Procardia Uses: An Overview
Procardia® (
nifedipine) is a prescription medication used to treat certain types of chest pain.
Stable angina is the most common type of angina and occurs when the heart is working harder than usual. This type of
angina pain comes at predicable times (such as during exercise) and usually goes away within a few minutes after you rest or take your angina medicine. Stable angina is usually caused by
coronary artery disease. The coronary arteries are blood vessels that carry blood and oxygen to the heart muscle. When these arteries become clogged with fatty deposits called
plaque, it's called coronary artery disease, coronary
heart disease, or just heart disease. Clogged arteries can keep the heart from getting enough blood and oxygen, and can cause chest pain.
Unstable angina is a dangerous condition that requires emergency treatment, as it is a sign that a
heart attack could occur soon. Unlike stable angina, it does not follow a pattern. It can occur without physical exertion and is not relieved by rest or medicine.
Variant angina (also known as vasospastic angina) is rare. It usually occurs when the person is resting and is caused by spasms in the arteries of the heart. It may be associated with coronary artery disease, but it can also occur in people with otherwise healthy hearts. Variant angina can increase your risk of a heart attack or an irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia).
Procardia is approved to treat stable angina and variant angina. It helps the blood vessels to relax, which relieves pain and lessens the workload on the heart.
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