If you suffer from high blood pressure, taking a calcium channel blocker like Lercanidipine can reduce your risk of dangerous illnesses like strokes, heart attacks, and even heart disease.
Lercanidipine is a treatment for high blood pressure, or hypertension. In most cases, people who have high blood pressure won't notice any symptoms. However, if this condition isn't treated properly with the right medication and lifestyle changes, then it could lead to something more serious. High blood pressure increases your chances of a heart attack, heart failure, and stroke. Lercanidipine belongs to the class of medications called calcium blockers. These are medicines that dilate the blood vessels within the body, allowing blood to flow freely. When blood can flow freely, there is a reduced risk of high blood pressure. The substance works by affecting the way that calcium passes into the muscular cells of the blood vessels. These muscles use calcium to constrict and contract. Lercanidipine reduces the amount of calcium that goes into these cells, helping the muscles to relax and lower your blood pressure.
Usually, a doctor will prescribe Lercanidipine to help with the treatment of high blood pressure and hypertension. It may be possible to use this substance alongside other treatment options for high blood pressure that include lifestyle and dietary changes. Lercanidipine can also be used to protect the heart and reduce the chances of fatal side effects after a person has a heart attack or suffers from heart disease. Your doctor will consider your symptoms and medical background carefully before prescribing Lercanidipine.
Your doctor will provide instructions on how to use this medication properly when it is prescribed to you. If you are uncertain about anything, you can check the leaflet included in the medication package for extra information, or you can speak to a pharmacist about your options. Remember to check the patient leaflet every time you get a repeat prescription of this medication to ensure that the instructions have not been changed. Usually, patients take Lercanidipine for hypertension once each day. You will be able to take this substance at any time of the day, but it is usually a good idea to take it on an empty stomach. You will need to take the substance at least fifteen minutes before a meal, as fatty food can increase the amount of Lercanidipine you absorb into your bloodstream. The more Lercanidipine you absorb, the more susceptible you will be to side effects.
Swallow Lercanidipine at the same time each day with a glass of water. Do not chew or dissolve the Lercanidipine tablets. Most people recommend taking this medication in the morning before their breakfast. If you find the tablet difficult to swallow whole, you should break it in half. Make sure that you do not drink any grapefruit juice or eat a lot of grapefruit when taking Lercanidipine. In some cases, grapefruit will increase the concentration of Lercanidipine in your bloodstream, making your risk of side effects more likely.
Lercanidipine comes in different doses depending on the nature of your condition. Your doctor will decide what dosage is right for you based on your history of any blood pressure conditions. In many cases, your doctor may start you on a lower dose of this drug and then increase the amount you are required to take based on your reactions to it.
Lercanidipine 10mg tablets and Lercanidipine 20mg tablets are available, with the typical starting dose being 10mg per day. If this dose does not work properly for your body and your blood pressure levels remain high, then you may need to increase your dose. Your doctor will tell you when and if to do this. Do not take more or less than the amount prescribed by your doctor. If you forget to take Lercanidipine, then you can take it up to 15 minutes before your next meal. If you do not remember to take your medication until the next day, you should leave the missed dose out and carry on with the schedule as normal.
Do not double up a dose to make up for a tablet that you have missed. If you are concerned that you have accidentally taken too much Lercanidipine, contact your doctor immediately. It is important to speak to a healthcare professional if you believe that you are at risk of an overdose.
It is rare for people to suffer severe side effects when taking Lercanidipine. However, you may have side effects with any medication you take. In some cases, these symptoms will be very minor and might go away by themselves as your body adjusts to the new medication. If your side effects persist or worsen over time, then you should contact your doctor.
Common side effects of Lercanidipine include:
Lercanidipine may also cause more severe side effects for some people. Make sure you contact your doctor immediately if you suffer from any significant pain in your chest when taking this medication. Although these blood pressure tablets (Lercanidipine) can reduce your risk of a heart attack, you may still have a heart attack when taking this medication.
In rare circumstances, you may have a severe allergic reaction to Lercanidipine. Contact the emergency services immediately if you are struggling to breathe or experience tightness in your throat or chest. If you have trouble talking, or your mouth and lips begin swelling, contact a doctor immediately or go to a hospital.
Lercanidipine is an effective medication for hypertension and high blood pressure for many people. However, this medication will not suit everyone. To ensure that Lercanidipine is safe for you, it is important to speak to your doctor about your complete medical history. Doctors will often use Lercanidipine with caution in elderly people and those who have suffered from chronic heart failure in the past. It may not be appropriate to take this medication if you have decreased kidney or liver function, or a narrowing in the main artery that exits your heart. Your doctor may exercise caution when giving you Lercanidipine if you have suffered from sick sinus syndrome in the past. This is a common problem in the elderly that can have an impact on your heart’s performance. Do not take Lercanidipine if you have any history of allergies to this medication or related channel blockers.
You should not take Lercanidipine if you are:
Lercanidipine should not be prescribed to people who are pregnant or planning on getting pregnant, and it is not recommended for use with mothers who are breastfeeding, as it may pass into milk. Additionally, Lercanidipine is not suitable for people with rare hereditary conditions like porphyrias or galactose intolerance.
Medications like Lercanidipine can interact with other medications that you may be taking for a range of conditions. It is important to speak to your doctor about any medications that you are using before you begin taking Lercanidipine. This includes any recreational drugs that you may be using, supplemental medications, herbal substances, or over-the-counter medicines.
Make sure that you do not begin to take any new medications when you are using this drug before checking with your doctor or pharmacist to see if the combination is safe. Lercanidipine typically has a negative impact on the body when it is used with other medications intended to decrease blood pressure – particularly those to treat hypertension. If the combination of your medications lowers your blood pressure too much, then you may need to reduce one or other medication – your doctor will discuss your options with you. Medication like Cimetidine can increase the blood levels of Lercanidipine in your system and increase your risk of side effects. Additionally, Lercanidipine may increase the levels of a substance called ciclosporin in your body, which can suppress the immune system. Certain medications like clarithromycin can decrease the way that Lercanidipine is broken down by the liver.
Lercanidipine is available to buy from most online and offline pharmacies following a discussion with a doctor about your symptoms. We can arrange for a consultation with a registered healthcare professional for you to make sure that Lercanidipine treatment is suitable for you.
Most hypertension medications including Lercanidipine are not available without a prescription. This is because these medications can interact with certain conditions and medications. It is important to discuss your symptoms with your doctor and get a prescription before you attempt to order Lercanidipine as a different medication may be necessary instead.
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