Procardia XL

Procardia XL is used in adults to treat high blood pressure or angina (chest pain).

Procardia XL capsules should not be used to treat high blood pressure.

Procardia XL may also be used for reasons not mentioned in this medication guide.

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may change your dose from time to time. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Swallow the tablet or capsule whole and do not crush, chew, or break it.

Your dose may change if you switch to a different brand, strength, or form of this medicine. Avoid medication errors by using only the medicine your doctor prescribes.

Your blood pressure will need to be checked often, and you may need other medical tests.

If you have high blood pressure, continue using this medicine even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms.

If you need surgery, inform the surgeon ahead of time that you are taking Procardia XL. You may need to stop taking the medicine at least 36 hours before surgery.

Some tablets have a shell that does not dissolve in the body. Part of a tablet shell may appear in your stool, but this will not make the medicine less effective.

Store at room temperature, away from moisture, heat, and light.

You may not be able to use Procardia XL if your heart cannot pump blood properly.

You should not take Procardia XL if you are allergic to it. You may not be able to use this medicine if your heart cannot pump blood properly.

Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had:

• a heart attack;
• very low blood pressure;
• severe narrowing of the aortic valve in your heart (aortic stenosis);
• congestive heart failure;
• diabetes;
• kidney disease; or
• cirrhosis or other liver disease.

Older adults may be more sensitive to the effects of this medication.

It is not known if Procardia XL will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Ask a doctor if it is safe to breastfeed while using Procardia XL.

Get emergency medical help if you notice signs of an allergic reaction (hives, trouble breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, a red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling).

Procardia XL may lead to serious side effects. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience:

• worsening chest pain;
• a fast or fluttering heartbeat;
• feeling light-headed, as if you might faint;
• swelling in your hands or lower legs; or
• pain in the upper stomach, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

You might have more intense or more frequent angina episodes when you begin taking Procardia XL or whenever your dose is adjusted.

Common side effects of Procardia XL may include:

• swelling;
• flushing (sudden warmth, redness, or tingling);
• headache, dizziness;
• low blood pressure;
• nausea, constipation; or
• feeling weak or tired.

This is not a complete list of side effects, and others may occur. Contact your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You can report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Take the medicine as soon as you remember, but skip the missed dose if it is nearly time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at once.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. Overdose symptoms may include irregular heartbeats, severe dizziness, or fainting.

Grapefruit may interact with Procardia XL and cause side effects. Avoid consuming grapefruit products.

Avoid getting up too quickly from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.

If you have been taking a beta-blocker medication (such as atenolol, carvedilol, metoprolol, propranolol, sotalol, and others), you should not stop it suddenly. Ask your doctor about gradually reducing your dose. Stopping a beta-blocker too quickly can lead to serious heart problems that will not be prevented by Procardia XL.

Inform your doctor about all your other medications, especially other heart or blood pressure medications.

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can change your blood levels of other medications, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.

Many drugs can affect Procardia XL. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Tell your doctor about all other medications you are taking.