Patient leaflet - LERCADIP 20 MG FILM-COATED TABLETS
Lercadip 10 mg film-coated tablets
lercanidipine hydrochloride
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
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– Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
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– If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
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– This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if
their signs of illness are the same as yours.
- if you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. this includes any possible side effects
not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
What is in this leaflet
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1. What Lercadip is and what it is used for
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2. What you need to know before you take Lercadip
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3. How to take Lercadip
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4. Possible side effects
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5. How to store Lercadip
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6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. what lercadip is and what it is used for
Lercadip, lercanidipine hydrochloride, belongs to a group of medicines called Calcium Channel Blockers (dihydropyridine derivatives) that lower blood pressure.
Lercadip is used to treat high blood pressure also known as hypertension in adults over the age of 18 years (it is not recommended for children under 18 years old).
2. what you need to know before you take lercadip if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to lercanidipine hydrochloride or to any other ingredients of lercadip tablets.
- If you are suffering from certain heart diseases:
o obstruction to flow of blood from the heart
o untreated heart failure
o unstable angina (chest discomfort occurring at rest or progressively increasing) o within one month of heart attack.
- If you have severe liver problems.
- If you have severe kidney problems or you are undergoing dialysis.
- If you are taking medicines that are inhibitors of the hepatic metabolism, such as:
o antifungal medicines (such as ketoconazole or itraconazole)
o macrolide antibiotics (such as erythromycin, troleandomycin or clarithromycin)
o antivirals (such as ritonavir).
- If you are taking another medicine called ciclosporin or cyclosporin (used after transplants to prevent organ rejection).
- With grapefruit or grapefruit juice.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Lercadip:
- if you have a heart problem
- if you have liver or kidneys problems
You must tell your doctor if you think you are (or might become) pregnant or breast-feeding (see pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility section).
Children and adolescents
The safety and efficacy of Lercadip in children aged up to 18 years have not been established.
Other medicines and Lercadip
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. This is because when Lercadip is taken with other medicines the effect of Lercadip or of the other medicine may be changed or certain side effects may occur more frequently (see also section 2 “Do not take Lercadip”).
In particular, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following medicines:
- phenytoin, phenobarbital or carbamazepine (medicines for epilepsy)
- rifampicin (a medicine to treat tubercolosis)
- astemizole or terfenadine (medicines for allergies)
- amiodarone, quinidine or sotalol (medicines to treat a fast heart beat)
- midazolam (a medicine that helps you sleep)
- digoxin (a medicine to treat a heart problem)
- beta-blockers e.g. metoprolol (a medicine to treat high blood pressure, heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms)
- cimetidine (more than 800 mg, a medicine for ulcers, indigestion, or heartburn)
- simvastatin (a medicine to lower cholesterol in your blood)
- other medicines to treat high blood pressure
Lercadip with food, drink and alcohol
- A high fat meal significantly increases blood levels of the medicine (see section 3).
- Alcohol can increase the effect of Lercadip. Do not consume alcohol during treatment with Lercadip
- Lercadip must not be taken with grapefruit or grapefruit juice (they can increase its hypotensive effect). See section 2 – Do not take Lercadip.
Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility
Lercadip is not recommended if you are pregnant, it should not be used during breast-feeding. There are no data from the use of Lercadip in pregnant women and in nursing mothers. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, if you are not using any contraceptive method, you think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine
Driving and using machines
If you develop dizziness, weakness or drowsiness with this medicine, do not drive a vehicle or operate machines.
Lercadip contains lactose
If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.
3. how to take lercadip
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Adults: the recommended dose is 10 mg once daily, at the same time each day, preferably in the morning at least 15 minutes before breakfast. Your doctor may advise you to increase the dose to one Lercadip 20 mg daily, if needed (see section 2 “Lercadip with food, drink and alcohol”).
The tablets should preferably be swallowed whole with some water.
Use in children: this medicine should not be used in children under 18 years of age.
Elderly patients: No adjustment of the daily dose is required. However, special care should be exercised in starting treatment.
Patients with liver or kidney problems: special care is needed in starting treatment in these patients and an increase in daily dose to 20 mg should be approached with caution.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If you take more Lercadip than you should
Do not exceed the prescribed dose. If you have taken more than the prescribed dose, talk to your doctor or go to the hospital straight away. Take the medicine pack with you. Taking more than the correct dose can cause an excessive drop in blood pressure and your heart can beat irregularly or faster.
If you forget to take Lercadip
If you forget to take your tablet simply miss that dose and then go on as before. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you stop taking Lercadip
If you stop taking Lercadip your blood pressure may increase again. Please consult your doctor before stopping the treatment.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
The following side effects may happen with this medicine:
Some side effects can be serious.
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000people): angina pectoris (chest pain due to lack of blood to your heart), allergic reactions (symptoms include itching, rash, urticaria), fainting.
Patients with pre-existing angina pectoris may experience increased frequency, duration or severity of these attacks with the group of medicines to which Lercadip belongs. Isolated cases of heart attack may be observed.
Other possible side effects:
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people) : headache, fast heart rate, feeling of fast or uneven heart beat (palpitations), sudden reddening of your face, neck or upper chest (flushing), ankle swelling.
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people ): dizziness, fall in blood pressure, heartburn, feeling sick, stomach pain, skin rash, itching, muscle pain, passage of large amounts of urine, feeling weak or feeling tired.
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1000people): sleepiness, vomiting, diarrhoea, hives, increase in the usual number of times one urinates, chest pain.
Not known (f requency cannot be estimated from the available data): swelling of gums, changes in liver function (detected by blood tests), cloudy fluid (when performing dialysis through a tube into your abdomen), swelling of your face, lip, tongue or throat which may cause difficulty in breathing or swallowing.
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme
Website:or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. how to store lercadipdo not use this medicine after the expiry date, which is stated on the carton and on blister after exp. the expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Store in the original package in order to protect from light.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6. contents of the pack and other informationthe active substance is lercanidipine hydrochloride.
Each film-coated tablet contains 10 mg lercanidipine hydrochloride (equivalent to 9.4 mg lercanidipine) or
20 mg lercanidipine hydrochloride (equivalent to 18.8 mg lercanidipine).
The other ingredients are:
Tablet core: lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium starch glycolate, povidone K30, magnesium stearate.
Film coating: hypromellose, talc, titanium dioxide (E171), macrogol 6000, ferric oxide (E172).
What Lercadip looks like and contents of the pack
Lercadip 10 mg: yellow, circular, biconvex, film coated tablet scored on one side. The score line is only to facilitate breaking for ease of swallowing and not to divide into equal doses.
Lercadip 20 mg: pink, circular, biconvex, film coated tablet scored on one side. The tablet can be divided into equal doses.
Lercadip is available in blister packs of 7, 14, 28, 35, 42, 50, 56, 98, 100 tablets. Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
Marketing Authorization Holder:
RECORDATI Industria Chimica e Farmaceutica S.p.A. – Via Matteo Civitali 1 – 20148 Milan, Italy
Manufacturer:
RECORDATI Industria Chimica e Farmaceutica S.p.A. – Via Matteo Civitali 1 – 20148 Milan, Italy
This medicinal product is authorised in the Member States of the EEA under the following names:
Greece, United Kingdom: Lercadip
Germany: Lercanidipine-Omniapharm
Portugal: Zanidip
This leaflet was last revised in November 2018.
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