Syscor MR

Nisoldipine works by slowing the movement of calcium through the muscle cells that are found in the walls of blood vessels. It does this by blocking 'calcium channels' in these muscle cells. Calcium is needed by muscle cells in order for them to contract, so by depriving them of calcium, nisoldipine causes the muscle cells to relax.

Nisoldipine acts specifically on the muscle cells in the walls of arteries, causing them to relax. This allows the arteries in the body to widen, an effect that has two main uses.

The relaxing and widening of the small arteries in the body decreases the resistance that the heart has to push against in order to pump the blood around the body. This reduces the pressure within the blood vessels. Nisoldipine can therefore be used to treat high blood pressure.

The widening effect on the small arteries and the arteries in the heart also improves the blood and therefore oxygen supply to the heart. This feature means nisoldipine can be used to treat angina. The chest pain of angina is caused by insufficient oxygen supply to the heart. As nisoldipine improves this oxygen supply, and also reduces the effort the heart has to make to pump blood, it is used to prevent angina attacks.

What is it used for?

- Angina pectoris
- Mild to moderate high blood pressure with no known cause

Warning!

- This medicine should ideally be taken in the morning, before breakfast, as food can impair its absorption from the gut. The tablets should be swallowed whole, not chewed.
- 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.
- Dizziness and weariness may occasionally occur during treatment with blood pressure lowering medicines. If you are affected, caution is required when driving or operating machinery.

Use with caution in

- Heart failure
- Low blood pressure (hypotension)

Not to be used in

- Children under 12 years of age
- Failure of the heart to maintain adequate circulation of blood (cardiogenic shock)
- Angina not well controlled by medical treatment
- People who have had a heart attack within the last week
- Obstruction of blood flow out of the heart, eg due to narrowing of the aorta (aortic stenosis)
- Decreased liver function
- Pregnancy
- Breastfeeding

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

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.

- The safety of this medicine in pregnancy has not been established. It should not be used during pregnancy. Seek medical advice from your doctor.
- This medicine may pass into breast milk. It should not be used by breastfeeding mothers. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

Label warnings

- Take this medication half to one hour before food.
- This medication is to be swallowed whole, not chewed.

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