grapefruit Juice

Relate drugs

How to use Nifedical XL

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 (salt). 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.

Swallow the extended release tablet whole. Do not break, crush, or chew it. It is best to take this tablet on an empty stomach.

If you are taking the extended-release tablets, part of the tablet may pass into your stool after your body has absorbed the medicine. This is normal and nothing to worry about.

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 treatment of chest pain or high blood pressure:

For oral dosage form (capsules):

Adults—At first, 10 milligrams (mg) three times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose as needed.

Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

For oral dosage form (extended-release tablets):

Adults—At first, 30 or 60 milligrams (mg) once a day. Your doctor may increase your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 90 mg once a day.

Children—Use and dose 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 that this medicine is working properly and to check for unwanted effects.

You should not use this medicine if you are also taking certain other medications such as carbamazepine (Tegretol®), phenobarbital (Luminal®), phenytoin (Dilantin®), rifabutin (Mycobutin®), rifampin (Rifadin®, Rimactane®), or St. John's Wort. Using these medicines together can cause serious problems. Make sure your doctor knows all of the medications you are taking.

Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting may occur, especially when you get up suddenly from a lying or sitting position. These symptoms are more likely to occur when you begin taking this medicine, or when the dose is increased.

This medicine may cause fluid retention (edema) in some patients. Tell your doctor right away if you have bloating or swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet; tingling of the hands or feet; or unusual weight gain or loss.

Do not stop taking this medicine without first checking with your doctor. Your doctor may want you to gradually reduce the amount you are using before stopping completely.

Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. You may need to stop using this medicine several days before having surgery or medical tests. This medicine may affect the results of certain medical tests.

Grapefruits and grapefruit juice may increase the effects of nifedipine by increasing the amount of this medicine in your body. You should not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you taking this medicine.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

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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