Advice to patients (21) Nifedipine modified release preparations
- This medicine contains nifedipine and is used to treat several conditions, most commonly high blood pressure and chest pain (angina).
- The tablets/capsules should be swallowed whole with a glass of liquid. They will not work properly if they are crushed or chewed.
- Grapefruit and grapefruit juice can affect this medicine. Do you eat or drink either of these?
- Like all medicines, nifedipine can have some side effects. These include headache, dizziness and flushing. Ankle swelling may occur, particularly if you sit down for a long time. If you do sit down for much of the day, it is a good idea to rest your feet on a stool. Tell your doctor if any unwanted effects are persistent or troublesome.
- Problems can occur if this medicine is taken with some other prescribed medicines or medicines you can buy. Ask me or the doctor before you take anything else.
This series of "advice tips" on commonly used drugs is written by
pharmacists from the Sussex Pharmacy Academic Practice Unit. It is intended
as a reminder of points to be made by pharmacists as they hand out dispensed
medicines. The list is not intended to be comprehensive but to cover some important
points.
By Carina and Duncan Livingstone
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