Coracten SR (nifedipine)

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

- Headache
- Flushing
- Dizziness
- Disturbances of the gut such as diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, vomiting, indigestion or abdominal pain
- Swollen ankles caused by fluid retention (peripheral oedema)
- Tiredness
- Awareness of your heart beat (heart palpitations)
- Increased heart rate (tachycardia)
- Shaking, usually of the hands (tremor)
- Skin reactions such as rash, sweating or itching
- Visual disturbances
- Increased need to pass urine
- Impotence
- Depression
- Pain in the muscles (myalgia)
- Pins and needles sensations (paraesthesia)
- Abnormal enlargement of breasts in men (gynaecomastia)
- Enlargement of the gums (gingival hyperplasia)

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with this medicine. Likewise, always ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines during treatment with this one, to check that the combination is safe.

The antibiotic rifampicin should not be used with this medicine, as it decreases the blood level of nifedipine and could make it less effective.

If nifedipine is used in combination with other medicines that lower blood pressure, either to treat high blood pressure (antihypertensives), or as a side effect, the combination might lower your blood pressure too much. This could make you feel dizzy or faint, particularly when moving from a lying or sitting position to sitting or standing. This is more likely when you first start taking nifedipine with one of these medicines. If this happens to you, you should sit or lie down until the symptoms pass. Tell your doctor if any dizziness persists, as your medicine doses may need adjusting. Other medicines that decrease blood pressure include the following:

- ACE inhibitors such as enalapril
- alpha-blockers such as prazosin
- angiotensin II receptor antagonists such as losartan
- beta-blockers such as propranolol
- other calcium-channel blockers such as verapamil, diltiazem
- clonidine
- nitrates, eg glyceryl trinitrate
- certain antidepressants
- certain antipsychotics
- alprostadil
- baclofen
- benzodiazepines, eg diazepam, temazepam.

The blood level of nifedipine may be increased by the following medicines:

- cimetidine
- fluconazole
- fluoxetine
- itraconazole.

If you take any of these with nifedipine, you should tell your doctor if you feel dizzy or experience any other side effects, as the dose of your nifedipine may need to be reduced.

The blood level of nifedipine may be reduced by the antiepileptic medicines carbamazepine, phenytoin and phenobarbital.

If nifedipine is taken in combination with diltiazem, the blood level of both medicines may increase and their doses may need to be adjusted.

If nifedipine is taken in combination with quinidine, the blood level of quinidine may increase or decrease, and the blood level of nifedipine may increase. Your doctor may need to alter the dose of either medicine.

Nifedipine may increase blood levels of the following medicines:

- digoxin
- phenytoin
- tacrolimus
- theophylline.

Your doctor may want to monitor the level of these medicines in your blood if you take them with nifedipine.

Other medicines containing the same active ingredient

Adalat	Adalat LA	Adalat retard
Adipine MR	Adipine XL	Angiopine MR
Calchan MR	Cardilate MR	Coracten XL
Fortipine LA	Hypolar retard	Hypolar XL
Nifedipress MR	Nifopress retard	Nimodrel XL
Tensipine MR

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