Adalat is a calcium channel blocker that is used to treat high blood pressure. The medication is also known as nifedipine amongst professionals in the industry. The specialty of this medication is the fact that it is highly effective in treating angina (chest pain).
How it works
The medication belongs to a group of drugs commonly referred to as calcium channel blockers. Unlike most other high blood pressure medications, Adalat not only relaxes the blood vessels, but also the muscles of your heart. This increases the efficiency of the medication and enhances the fluidness of the blood to a greater extent.
Its uses
The main purpose of the medication is to treat hypertension and angina. However, it is also effective in reducing the occurrence of heart attacks. Remember that this medication must only be used to prevent or reduce the occurrence of a heart attack and not during or after one.
Dosage
The medication is often consumed in capsule form and therefore must not be chewed or crushed since it can expose the entire drug in your mouth. This can increase the chances of side effects to a great degree. Older adults must be particularly careful about the accuracy of the dosage since they are more susceptible to the side effects. Therefore, do not take any more capsules than what is prescribed by your healthcare provider. The medication is usually taken thrice a day. But, your physician might increase or decrease the dosage depending on your personal condition.
Side effects
Similar to any medication, consuming Adalat can result in certain side effects. Listed below are some of them.
Pounding heartbeats
Increased chest pain
Jaundice
Upper stomach pain
Swelling of feet
Increased sweating
Nausea
Light-headed feeling
The chances of an individual experiencing all of the above symptoms is highly unlikely. However, the occurrence of these effects is possible. You may experience one or two of them depending on your personal health condition. Make sure to contact your healthcare provider immediately during such a situation.
Precautions
Although these side effects are inevitable, there are various precautionary methods that you can follow to reduce their occurrence.
If you miss your dose, do not double it the next time. Skip it and follow your regular time table.
Never consume the medication with an empty stomach
Go for regular blood pressure checkups to ensure that the medication is effective
Do not stop the medication abruptly or mix it with another drug without informing your physician
If you are undergoing surgery, stop using the medication 36 hours before the surgery and inform your surgeon about all the medications you use
Store the medication at room temperature and keep it away from moisture and heat.
Self-care
This medication can react negatively to any food item that contains grapefruit. So, make sure to avoid grapefruit and grape juice while consuming Adalat. Moreover, this drug can react to other medications as well – especially towards beta-blockers. So, make sure to inform your doctor about medical history and your current list of medications.
Do not consume Adalat if you become pregnant. Although it is not known whether the drug can affect the baby or not, it is best to avoid it during this period.
The post Adalat (Nifedipine) appeared first on Canadian Pharmacy Online 365/7.