nicardipine (oral/injection)

What is the most important information I should know about nicardipine?

What is nicardipine?

Nicardipine oral is used in adults alone or in combination with other medicines to treat high blood pressure or chest pain (angina).

Nicardipine injection is used in adults to treat high blood pressure.

Nicardipine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using nicardipine?

• severe narrowing of the aortic valve in your heart (aortic stenosis).

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• other heart conditions such has congestive heart failure or coronary artery disease;
• low blood pressure;
• brain injury or bleed;
• liver disease; or
• kidney disease.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding.

How should I use nicardipine?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Nicardipine oral is taken by mouth.

Nicardipine injection is given as an infusion into a vein. A healthcare provider will give you this injection.

Nicardipine is usually given by injection only if you are unable to take medicine by mouth.

Your blood pressure will need to be checked often and you may need frequent blood tests.

If you have high blood pressure, keep using this medicine even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

In a medical setting you are not likely to miss a dose of nicardipine injection.

What happens if I overdose?

Overdose symptoms may include irregular heartbeats, flushing (sudden warmth, redness, or tingly feeling), drowsiness, confusion, and slurred speech.

What should I avoid while using nicardipine?

What are the possible side effects of nicardipine?

Some side effects may occur during the injection. Tell your medical caregivers if you feel dizzy, nauseated, light-headed, itchy, sweaty, or have a headache, chest tightness, back pain, trouble breathing, or swelling in your face.

You may have more severe or more frequent episodes of chest pain when you first start taking nicardipine, or whenever your doses are changed.

• chest pain;
• a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
• heart problems --swelling, rapid weight gain, feeling short of breath; or
• fast or uneven heart rate.

Common side effects may include:

• headache, dizziness, weakness;
• low blood pressure, fast heartbeats;
• swelling in your feet;
• flushing (sudden warmth, redness, or tingly feeling); or
• nausea, vomiting.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect nicardipine?

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medicines at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you use, which may increase side effects or make the medicines less effective.

Other drugs may affect nicardipine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use.

Where can I get more information?

Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about nicardipine.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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