Procardia XL Warnings and Precautions

There are many important Procardia XL warnings and precautions to be aware of before starting treatment. Some of these precautions include the safety of taking the medication when pregnant or breastfeeding, potential side effects (such as low blood pressure or water retention), and the risk of the drug making chest pain worse. Prior to taking Procardia XL, be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about any medical conditions you have and any medications you are taking.

 

Procardia XL: What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?

You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking Procardia XL® (nifedipine) 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 all of the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
 

Some Procardia XL Warnings and Precautions

Some warnings and precautions to be aware of with
 Procardia XL include:
 
  • Procardia XL 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 Procardia XL a few days before surgery.
     
  • Rarely, Procardia XL can make chest pain worse or even cause heart attacks. This is more likely to occur in people with severe heart disease. Tell your healthcare provider if your chest pain worsens while you are taking Procardia XL.
     
  • Rarely, people taking Procardia XL with a beta blocker have developed congestive heart failure (CHF). This is more likely to occur in people with a condition called aortic stenosis.
     
  • Procardia XL can cause water retention (edema). Because water retention can be dangerous in people with congestive heart failure, Procardia XL should be used with caution in people with this medical condition.
     
  • Procardia XL tablets do not completely dissolve. You may notice the tablets in your stool; this is normal and does not change the effectiveness of Procardia XL.
     
  • Because Procardia XL tablets do not completely dissolve, they may cause problems in people with a narrowing of the digestive tract (such as esophageal strictures). Procardia XL should be used with caution in people with these problems.
     
  • Procardia XL can interact with other medications (see Procardia XL Drug Interactions).
     
  • Procardia XL is considered a pregnancy Category C medication. This means that Procardia XL may not be safe to use during pregnancy. Talk to your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of using Procardia XL during pregnancy (see Procardia XL and Pregnancy for more information).
     
  • Procardia XL passes through breast milk. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding or plan to start breastfeeding, be sure to talk with your healthcare provider about using Procardia XL (see Procardia XL and Breastfeeding for more information).
     
(Procardia XL Warnings and Precautions Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;