The Nifedipine is an active ingredient calcium antagonist , which acts causing relaxation of blood vessels , which decreases the cardiac workload, increasing the supply of oxygen and blood to the heart.
What is Nifedipine used for?
Nifedipine is used in the treatment of chest pressure and for the control of chest pain typical of angina .Nifedipine is used in case of preterm birth and in the treatment of Raynaud’s phenomenon .
How is Nifedipine administered?
Nifedipine should normally be taken orally 3-4 times a day in capsules or tablets . There are also prolonged release formulations, but these should be taken on an empty stomach, one hour before a meal, or two hours later, only once a day. Your doctor may initially prescribe Nifedipine in very low doses, which are then increased gradually as needed.
Side effects of Nifedipine
Potential adverse effects of ivermectin include:
- headache
- nausea
- feeling light-headed
- dizziness
- feelings of warmth
- heartburn
- fast heart beat
- muscle cramps
- constipation
- cough
- sexual difficulties
Your doctor should be contacted immediately if any of the following symptoms occur:
- swelling of the face, eyes, lips , tongue, hands, arms, feet, ankles or calves
- difficulty breathing
- difficulty swallowing
- fainting
- skin rash
- jaundice
- increased frequency or severity of angina
Contraindications and warnings on the use of Nifedipine
Three days before starting to take Nifedipine, you should absolutely avoid taking grapefruit, in fruit or juice , for the duration of the treatment.
A doctor should be contacted immediately before starting Nifedipine if:
- you have allergies to the active substance, to its excipients, to other drugs (in particular to similar antibiotics, such as Gentamicin ) or to any food;
- of medicines, phytotherapics and supplements taken, citing in particular Acarbose, anticoagulants, antifungals, beta blockers, Nefazodone, Fenobarbital, Fenitoina, Quinidine, Quinupristin and Dalfopristin, Rifampin, Rifapentina, Tacrolimus, Valproic acid, Carbamazepina, Cimamethine Doxazosin, Erythromycin, Fentanyl, drugs against HIV, Metformin, Verapamil and St. John’s wort;
- in the past you have suffered or still suffer from heart, liver or kidney disease or if you have had a heart attack in the previous two weeks, meningitis, narrowing or occlusion of the digestive system or other disorders that slow down the transit of food, trypanosomiasis or disorders that alter the functioning of the immune system;
- you are pregnant or breastfeeding .
Surgeons and dentists should also be advised of ongoing Nifedipine treatment.
