NICARDIPINE HYDROCHLORIDE

Do not give to patients with advanced aortic stenosis, cardiogenic shock, unstable angina, acute angina (chest pain), and in patients one month after suffering a heart attack.

Dizziness, lightheadedness, headache, flushing, or swelling ankles/feet may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

To reduce dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position.

Precautions

Before taking nicardipine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

This medication should not be used if you have a certain medical condition. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: a certain structural heart problem (aortic stenosis).

Interactions

Other medications can affect the removal of nicardipine from your body, which may affect how nicardipine works. Examples include cimetidine, azole antifungals (such as itraconazole), macrolide antibiotics (such as erythromycin), rifamycins (such as rifabutin), St. John’s wort, drugs used to treat seizures (such as carbamazepine, phenytoin), among others.

Check the labels on all your medicines (such as cough-and-cold products, diet aids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs-NSAIDs for pain/fever) because they may contain ingredients that could increase your blood pressure or heart rate (such as pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine, ibuprofen, naproxen). Ask your pharmacist about using these products safely.

Symptoms of overdose include hypotension, bradycardia, palpitations, flushing, drowsiness, confusion, slurred speech. If overdose is suspected, bring the victim to the hospital immediately.

Available brands:

• Cardepine (LRI)
• Cardilon (MedEthix)
• Cardimed (Medhaus)