Nicardipine Description

Generic Name : NICARDIPINE

Pronunciation : (nya kar de peen)

Trade Name(s) : Nicardipine increases the supply of blood and oxygen to your heart, thereby controlling or relieving heart pain (angina pectoris). It also lowers blood pressure and relaxes your heart so that it does not have to pump as hard.

Why it is prescribed: Nicardipine is usually taken three times a day. Follow the instructions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your or doctor to explain any part that you do not understand. Nicardipine may be taken with or without food. It must be taken regularly to be effective. Do not stop taking it without consulting your doctor.

When it is to be taken: Nicardipine is usually taken three times a day. Follow the instructions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your or doctor to explain any part that you do not understand. Nicardipine may be taken with or without food. It must be taken regularly to be effective. Do not stop taking it without consulting your doctor.

How it should be taken: Nicardipine comes in the form of capsules. Your prescription label tells you how much to take at each dose.

Special Instruction :
1. Keep all appointments with your doctor so that your response to nicardipine can be evaluated. Your dosage may need to be adjusted.
2. Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it, and take any remaining doses for that day at evenly spaced intervals. However, if you remember as missed dose near the time you are scheduled to take the next one. Omit the missed dose and take only the scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose.

Side Effects :
1. Dry mouth, Suck Sugarless hard candies or chew sugarless gum.
2. Dizziness, lightheadedness, faintness, especially when getting up from a sitting or lying position. Get up slowly.
3. Headache, weakness, flushing, nausea, heartburn, rash, muscle aches, drowsiness. Contact your doctor if these effects are severe or persist.
4. Swelling of feet or lower legs; palpitations; increased duration, frequency, or severity of heart pain attacks. Contact your doctor immediately.

Other Precautions :
1. Before you take nicardipine, tell your doctor if you have a history of congestive heart failure or blood vessel, heart, kidney, or liver disease.
2. Tell your doctor what prescription and nonprescription drugs you are taking, especially beta blockers, cimetidine, cyclosporine, digoxin, and other high blood pressure medication.
3. Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should inform their doctors. Before having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor that you take nicardipine.
4. Do not allow anyone else to take this medication.

Storage Conditions :
1. Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of the reach of children.
2. Store it at room temperature.