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Generic Procardia (Nifedipine)Product: Generic Procardia (Nifedipine)Packaging Type: Strips of 10 x 10 mg Tablets
What is Generic Procardia XL Used For? Generic Procardia is used either to treat high blood pressure or to prevent chronic stable angina, one of a number of types of angina. Generic Procardia is not used for the relief of a sudden attack of angina. Generic Procardia contains the active substance nifedipine which belongs to a group of medicines called calcium channel blockers. They work by opening up blood vessels in the body to lower blood pressure and improve the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart. Your doctor, however, may prescribe Generic Procardia for another purpose. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Generic Procardia has been prescribed for you. Generic Procardia is specially designed to allow the slow release of the active substance from the tablet after it is taken. It is composed of a strong outer shell which does not dissolve in the body and is excreted in the faeces. It is normal to find these "ghost-tablets" in the faeces. The active substance contained in them has been absorbed by the body before excretion. How To Take Generic Procardia The correct dose of Generic Procardia to take has been decided by your doctor. Make sure you follow the instructions given to you by your doctor. The dose range for the treatment of high blood pressure is between 20mg to 120 mg once daily, and for the treatment of chronic stable angina is between 30mg to 90mg once daily. Generic Procardia tablets must not be chewed or broken up. They are to be swallowed whole with some liquid. They can be taken either with or without a meal. Do not halve the tablets. Generic Procardia should generally be taken in the morning. Your doctor will determine how long you should take Generic Procardia tablets. Do not stop taking the tablets unless you are told to do so by your doctor or you do not feel well while you are taking them. Side Effects of Generic Procardia Generic Procardia helps most people with high blood pressure or chronic stable angina, but like other medicines, it may have unwanted effects in a few people. Check with your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you have any problems while taking Generic Procardia . Some common side effects which have been reported for Generic Procardia include headache, constipation, feeling dizzy, feeling sick (nausea), flushing, loss of energy, unusual tiredness or weakness, numbness in the hands and feet, and swelling of the ankles or legs. These effects often go away with time. Bleeding, tender or swollen gums may occur some time after starting Generic Procardia . Muscle pain, trembling, visual disturbances and an increase in the need to pass water may occur. Occasionally, the treatment of high blood pressure may lead to slight breast swelling in older men. This side effect goes away when treatment is stopped. Tell your doctor immediately if any of the following happen to you: * fast or irregular heartbeat * fainting * signs of frequent infections such as fever, severe chills, sore throat or mouth ulcers. These side effects could be serious. You may need medical attention. Serious side effects are rare. If any of the following happen, stop taking Generic Procardia and tell your doctor immediately or go to casualty at your nearest hospital: * chest pain * signs of allergy such as rash, itching or hives on the skin, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or other parts of the body, shortness of breath, wheezing, or trouble breathing * signs of liver problems such as yellowing of the skin and/or eyes (jaundice). These very serious side effects are rare. If you have these side effects you may need urgent medical attention. Very rarely, some people experience a purple/brown discolouration of the skin or redness, flaking and itching of the skin. Also, it has been reported that some people develop a rash or blistering of the skin when they are exposed to sunlight. In very rare cases, the undissolved shell of the Generic Procardia tablet or "ghost-tablets" may not be excreted in the faeces and may collect in the stomach. Tell your doctor if you experience symptoms of bowel blockage. Surgical intervention may be necessary to remove these shells. In a small number of cases of in vitro fertilisation, medicines like nifedipine appeared to have interfered with the normal function of sperm. This effect went away after the medicine was stopped. In those men who are taking Generic Procardia and are repeatedly unsuccessful in fathering a child by in vitro fertilisation, the medicine should be considered as one of the possible causes if no other explanation can be found. Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell. Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them. Precautions when taking Generic Procardia Do not take Generic Procardia if you are allergic to the active substance nifedipine or any of the tablet ingredients. Do not take Generic Procardia if you are allergic to active substances which are similar to nifedipine. These include active ingredients such as amlodipine, felodipine and isradipine. Do not take Generic Procardia if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while you are taking Generic Procardia . Do not take Generic Procardia if you have had a heart attack in the last 8 days, or if you are in cardiogenic shock (very low blood pressure due to a failing heart). Do not take Generic Procardia if you have Kock Pouch or ileostomy. Do not take Generic Procardia if you are taking another medicine containing the active substance rifampicin. Do not take Generic Procardia after the expiry date which appears after the words "EXP" or "EXPIRY" printed on the pack. Do not start taking Generic Procardia if, when you start a new pack, the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering. Do not take tablets that show visible signs of deterioration (e.g. are broken or discoloured). Do not use Generic Procardia to treat any other medical conditions unless your doctor says so. Before you start to take Generic Procardia Tell your doctor if you: * are allergic to any other medicines or any foods, dyes or preservatives. * have any other medical conditions (either now or in the past), especially those relating to heart failure, other heart or blood vessel disorders, low blood pressure, liver disease, diabetes, blockage of your oesophagus or intestine, prolonged diarrhoea, or surgical operations carried out on your bowel. You should discuss these medical conditions with your doctor to check whether Generic Procardia is suitable for you. * experience symptoms of bowel blockage. The undissolved shell of the Generic Procardia tablet or "ghost-tablets" may not be excreted in your faeces and may collect in your stomach. Surgical intervention may be necessary to remove the shells. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including those that you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop. Some of the medicines in common use that may interfere with Generic Procardia include: * Cimetidine (Tagamet) * Erythromycin (Erythrocin, EES, E-Mycin, Eryhexal) * Warfarin (Coumadin, Marevan) * Digoxin (Lanoxin PG, Lanoxin) * Medicines used to treat irregular heartbeats such as Quinidine (Kinidin) and some beta-blockers * Quinupristin and dalfopristin (Synercid) * Rifampicin (Rimycin) * Some medicines used to treat epilepsy * Cisapride (Prepulsid) * Medicines used to treat HIV such as amprenavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir or saquinavir * Oral medicines used to treat fungal infections * Other medicines used to treat high blood pressure or angina. * Tacrolimus (Prograf) These medicines may be affected by Generic Procardia or may affect how well Generic Procardia works. You may need to take different amounts of your medicine or you may need to take different medicines. Your doctor or pharmacist has a more complete list of medicines to avoid while taking Generic Procardia . You should not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you are taking Generic Procardia because this can cause unwanted changes in the blood pressure lowering effect of the tablets. If you have not told your doctor or pharmacist about any of the above, tell them before you start taking Generic Procardia . |
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