Sign inBefore taking lercanidipine
Before taking lercanidipine make sure your doctor or pharmacist knows:
- If you have liver or kidney problems.
- If you have suffered from a heart attack less than one month ago or have any other heart problems.
- If you have porphyria (a rare blood disorder).
- If you are pregnant, trying for a baby or breast-feeding.
- If you are taking other medicines, including those available to buy without a prescription, herbal or complementary medicines.
- If you have ever had an allergic reaction to this or any other medicine.
How to take lercanidipine
- Before beginning treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet.
- Take lercanidipine exactly as directed by your doctor.
- Try to take your doses of lercanidipine at the same time each day to avoid missing any doses. It is usually taken in the morning.
- Take lercanidipine at least 15 minutes before a meal or on an empty stomach. This is because fatty food can increase the amount of lercanidipine the body absorbs which may then lead to side-effects.
- Do not drink grapefruit juice while you are taking lercanidipine.
- If you forget to take a dose do not worry, just take the next dose when it is due. Do not take two doses at the same time to make up.
- Do not stop taking lercanidipine without speaking to your doctor first.
Getting the most from your treatment
- Before having any kind of surgery, including dental or emergency treatment, tell the doctor, dentist or surgeon you are taking lercanidipine.
- Keep your regular appointments with your doctor so that your progress can be checked.
- If you buy any medicines, check with a pharmacist that they are safe to take with lercanidipine.
Can lercanidipine cause problems?
Along with their useful effects all medicines can cause unwanted side-effects which usually improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine. Speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following side-effects continue or become troublesome.
| Common side-effects - these affect less than 1 in 10 people who take this medicine | What can I do if I experience this |
| Headache | Ask your pharmacist to recommend a suitable painkiller |
| Dizziness or light-headedness especially when getting up from a sitting or laying position | Getting up slowly should help. If you begin to feel dizzy, lie down so that you do not faint, then sit for a few moments before standing. If this continues, speak with your doctor |
| Feeling sick | Eat little and often; stick to simple foods |
| Flushing, swollen ankles and feet, palpitations (awareness of the beating of the heart), fast heart beat, tiredness, muscle pain, increased need to pass water, and skin rash | If any of these become troublesome, speak with your doctor |
If you experience any other symptoms which you think may be due to this medicine, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.
How to store lercanidipine
- Keep all medicines out of the reach and sight of children.
- Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct heat and light.
Important information about all medicines
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References
- Manufacturer's PIL, Zanidip® 10 mg and 20 mg tablets, Recordati Pharmaceuticals Limited, electronic Medicines Compendium. Dated May 2006, accessed June 2009.
- British National Formulary; 57th Edition (March 2009) British Medical Association and Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, London.