Nicardipine capsules

About nicardipine

Nicardipine belongs to a group of medicines called bloccanti dei canali del calcio. It is prescribed to treat pressione alta (ipertensione), or to prevent dolore toracico da angina. You will have been prescribed it for one of these reasons.

It works by causing some of your blood vessels to relax and widen. This lowers your blood pressure. It also reduces the force and the rate of your heartbeat, and this helps to prevent angina chest pain. It does these things by blocking the amount of calcium that goes into the 'smooth' muscle cells in the walls of your arteries and in your heart. Calcium is needed for muscles to contract, so reducing the amount of calcium causes the muscle cells to relax.

In some countries nicardipine is available as a modified-release capsule. This means that the capsules release nicardipine more slowly than the standard capsules. They can be prescribed for people with high blood pressure.

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking nicardipine it is important that your doctor knows:

• If you have any heart problems (other than angina or high blood pressure), or if you have recently had a heart attack.

• If you have angina pain when you are resting as well as when you are active.

• If you have been told you have narrowing of the main blood vessel from your heart (aortic stenosis).

• Se sei incinta o stai allattando.

• If you have problems with the way your liver works, or problems with the way your kidneys work.

• Se stai assumendo o utilizzando altri medicinali. Questo include qualsiasi medicinale che stai assumendo e che è disponibile per l'acquisto senza prescrizione, così come i medicinali a base di erbe e complementari.

• Se hai mai avuto una reazione allergica a un medicinale.

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• Before you start this treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside your pack. It will give you more information about nicardipine and will provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you may experience from taking the capsules.

• Standard nicardipine capsules (Cardene®) are taken three times a day. There are two strengths available - 20 mg and 30 mg. You will be prescribed the lower-strength capsule first, and then the higher-strength capsule after a few days if your doctor feels it is necessary.

• Modified-release capsules are taken twice daily - morning and evening. There are three strengths available - 30 mg, 45 mg and 60 mg. You will be prescribed the lower-strength capsule to begin with and your dose adjusted later if needed.

• Space out your doses during the day, and try to take them at the same times each day as this will help you to remember to take your doses regularly. Swallow the capsules whole with a drink of water. You can take nicardipine before or after meals.

• Se dimentichi di prendere una dose, prendila appena te ne ricordi. Se quando te ne ricordi è quasi ora della dose successiva, prendi la dose successiva quando è il momento, ma salta la dose dimenticata. Non prendere due dosi insieme per compensare una dose dimenticata.

• Cerca di mantenere i tuoi appuntamenti regolari con il tuo medico. Questo è per permettere al tuo medico di controllare i tuoi progressi.

• Your doctor will discuss with you the possibility of unwanted side-effects. When you first start taking nicardipine you may experience headaches, feeling flushed, and some dizziness. These effects usually only last for a few days, but if they continue or become troublesome, you should let your doctor know.

• If you drink alcohol, ask your doctor for advice. Your doctor may recommend that you do not drink alcohol while you are on nicardipine as it can increase the chance that you experience side-effects, such as feeling dizzy or light-headed.

• You should not drink grapefruit juice while you are on nicardipine. This is because a chemical in grapefruit juice increases the amount of nicardipine in your blood and this makes side-effects more likely.

• Nicardipine is a medicine which helps to prevenire angina pain from developing, it will not provide you with immediate pain relief if you have an angina attack. Your doctor will give you a different medicine to take for this.

• If you buy any medicines, always check with a pharmacist that they are suitable to take with your other medicines. Some anti-inflammatory painkillers can reduce the effectiveness of nicardipine.

• If you need to have an operation or any medical treatment, tell the person carrying out the treatment which medicines you are taking. Nicardipine and some anaesthetics can interact and may cause your blood pressure to drop too low.

• Treatment with nicardipine is usually long-term unless you experience an adverse effect. Continue to take the capsules unless you are told otherwise by your doctor. If it is necessary for you to stop, your doctor may want you to reduce your dose over a few days, as there is some evidence to suggest that stopping taking nicardipine suddenly can cause some symptoms to return.

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with nicardipine. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

If you experience any other symptoms which you think may be due to the capsules, you should speak with your doctor or pharmacist for further advice.

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