Sign inBefore taking lacidipine
Before taking lacidipine make sure your doctor or pharmacist knows:
- If you are pregnant, trying for a baby or breast-feeding.
- If you suffer from liver problems.
- If you have recently suffered from a heart attack or have other heart problems.
- If you have angina (chest pains).
- If you have aortic stenosis (narrowing of the blood vessel from the heart).
- If you have porphyria (a rare blood disorder).
- 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 lacidipine
- Before beginning your treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet.
- Take lacidipine tablets exactly as directed by your doctor.
- It is usual to take lacidipine in a morning with a drink of water. The usual starting dose is 2 mg every morning although this may be increased by your doctor after a few weeks.
- Do not drink grapefruit juice while you are being treated with lacidipine.
- Try to take lacidipine at the same time each day to avoid missing any doses.
- If you forget to take a dose, take one as soon as you remember but do not take two doses at the same time to make up for a missed dose.
Getting the most from your treatment
- Keep your regular doctor's appointment so your progress can be monitored.
- Do not stop taking lacidipine without speaking to your doctor first.
- If you buy any medicines, check with a pharmacist that they are safe to take with your other medicines.
- If you are having any treatment like an operation or dental treatment, tell the person carrying out the treatment which medicines you are taking.
Can lacidipine cause problems?
Along with their useful effects all medicines can cause unwanted side-effects. These 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 |
| Dizziness | Make sure your reactions are normal before driving, operating machinery or doing any other jobs which could be dangerous if you were not fully alert |
| Headache | Ask your pharmacist to recommend a suitable painkiller. If the headache continues, speak with your doctor |
| Feeling sick, upset stomach | Eat little and often. Stick to simple foods |
| Fast or uneven heartbeat (also called palpitations), flushing, swelling - particularly of the ankles and feet | These side-effects usually go away as your body adjusts to the treatment |
| Skin rash, itching, an increase in the amount of water (urine) that you pass, weakness | If 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 lacidipine
- 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, Motens® 2 mg and 4 mg Tablets, Boehringer Ingelheim Limited, electronic Medicines Compendium. Dated Jun2 1009, accessed October 2009.
- British National Formulary; 58th Edition (September 2009) British Medical Association and Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, London (link to current BNF).