Procardia XL

Generic name: Nifedipine
Drug class: Calcium channel blocking agents

Usage of Procardia XL

Procardia XL is a calcium channel blocker that is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) or angina (chest pain).

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

Procardia XL side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling).

Procardia XL may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

worsening chest pain;

pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest;

a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;

swelling in your hands or lower legs; or

upper stomach pain, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

You may have more severe or more frequent episodes of angina when you first start taking Procardia XL or whenever your dose is changed.

Common side effects of Procardia XL may include:

swelling;

flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling);

headache, dizziness;

nausea, heartburn; or

feeling weak or tired.

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 Procardia XL

You should not use Procardia XL if you are allergic to it. You may not be able to use this medicine if your heart cannot pump blood properly.

Some medicines can cause unwanted or dangerous effects when used with Procardia XL. Your doctor may change your treatment plan if you also use:

St. John's wort;

an antibiotic--rifabutin, rifampin; or

seizure medicine--Carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

a heart attack;

very low blood pressure;

severe narrowing of the aortic valve in your heart (aortic stenosis);

congestive heart failure;

cirrhosis or other liver disease;

kidney disease; or

diabetes.

Older adults may be more sensitive to the effects of this medicine.

It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

You should not breastfeed while using Procardia XL.

Procardia XL capsules or tablets may contain lactose. Tell your doctor if you have galactose intolerance, or severe problems with lactose (milk sugar).

Procardia XL is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

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How to use Procardia XL

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Swallow the tablet or capsule whole and do not crush, chew, or break it.

Take the extended-release tablet on an empty stomach.

Your dose needs may change if you switch to a different brand, strength, or form of Procardia XL. Avoid medication errors by using only the form and strength your doctor prescribes.

Your blood pressure will need to be checked often and you may need other medical tests.

Keep using this medicine even if you feel well. Use all your heart or blood pressure medications as directed and read all medication guides you receive. Do not change your dose or stop taking your medicine without your doctor's advice.

You may have very low blood pressure while taking this medication. Call your doctor if you are sick with vomiting or diarrhea, or if you are sweating more than usual.

If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using Procardia XL. You may need to stop using the medicine at least 36 hours before surgery.

Some tablets are made with a shell that is not absorbed or melted in the body. Part of this shell may appear in your stool. This is normal and will not make the medicine less effective.

Store in the original container at room temperature, away from moisture, heat, and light.

Warnings

You may not be able to use Procardia XL if your heart cannot pump blood properly, or if you also take rifampin.

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using. Many drugs can interact, and some drugs should not be used together.

What other drugs will affect Procardia XL

If you have been using a beta-blocker medication (such as atenolol, carvedilol, metoprolol, propranolol, sotalol, and others), you should not stop using it suddenly. Follow your doctor's instructions about tapering your dose. Stopping a beta-blocker too quickly can cause serious heart problems that will not be prevented by Procardia XL.

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially other heart or blood pressure medications.

When you start or stop taking other medications, your doctor may need to adjust your Procardia XL dose. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.

Many drugs can affect Procardia XL, and some drugs should not be used at the same time. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible 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.

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.