Nicardia-Retard-Nifedipine

About

Nifedipine Extended Release Tablet is used for the prophylaxis of chronic stable angina pectoris and the treatment of hypertension. It is manufactured and sold as Calcigard, Nicardia Retard, Depin.

Nifedipine is a specific and potent calcium antagonist of the 1, 4-dihydropyridine type. Calcium antagonists reduce the transmembranal influx of calcium ions through the slow calcium channel into the cell.

Nifedipine acts particularly on the cells of the myocardium and the smooth muscle cells of the coronary arteries and the peripheral resistance vessels. In hypertension, the main action of Nifedipine is to cause peripheral vasodilatation and thus reduce peripheral resistance. In angina, Nifedipine reduces peripheral and coronary vascular resistance, leading to an increase in coronary blood flow, cardiac output and stroke volume, whilst decreasing after-load. Additionally, nifedipine dilates submaximally both clear and atherosclerotic coronary arteries, thus protecting the heart against coronary artery spasm and improving perfusion to the ischaemic myocardium.

Nifedipine reduces the frequency of painful attacks and the ischaemic ECG changes irrespective of the relative contribution from coronary artery spasm or atherosclerosis. After oral administration nifedipine is rapidly and almost completely absorbed, for further information

Indications

For the prophylaxis of chronic stable angina pectoris and the treatment of hypertension.

Dose and Method of Administration

The recommended starting dose of Nifedipine is 10 mg every 12 hours swallowed with water with subsequent titration of dosage according to response. Nifedipine tablets permit titration of the initial dosage, which may be adjusted to 40 mg every 12 hours, to a maximum daily dose of 80 mg.

Contraindications

• Known hypersensitivity to the active substance, or to other dihydropyridine .

• In cases of cardiogenic shock, clinically significant aortic stenosis, unstable angina, or during or within 4 weeks of a myocardial infarction.

• For the treatment of acute attacks of angina. The safety of Nifedipine retard in malignant hypertension has not been established.

• For secondary prevention of myocardial infarction

• It should not be administered concomitantly with rifampicin. For further information

Warning and Precautions

• Nifedipine is not a beta-blocker and therefore gives no protection against the dangers of abrupt beta-blocker withdrawal.

• Care must be exercised in patients with very low blood pressure (severe hypotension with systolic pressure less than 90 mm Hg).

• Nifedipine is not recommended for use during breast-feeding.

• In patients with mild, moderate or severe impaired liver function, careful monitoring and a dose reduction may be necessary.

• Medicinal product contains lactose, patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take this medicine.

• Nifedipine should be used with caution in patients whose cardiac reserve is poor.

• For use in pregnancy, advised only when clinical conditions of the woman require treatment with Nifedipine.

Information for Patients: Nifedipine Extended Release Tablets should be swallowed whole. Do not chew, divide or crush tablets. Do not be concerned if you occasionally notice in your stool something that looks like a tablet. In Nifedipine Extended Release Tablets, the medication is contained within a non-absorbable shell that has been specially designed to slowly release the drug for your body to absorb. When this process is completed, the empty tablet is eliminated from your body.