Precautions and Warnings With Nicardipine

Among the people who should not take nicardipine are those who have aortic stenosis or allergies to nicardipine or any of the inactive ingredients used to make it. Some of the conditions you should let your healthcare provider know about before you take nicardipine include heart disease, liver problems, or low blood pressure. A few other precautions and warnings with nicardipine include potential drug interactions and the safety of taking nicardipine while pregnant or nursing.

 

Nicardipine: What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?

You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking nicardipine hydrochloride (Cardene®) if you have:
 
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
 
  • Pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
  • Breastfeeding.
     
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about any other medicines you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
 

Some Precautions and Warnings With Nicardipine

Some warnings and precautions to be aware of with nicardipine include:
 
 
  • Nicardipine can cause increased chest pain. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you develop new chest pain or if your chest pain gets worse.
     
  • As with all calcium channel blockers, nicardipine should be used with caution in people who have congestive heart failure (CHF), as it can make CHF worse.
     
  • Nicardipine can cause low blood pressure (hypotension). Let your healthcare provider know if you have any signs of low blood pressure, such as dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting.
     
  • Tell your healthcare provider if you have any upcoming surgeries. Depending on the type of anesthetic, you may need to stop taking nicardipine a few days before surgery.
     
  • The liver and kidneys help to clear nicardipine from the blood. If you have kidney or liver problems, you may need a lower nicardipine dosage.
     
  • Nicardipine can interact with other medications (see Drug Interactions With Nicardipine).
     
  • Nicardipine is considered a pregnancy Category C medication. This means that nicardipine may not be safe to use during pregnancy. Talk to your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of using nicardipine during pregnancy (see Cardene and Pregnancy for more information).
     
  • Nicardipine passes through breast milk. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding or plan to start breastfeeding, be sure to talk with your healthcare provider about using nicardipine (see Cardene and Breastfeeding for more information).
     
(Precautions and Warnings With Nicardipine Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;