Procardia XL (Nifedipine)

Try to take this medicine around the same time each day.

Follow the instructions on your prescription label carefully when taking this medicine. Don’t take more or less PROCARDIA than is prescribed by your doctor.

Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of PROCARDIA and gradually increase the dosage.

PROCARDIA Overdose

Symptoms of overdose may include:

• Dizziness
• Fast heartbeat
• Flushing
• Nausea or vomiting
• Nervousness
• Blurred vision
• Fainting
• Swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs

If you suspect an overdose, contact a poison control center or emergency room immediately.

Missed Dose of PROCARDIA

If you miss a dose of PROCARDIA, take it as soon as you remember.

However, if it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue on your regular medication schedule.

Don’t double up on doses to make up for a missed one.

Common Side Effects of PROCARDIA

Tell your doctor if any of the following side effects are severe or don’t go away:

• Nausea
• Headache
• Flushing
• Dizziness or light-headedness
• Heartburn
• Fast heartbeat
• Muscle cramps
• Cough
• Constipation
• Decreased sexual ability

Serious Side Effects of PROCARDIA

Tell your doctor right away if you experience any of the following serious side effects:

• More intense or more frequent chest pain
• Fainting
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Swelling of the eyes, face, lips, tongue, hands, arms, feet, ankles, or lower legs
• Rash
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)

Before taking PROCARDIA, tell your doctor if you have or have had:

• A blockage in your stomach or intestines
• Any condition that causes food to move through your digestive system more slowly
• Heart, liver, or kidney disease
• A recent heart attack
• Congestive heart failure
• Low or high blood pressure
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Diabetes
• An underactive thyroid
• An allergy to any medication

Tell your healthcare provider that you take PROCARDIA before having any type of surgery, including a dental procedure.

This medicine may not be safe for elderly people. Talk to your doctor about the risks of PROCARDIA before starting the drug if you’re 65 or older.

Your doctor will probably want to check your blood pressure often while you’re taking PROCARDIA. Keep all appointments with your doctor and laboratory.

This medicine will help control your symptoms, but it won’t cure your condition. Continue to take PROCARDIA even if you feel well.

Don’t stop taking this medicine without first talking to your doctor.

Pregnancy and PROCARDIA

It’s not known whether PROCARDIA can harm an unborn baby.

Tell your doctor if you’re pregnant or plan to become pregnant before taking this medicine.

PROCARDIA can pass into breast milk and hurt a breastfeeding baby. Don’t take this medicine if you’re breastfeeding.

Tell your doctor about all prescription, non-prescription, illegal, recreational, herbal, nutritional, or dietary drugs you’re taking, especially:

• Acarbose (Prandase, Precose)
• Anticoagulants (blood thinners) such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)
• Antifungals such as fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), and ketoconazole (Nizoral)
• Beta blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin), labetalol (Trandate), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal), and timolol (Blocadren)
• Carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Epitol, Tegretol)
• Cimetidine (Tagamet)
• Digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps)
• Diltiazem (Cardizem)
• Doxazosin (Cardura)
• Erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, Erythrocin)
• Fentanyl (Actiq, Duragesic, Fentora, Sublimaze)
• Flecainide (Tambocor)
• HIV protease inhibitors including amprenavir (Agenerase), atazanavir (Reyataz), delavirdine (Rescriptor), fosamprenavir (Lexiva), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), and ritonavir (Norvir, in Kaletra)
• Metformin (Glucophage)
• Nefazodone (Serzone)
• Phenobarbital (Luminal)
• Phenytoin (Dilantin)
• Quinidine (Quinidex)
• Quinupristin and dalfopristin (Synercid)
• Rifampin (Rifadin, Rifamate, Rifater, Rimactane)
• Rifapentine (Priftin)
• St. John’s wort
• Tacrolimus (Prograf)
• Valproic acid (Depakene, Depakote)
• Verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan)

PROCARDIA and Other Interactions

PROCARDIA may cause dizziness.

Don’t drive or operate machinery until you know how this medicine affects you.

PROCARDIA and Alcohol

Alcohol may worsen certain side effects of PROCARDIA.

Talk to your doctor about how much alcohol is safe to consume while taking this medicine.

PROCARDIA and Grapefruit

Grapefruit may interact with PROCARDIA. Don’t drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruit for three days before starting this medicine or while taking it.

Talk to your doctor about this potential interaction.