What is nisoldipine?
Nisoldipine is in a group of drugs called calcium channel blockers. Nisoldipine relaxes (widens)
blood vessels and improves blood flow.
Nisoldipine is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).
Nisoldipine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking nisoldipine?
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to nisoldipine, or to similar
medications such as amlodipine (Norvasc), felodipine (Plendil), nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine
(Procardia, Adalat), or nimodipine (Nimotop).
Before using nisoldipine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:
If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or
special tests to safely take this medication.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether nisoldipine is harmful to an unborn
baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known if nisoldipine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing infant. Do
not take nisoldipine without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How should I take nisoldipine?
Take nisoldipine exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take it in larger doses or for
longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Take nisoldipine on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal.
Do not crush, chew, or break an extended-release tablet. Swallow the pill whole. Breaking
the pill may cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.
To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood pressure will need to be tested
on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.
Keep using this medicine as directed, even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no
symptoms, so you may not know when your blood pressure is high. You may need to use blood
pressure medication for the rest of your life.
Store nisoldipine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose of nisoldipine?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the
missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time.
Do not
take
extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Where can I get more information about nisoldipine?
Your pharmacist has information about nisoldipine written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of nisoldipine?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
-
swelling in your legs or ankles;
-
chest pain;
-
fast or pounding heartbeats; or
-
feeling like you might pass out.
Less serious side effects may include:
-
dizziness;
-
warmth, redness, or tingly feeling under your skin;
-
headache;
-
nausea;
-
stuffy nose, sore throat; or
-
mild skin rash.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your
doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at
1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about nisoldipine?
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to nisoldipine, or to similar
medications such as amlodipine (Norvasc), felodipine (Plendil), nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine
(Procardia, Adalat), or nimodipine (Nimotop).
Before using nisoldipine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have coronary
artery disease, congestive heart failure, or liver disease.
Take nisoldipine on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal. Avoid
eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice when you take nisoldipine.
Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as swelling in your legs or
ankles, chest pain, fast or pounding heartbeats, or if you feel like you might pass out.
Keep using this medicine as directed, even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no
symptoms, so you may not know when your blood pressure is high. You may need to use blood
pressure medication for the rest of your life.
There are many other medicines that can interact with nisoldipine.
Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes
vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new
medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list with you of all the medicines you use and show this
list to any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you.
What should I avoid while taking nisoldipine?
Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice when you take nisoldipine.
What other drugs will affect nisoldipine?
Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially:
-
other blood pressure medications;
-
armodafanil (Nuvigil) or modafanil (Progivil);
-
cimetidine (Tagamet);
-
conivaptan (Vaprisol);
-
dexamethasone (Decadron, Hexadrol);
-
an antibiotic such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin
(E.E.S., EryPed, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin), griseofulvin (Fulvicin, Grifulvin, Grisactin), telithromycin
(Ketek), or troleandomycin (Tao);
-
an antifungal medication such as clotrimazole (Mycelex
Troche), itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), or voriconazole (Vfend);
-
rifabutin (Mycobutin), rifampin (Rifadin, Rifater, Rifamate),
or rifapentine (Priftin);
-
St. John's wort;
-
an antidepressant such as nefazodone, paroxetine (Paxil),
or sertraline (Zoloft);
-
a barbiturate such as amobarbital (Amytal), butabarbital
(Butisol), mephobarbital (Mebaral), secobarbital (Seconal), or phenobarbital (Luminal,
Solfoton);
-
HIV medication such as atazanavir (Reyataz), delavirdine
(Rescriptor), efavirenz (Sustiva), etravirine (Intelence), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir
(Viracept), nevirapine (Viramune), ritonavir (Norvir, Kaletra), or saquinavir (Invirase); or
-
seizure medication such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol,
Tegretol), felbamate (Felbatol), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), or phenytoin (Dilantin), or primidone
(Mysoline).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with
nisoldipine. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins,
minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication
without telling your doctor. Keep a list with you of all the medicines you use and show this list to any
doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you.
What happens if I have an overdose of nisoldipine?