Sooslic - NIFEDIPINE

Posted: Wed, 10 Jan 2007 0:00:00 +MSK

NIFEDIPINE

Dosage form Tablets, 10 mg

Uses Treatment and prophylaxis of angina pectoris. Treatment of hypertension.

Administration Start with 3 x 10 mg (3 x 1 tablet) daily. Increase dosage only if there is no
sufficient improvement after at least 1-2 weeks. Individual daily dosage requirements usually vary between 30-60 mg, higher doses are only rarely indicated.
Important: Intake of higher Nifedipine doses than those necessary to control patients' symptoms may lead to serious toxicity. Dosage should therefore only be increased gradually in at least weekly intervals.

Antianginal and antihypertensive medication is a long-term treatment. It should only be started when patient's compliance is assured.
As abrupt cessation of Nifedipine medication may lead to severe angina caused by coronary spasms, drug withdrawal should take place gradually over several days.

Observe
Adverse effects: About 1 in 4 patients treated will experience some adverse reactions. These are generally not serious, and rarely require discontinuation of therapy. Nausea, headache, light-headedness, flushing and oedema of the legs are the most common undesired effects.
Contra-indications: None if clearly indicated. Use during pregnancy: Cannot be used. Nifedipine can cause fetal malformations in animal tests.
Use during lactation: Cannot be used.

Interactions: Severe hypotension, heart failure and myocardial infarction have occurred in patients receiving Nifedipine in combination with a betablocker.
Digoxin and theophylline plasma levels may increase with concomitant Nifedipine treatment: reduction of digoxin or theophylline dose may be necessary to avoid toxicity.
Cimetidine may increase the pharmacologic effects of Nifedipine: dosage reductions may be necessary to avoid toxicity.
Storage Store in a cool and dry place in airtight container, away from light. Keep out of reach of children.