Procardia Warnings and Precautions

Understanding the Procardia warnings and precautions can help to ensure a safe treatment process. Some of these precautions include being aware of possible side effects, potential drug interactions, and the safety of taking the medication when pregnant or breastfeeding. If you have existing medical conditions, such as heart disease or aortic stenosis, be sure to tell your healthcare provider before taking Procardia.

• Heart disease, including congestive heart failure (CHF)
• Low blood pressure
• An upcoming surgery
• Aortic stenosis
• Any allergies, including allergies to food, dyes, or preservatives.
   

• Pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
• Breastfeeding.
   

• Procardia should not be used to control high blood pressure (hypertension). It can cause very low blood pressure in people with hypertension and has not been thoroughly studied for this use. This does not apply to Procardia XL, a different medication that has been approved for high blood pressure.
   
• Procardia should not be used during a heart attack or within two weeks after having a heart attack. Studies have shown that Procardia can be harmful in such situations.
   
• Tell your healthcare provider if you have any upcoming surgeries. Depending on the type of anesthetic, you may need to stop taking Procardia a few days before surgery.
   
• Rarely, Procardia 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 becomes worse while you are taking Procardia.
   
• Rarely, people taking Procardia 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 can cause water retention (edema). Because water retention can be dangerous in people with congestive heart failure, Procardia should be used with caution in people who have this condition.
   
• Procardia can interact with other medications (see Procardia Drug Interactions).
   
• Procardia is considered a pregnancy Category C medication. This means that Procardia may not be safe to use during pregnancy. Talk to your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of using Procardia during pregnancy (see Procardia and Pregnancy for more information).
   
• Procardia 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 (see Procardia and Breastfeeding for more information).