7 Calcium Channel Blocker Side Effects You Should Know About
Calcium channel blockers help maintain blood pressure. Common calcium channel blocker side effects include dizziness, fatigue, and headaches.
nisoldipine
Used for Hypertension
Used for Hypertension
Nisoldipine (Sular) is a type of blood pressure medication called a calcium channel blocker. It treats high blood pressure (hypertension) in adults. The extended-release tablets are taken by mouth once per day on an empty stomach. Some side effects include swelling in the arms or legs and headache. Nisoldipine (Sular) is available as a brand-name and generic medication.
What is Nisoldipine (Sular)?
What is Nisoldipine (Sular) used for?
How Nisoldipine (Sular) works
Nisoldipine (Sular) is a calcium channel blocker. It works by relaxing your blood vessels to lower your blood pressure.
When does Nisoldipine (Sular) start working?Time passed since treatment started:
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Sular |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Calcium channel blocker (CCB) |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | Lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
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Side effects of Nisoldipine (Sular)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Swelling in the legs, feet, or hands (22%)
- Headache (22%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Dizziness
- Heart palpitation (feeling that your heart is racing)
- Chest pain
- Sore throat
- Sinus infection
- Nausea
- Rash
Nisoldipine (Sular) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Dangerously low blood pressure: dizziness, lightheadedness, pale skin, feeling faint
- Heart attack or severe chest pain: tightness and pain in the chest, neck, arms, or back; anxiety; dizziness; tiredness; cold and clammy skin; sweating; heartburn; nausea,
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The following Nisoldipine (Sular) side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Bloating or swelling of face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet
rapid weight gain
tingling of hands or feet
unusual weight gain or loss
Less common
dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting
fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
feeling of warmth or heat
flushing or redness of skin, especially on face and neck
headache
rash
sweating
Rare
Chest tightness
shortness of breath
swelling of the arms, face, legs, lips, tongue, or throat
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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Pros and cons of Nisoldipine (Sular)
Pros
- Taken by mouth once daily
- Can take together with other blood pressure medications
Cons
- Can cause headache and swelling in the legs and feet
- Interacts with grapefruit and many other medications, such as amiodarone (Pacerone) and ketoconazole
Pharmacist tips for Nisoldipine (Sular)
- Take nisoldipine (Sular) on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal. Taking it with food can lower the amount of medication that gets absorbed into your body.
- Swallow the nisoldipine (Sular) tablet whole. Don't chew, break, or crush them since the medication might not work as well and might cause more side effects. If you can't swallow the tablets whole, talk to your prescriber about possibly switching to a different medication.
- It typically takes about a few weeks or so before you can see the full effects of nisoldipine (Sular) on your blood pressure. Don't worry if you don't see a change in your blood pressure right after you start taking the medication.
- Check your blood pressure regularly at home as you continue to take nisoldipine (Sular) every day. Write down your blood pressure measurements and share them with your prescriber. Your prescriber will use these measurements to recommend any needed dose adjustments.
- You might feel dizzy when you first start taking nisoldipine (Sular) and when your dose gets raised. This feeling often happens when you stand up. Be sure to get up slowly or hold onto something to prevent dizziness. You should feel less dizzy as you continue taking the medication and as you get used to your new blood pressure.
- It's common to have swelling in your feet, ankles, legs, or hands when you take nisoldipine (Sular). Some ways to ease the swelling include sitting or lying down with your legs raised and wearing compression socks. Talk with your prescriber for more tips on how to manage swelling from this medication.
- Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice while you're taking nisoldipine (Sular). It can make the levels of the medication in your body become too high. This can raise your risk of side effects.
- Tell your prescriber and pharmacist about all the over-the-counter and prescription medications that you're taking. Nisoldipine (Sular) can interact with many medications, such as certain antifungals, clarithromycin, and carbamazepine (Tegretol). Your care team can check that your medications are safe to take together.
- Don't lower your nisoldipine (Sular) dose or stop taking the medication suddenly without talking to your prescriber first. Otherwise, it can cause your blood pressure to rise quickly.
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Risks and warnings for Nisoldipine (Sular)
Nisoldipine (Sular) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Severely low blood pressure
Nisoldipine (Sular) can sometimes cause your blood pressure to drop too much. It can make you feel dizzy, tired, or lightheaded. This side effect commonly happens when you start taking the medication and when your dose gets raised.
If your blood pressure drops too much and you feel too dizzy, make sure to sit down slowly while holding onto something stable. Let your prescriber know because they might need to adjust the dose of your medication. Get medical help right away if you fall and hit your head.
Risk of heart attack and chest pain
- Risk factors: Severe coronary artery disease
Although rare, it's possible for some people to have worsening chest pain or have a heart attack while they're taking nisoldipine (Sular). The risk is higher if you have a heart problem called coronary artery disease (CAD). The risk for worsening chest pain or heart attack can appear when you first start taking this medication and when your dose gets raised.
Get medical help right away if you experience dizziness, anxiety, chest pain, pressure in the chest, shortness of breath, or nausea. These can be signs of chest pain or heart attack.
Allergic reaction
- Risk factors: History of allergy to FD&C Yellow No. 5 (tartrazine)
Certain versions of nisoldipine (Sular) might contain a dye called FD&C Yellow No. 5 (tartrazine). Although rare, some people can have an allergic reaction to this ingredient.
Get medical help right away if you have hives, itching, or other signs of an allergic reaction after you take nisoldipine (Sular).
Nisoldipine (Sular) dosage
The average cost for 90 tablets of 17mg of Nisoldipine (Sular) is $189.72 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 75.58% off the average retail price of $776.94.
Interactions between Nisoldipine (Sular) and other drugs
Nisoldipine (Sular) may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Nisoldipine (Sular). Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Abametapir
- Ceritinib
- Clarithromycin
- Clopidogrel
- Cobicistat
- Conivaptan
- Dantrolene
- Digoxin
- Epirubicin
- Fluconazole
- Fosnetupitant
- Lacosamide
- Mibefradil
- Netupitant
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Cimetidine
- Dalfopristin
- Fosphenytoin
- Indinavir
- Phenytoin
- Quinidine
- Quinupristin
- Rifampin
- Rifapentine
How much does Nisoldipine (Sular) cost?
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Nisoldipine (Sular) contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Nisoldipine (Sular) will not be safe for you to take.
- Allergy to other calcium channel blockers
What are alternatives to Nisoldipine (Sular)?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Nisoldipine (Sular). Compare a few possible alternatives below.
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