Nifedipine About nifedipine Nifedipine is a medicine used to treat high blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, taking nifedipine helps to prevent future heart disease, heart attacks and strokes. Nifedipine is also used to prevent chest pain caused by angina. Occasionally, it's used to treat Raynaud's phenomenon and chilblains. The medicine is only available on prescription. It comes as tablets or capsules. It also comes as a liquid or drops to swallow, but these need to be ordered specially. Key facts
Who can and cannot take nifedipine Nifedipine is mostly used for adults aged 18 years and over. It's occasionally prescribed for children. Nifedipine is not suitable for some people. To make sure nifedipine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you:
Take nifedipine exactly as your doctor has told you, and follow the directions on the label. If you're not sure, check with your doctor or pharmacist. DosageYour dose of nifedipine depends on why you need the medicine and what kind your doctor has prescribed. Nifedipine comes as "short acting" (immediate-release) capsules, or as "long acting" (slow-release) tablets or capsules. If you have liquid nifedipine, it works like the short acting capsules. Long acting nifedipine capsules or tablets release the medicine evenly throughout the day. This means you do not need to take them as often. To decide the correct dose for you, your doctor will check your blood pressure. Depending on why you're taking nifedipine, the usual starting dose is:
If a doctor prescribes it for your child, the dose will usually be lower. It will depend on how old your child is and how much they weigh. Will my dose go up or down?If the starting dose is not working well enough (your blood pressure does not come down enough, or you are still getting symptoms), you may need to increase your dose. If you're bothered by side effects, you may need to stay on a lower dose. The usual maximum doses of nifedipine are:
How to take itTake your nifedipine capsule or tablet as soon as you've taken it out of the blister pack. Nifedipine is very sensitive to light and won't work properly if it's left out of the packet too long. You can take nifedipine at any time of day, but try to make sure it's around the same time or times every day. Swallow the capsules or tablets whole with a drink of water. Do not break, crush, chew or open up the capsules unless your doctor or pharmacist has said you can. You can take short acting and long acting nifedipine with or without food. With some of the long acting tablets you might notice what looks like a whole tablet in your poo. Don't worry, this is normal. It's just the outer shell of the tablet which your body hasn't digested. Do not eat or drink grapefruit or grapefruit juice while you're taking this medicine. Grapefruit can increase the concentration of nifedipine in your body and make side effects worse. If you're taking nifedipine as a liquid, it will usually be made up for you by your pharmacist. The medicine will come with a plastic syringe or spoon to help you take the right amount. If you don't have a plastic syringe or spoon, ask your pharmacist for one. Do not use a kitchen teaspoon as it won't give the right amount. ImportantTake nifedipine even if you feel well, as you will still be getting the benefits of the medicine. If you forget to take a dose and you usually take nifedipine:
Never take a double dose to make up for a forgotten one. If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine. What if I take too much?If you take too much nifedipine, contact your doctor or go to your nearest hospital straight away. An overdose of nifedipine can cause dizziness and irregular heartbeats, and make you feel sick (nausea), confused and sleepy. The amount of nifedipine that can lead to an overdose varies from person to person. Call your doctor or go to A&E now:
If you go to hospital, do not drive yourself – get someone else to drive you or call for an ambulance. Take the nifedipine packet or leaflet inside it plus any remaining medicine with you. Find your nearest A&E. Side effects Like all medicines, nifedipine can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. Side effects often improve as your body gets used to the medicine. Common side effectsThese common side effects happen in more than 1 in 100 people. They are usually mild and short-lived. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if the side effects bother you or last for more than a few days:
Serious side effectsSerious side effects after taking nifedipine are rare and happen in less than 1 in 1,000 people. Stop taking nifedipine and tell a doctor straight away if you get:
Serious allergic reactionIn rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to nifedipine. These are not all the side effects of nifedipine. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicines packet. How to cope with side effects What to do about:
Pregnancy and breastfeeding If you're trying to get pregnant or you're already pregnant, talk to your doctor about the benefits and possible harms of taking nifedipine. There may be other medicines that are safer for you. For more information about how nifedipine can affect you and your baby during pregnancy, visit the Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy (BUMPS) website. Nifedipine and breastfeedingSmall amounts of nifedipine may get into breast milk, but it's generally considered safe for breastfeeding mothers and babies. Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns about taking nifedipine while you're breastfeeding. Cautions with other medicines If you take other medicines that lower blood pressure with nifedipine, the combination can sometimes lower your blood pressure too much. This may make you feel dizzy or faint. If this keeps happening to you, tell your doctor as your dose may need to be changed. Some medicines can interfere with the way nifedipine works. Tell your doctor if you're taking any of these medicines before starting nifedipine:
Mixing nifedipine with herbal remedies or supplementsTo be safe, speak to your pharmacist or doctor before taking any herbal or alternative remedies with nifedipine. St John's wort, a herbal medicine taken for depression, is thought to interfere with the way nifedipine works. Talk to your doctor if you're thinking about taking St John's wort. Ginkgo biloba and ginseng are popular supplements that may also affect nifedipine. How does nifedipine work? How long does nifedipine take to work? How long will I take it for? Is nifedipine safe to take for a long time? What will happen if I stop taking it? Can I come off nifedipine now my blood pressure is lower? Can I drink alcohol with it? Is there any food or drink I need to avoid? Are there similar medicines to nifedipine? Are there other uses of nifedipine? Is nifedipine addictive? Will it affect my contraception? Will it affect my fertility? Can I drive or ride a bike? Can lifestyle changes help? BestCareCompare | ||||||
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