Nimotop

How does it work?

Nimodipine belongs to a group of medicines called calcium channel blockers, which act on the heart and blood vessels. Nimodipine slows the movement of calcium through cells, which has two results. Firstly, it decreases the rate at which the heart beats. Secondly, it has a widening effect on blood vessels, particularly those in the brain. This is helpful after a bleed in the brain, when the blood vessels can tighten, reducing the flow of blood to the brain. Nimodipine is used to prevent this and therefore prevent damage to the brain.

What is it used for?

Bleeding into the space between the skull and the brain (sub-arachnoid haemorrhage)

Warning!

Unless your doctor or pharmacist tells you otherwise, you should avoid drinking grapefruit juice while taking this medicine, as it may affect the level of this medicine in your blood.

Use with caution in

Kidney disease

Swelling in the brain (cerebral oedema)

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

This medicine may inhibit labour. However, the risk to the foetus should be balanced against the risk of the mother's uncontrolled high blood pressure. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

There is no information available regarding the safety of this medicine during breastfeeding. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

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

Faster than normal heart beat (tachycardia)

Slower than normal heart beat (bradycardia)

Increased blood flow to the skin on the face (facial flushing)

Low blood pressure (hypotension)

Nausea

Disturbances of the gut such as diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain

Feeling of warmth

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?

Nimodipine increases the effect of medicines used to lower blood pressure. When first taken with other blood pressure lowering medication it may cause a large drop in blood pressure and therefore dizziness. The effect of nimodipine is decreased by phenytoin, carbamazapine and phenobarbital so the dose may need to be increased. Sodium valproate may increase the blood levels of this medicine so dose may need to be reduced.

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