NICARDIPINE

(nye KAR di peen) Brand: Cardene, Cardene SR

What is the most significant information I must know about nicardipine?

• Do not stop taking nicardipine without first talking to your doctor, even if you begin to feel better. If you stop taking the medicine, your condition could become worse.

• Do not crush, chew, or interrupt the extended-release (SR) capsules. Swallow them intact. They are specially formulated to release the medicine slowly in the body.

What is nicardipine?

• Nicardipine is in a class of drugs called calcium channel blockers. Nicardipine relaxes (widens) your blood vessels, which makes it easier for the heart to exhaust and reduces its workload.

• Nicardipine is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) and angina (chest pain).

• Nicardipine may also be used for purposes another than those listed in this medicine guide.

What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till taking nicardipine?

• Till taking nicardipine, speak your doctor if you have

· kidney disease;

· liver malady; or

· other malady of the heart or blood vessels such as sick sinus syndrome, aortic stenosis, heart failure, low blood pressure, or coronary artery disease.

• You may not be able to take nicardipine, or you may require a dosage adjustment or particular monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

• Nicardipine is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether nicardipine will be deleterious to an unborn child. Do not take this medicine without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.

• Nicardipine passes into breast milk and may affect a nursing infant. Do not take nicardipine without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

• If you are over 65 years of age, you may be more likely to experience side effects from nicardipine. Your doctor may prescribe a lower doze of this medication.

How must I take nicardipine?

• Take nicardipine exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

• Take every doze with a full glass of water.

• Do not crush, interrupt, or chew the extended-release (SR) capsules. Swallow them intact. They are specially formulated to release the medicine slowly in the body.

• Do not stop taking nicardipine without first talking to your doctor, even if you begin to feel better. If you stop taking the medicine, your condition could become worse.

• Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with nicardipine. The interaction could have potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit and grapefruit juice with your doctor. Do not magnify or decrease the amount of grapefruit commodity in your diet without first talking to your doctor.

• Store nicardipine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed doze as soon as you remember. However, if it is nearly time for the following doze, skip the missed doze and take only the following regularly scheduled doze. Do not take a double doze of this medication.

What happens if I overdose?

• Search abnormal medical attention.

• Symptoms of a nicardipine overdose include dizziness, weakness, chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, an unusually quick or slow heartbeat, coma, slurred speech, and confusion.

What must I avoid while taking nicardipine?

• Follow any recommendations your doctor makes about diet or exercise.

• Use caution when you stand or sit up from a lying position, especially if you wake up during the night. You may become dizzy when changing positions.

• Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may further lower blood pressure and magnify drowsiness or dizziness while taking nicardipine.

What are the possible side effects of nicardipine?

• If you experience any of the next serious side effects, stop taking nicardipine and contact your doctor immediately or search abnormal medical treatment:

· an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or person; or hives);

· unusually quick or slow heartbeats;

· fainting or severe dizziness;

· emergency behavior or psychosis;

· chest pain or worsening angina;

· jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or

· swelling of the legs or ankles.

• Another, smaller serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take nicardipine and conversation to your doctor if you experience

· unusual headache, fatigue, or tiredness;

· dizziness;

· flushing;

· rash;

· insomnia;

· vivid or emergency dreams;

· heighten urination;

· dry mouth;

· nausea or constipation; or

· nervousness or tremor.

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

What another drugs will affect nicardipine?

• Till taking nicardipine, speak your doctor if you are taking any of the next drugs:

· other heart medicine to treat the same or other condition;

· cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB); or

· cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral).

• You may not be able to take nicardipine, or you may require a dosage adjustment or particular monitoring if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.

• Drugs another than those listed here may also interact with nicardipine or affect your condition. Conversation to your doctor and pharmacist till taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about nicardipine.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

Disclaim: Each effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses external of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum'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 must be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safety, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the help of information Multum 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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