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Nifedipine

 

Nifedipine (generic Adalat) Review

brand names: Procardia, Adalat
generic names: Nifedipine, Nifedipine Capsules

Why is Procardia prescribed?

Procardia and Procardia XL are used to treat angina (chest pain caused by lack of oxygen to the heart due to clogged arteries or spasm of the arteries). Procardia XL is also used to treat high blood pressure. Procardia and Procardia XL are calcium channel blockers. They ease the workload of the heart by relaxing the muscles in the walls of the arteries, allowing them to dilate. This improves blood flow through the heart and throughout the body, reduces blood pressure, and helps prevent angina. Procardia XL is taken once a day and provides a steady rate of medication over a 24-hour period.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.

How does it work?

Adalat capsules contain the active ingredient Nifedipine, which is a type of medicine called a calcium channel blocker. This type of medicine acts on the heart and blood vessels. (NB. Nifedipine (Adalat) is also available without a brand name, ie as the generic medicine.)

Nifedipine works by slowing the movement of calcium through the muscle cells that are found in the walls of blood vessels. It does this by blocking 'calcium channels' in these muscle cells. Calcium is needed by muscle cells in order for them to contract, so by depriving them of calcium, Nifedipine (Adalat) causes the muscle cells to relax.

Nifedipine acts specifically on the muscle cells in the walls of arteries, causing them to relax. This allows the arteries in the body to widen, an effect that has two main uses.

The relaxing and widening of the small arteries in the body decreases the resistance that the heart has to push against in order to pump the blood around the body. This reduces the pressure within the blood vessels. Nifedipine (Adalat) can therefore be used to lower high blood pressure.

The widening effect on the small arteries and the arteries in the heart also improves the blood and therefore oxygen supply to the heart. This feature means Nifedipine can be used in the management of angina. The chest pain of angina is caused by insufficient oxygen supply to the heart. As Nifedipine (Adalat) improves this oxygen supply, and also reduces the effort the heart has to make to pump blood, can be used to prevent angina attacks.

Nifedipine is also used to treat a circulatory disorder called Raynaud's phenomenon. In this condition the blood vessels in the hands go into spasm and contract excessively when the hands are cold. This causes the hands to go white, numb and painful. Nifedipine (Adalat) relaxes the peripheral arteries in the hands, causing them to widen and the blood circulation to the fingers to improve.

Nifedipine may be given in a form that has an effect as soon as the medicine is taken and then tapers off (described as immediate-release or short-acting), or in a form that releases the medicine slowly over the day (which may be described as controlled/slow/prolonged/extended/modified/sustained-release or long-acting). Adalat capsules are a short-acting form of Nifedipine.

Short-acting forms of Nifedipine (Adalat) such as Adalat capsules are usually only used to relieve the symptoms of Raynaud's. They may also be given in single doses to control high blood pressure, but are not recommended for the long-term treatment of high blood pressure or angina. This is because short-acting Nifedipine can cause large variations in blood pressure and a reflex increase in heart rate. Long-acting forms of Nifedipine (Adalat) are preferred for these conditions, because the steady release of the medicine doesn't cause this problem.

Why is Nifedipine (Adalat) prescribed?

Procardia and Procardia XL are used to treat angina (chest pain caused by lack of oxygen to the heart due to clogged arteries or spasm of the arteries). Procardia XL is also used to treat high blood pressure. Procardia and Procardia XL are calcium channel blockers. They ease the workload of the heart by relaxing the muscles in the walls of the arteries, allowing them to dilate. This improves blood flow through the heart and throughout the body, reduces blood pressure, and helps prevent angina. Procardia XL is taken once a day and provides a steady rate of medication over a 24-hour period.

Overdosage

Any medication taken in excess can have serious consequences. If you suspect an overdose, seek medical treatment immediately.

• Symptoms of Procardia overdose may include:
  Dizziness, slurred speech, severe drop in blood pressure, nausea, drowsiness, weakness

What are Nifedipine (Adalat) capsules?

Nifedipine (Adalat®, Procardia®) is a calcium-channel blocker. It affects the amount of calcium found in your heart and muscle cells. This results in relaxation of blood vessels, which can reduce the amount of work the heart has to do. Nifedipine reduces attacks of chest pain (angina). It is not a cure. Generic Nifedipine capsules are available.