Nifedical XL Warnings and Precautions

Before taking Nifedical XL, it is important to understand the risks of the medication. Some of the Nifedical XL warnings and precautions include the possible risk of the medication making chest pain worse, potential drug interactions, and the safety of taking the drug when pregnant or breastfeeding. Nifedical XL is not suitable for everyone; you should not take the medication if you are allergic to any of the ingredients used to make Nifedical XL.

Nifedical XL: What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?

You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking Nifedical 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 Nifedical XL Warnings and Precautions

Some warnings and precautions to be aware of with Nifedical XL include:
 
 
  • Nifedical 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 Nifedical XL a few days before surgery.
     
  • Rarely, Nifedical 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 Nifedical XL.
     
  • Rarely, people taking Nifedical 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.
     
  • Nifedical XL can cause water retention (edema). Because water retention can be dangerous in people with congestive heart failure, Nifedical XL should be used with caution in people with this medical condition.
     
  • Nifedical XL tablets do not completely dissolve. You may notice the tablets in your stool; this is normal and does not change the effectiveness of Nifedical XL.
     
  • Because Nifedical XL tablets do not completely dissolve, they may cause problems in people with a narrowing of the digestive tract (such as esophageal strictures). Nifedical XL should be used with caution in people with these problems.
     
  • Nifedical XL can interact with other medications (see Nifedical XL Drug Interactions).
     
  • Nifedical XL is considered a pregnancy Category C medication. This means that Nifedical XL may not be safe to use during pregnancy. Talk to your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of using Nifedical XL during pregnancy (see Nifedipine and Pregnancy for more information).
     
  • Nifedical 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 Nifedical XL (see Nifedipine and Breastfeeding for more information).
     
(Nifedical XL Warnings and Precautions Continued: Page 2)
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;
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