Adalat XL and/or Equivalents

Adalat XL (nifedipine)

Adalat XL Description

Adalat XL is a prescription drug manufactured by Bayer Healthcare. It is sold under other trade names also. These are Nifediac, Procardia and Nifedical. All these contain the main active ingredient Nifedipine. Nifedipine belongs to the class of medications that are called dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers. Adalat XL is used in hypertensive patients to lower the blood pressure and avoid any adverse reactions such as heart attack (myocardial infarction) or stroke. Hypertension is a very common disease at the global level and Adalat XL is naturally therefore used widely. In fact it is the drug of choice for hypertension, hence it is one of the most popular medications sold.

Conditions Treated by Adalat XL

Adalat XL or Nifedipine is prescribed for hypertension and chest pain or angina. The active ingredient in it is a calcium channel blockers. It helps the arteries by working on the smooth muscles in them and thus blocks the flood of calcium ions in smooth muscles. By blocking these calcium ions, the arteries are dilated and the flow of blood is evened out. This helps to regulate the blood pressure. Adalat XL are extended release tablets hence a higher dosage of these might be recommended. However the effectiveness of this medication also depends on the overall health related changes made by the patient. A healthy lifestyle including a low cholesterol diet along with regular physical activity is necessary along with the medicine.

Adalat XL Dosage Information

a.) Typical Dosage Recommendations

Adalat XL is a prescription medicine meant for oral consumption. It is available in various doses and the standard doses are 20mg, 30mg and a maximum of 60mg. The standard dose of Adalat XL is generally between 5mg to 20mg to be taken 3 to 4 times over the course of a day. This is the dosage for the immediate release form. The tablets are also in extended release format. The dosage for these is on the higher side that is between 20mg to 90 mg. Adalat XL refers to extended release form while there is also a PA form. For angina the recommended dosage of Adalat XL is around 20mg to 30mg, once daily. The dosage per day should not exceed 90mg.

The tablet must be taken with water without crushing or chewing it. Also citrus fruits and juices should be avoided with this tablet as they may interfere with the absorption of the medicine. There are no other specific requirements and the tablet does not necessarily have to be taken with food. But as with most prescriptions it is always better to take any medicine with some food than on an empty stomach.

b.) Missing A Dose

The dosage for any medicine is based on several factors such as age, weight, gender, medical history and other medications being taken by the patient. Thus the dosage is individualized to a specific patient’s requirement. Hence the patient must adhere to the dosage completely. For conditions such as hypertension, consistency in the medications in addition to lifestyle changes is the only way to ensure results. To avoid missed doses, Adalat XL must be taken at a similar time every, possibly linked to meal times and other routine activities such as a favorite TV show. In case of a missed dose, the patient must take the missed dose as long as it is not more than 12 hours since the missed schedule.

c.) Overdosing

Overdosing of most prescription drugs or even over the counter drugs can be quite dangerous. Overdosing of Adalat XL increases the likelihood of side effects and adverse events. It can specifically cause a hypotension, congestive heart failure, dizziness, extreme fatigue. In case of an extreme overdose there could be convulsions or even coma. If an overdose is suspected, the patient must immediately be given medical care.

Adalat XL Warnings

Patients who have an allergy to nifedipine or any of the components of Adalat XL must not take this tablet. Likewise patients who have experienced an adverse reaction to calcium channel blockers may be advised against taking Adalat XL. Adalat XL must not be taken by women who are trying to get pregnant or are pregnant. Likewise breastfeeding mothers must also not take the medicine as it might affect the breast milk and affect the baby. Patients with a past history of liver disease or those who have diabetes must be careful when starting a dose of Adalat XL. For such patients a smaller dose might be started and gradually increased. The medicine must not be prescribed immediately after a heart attack or any other heart related complaint. Patients must be advised that Adalat XL could impact fertility in men. People with any gastrointestinal disorders otr tendency towards low blood pressure might experience some problems with Adalat XL. However most patients might experience some dizziness at the initial stage when they start taking the medication. Elderly patients might find it more difficult to get used to the drug. All patients taking Adalat XL should completely avoid grapes or grapefruit juice as well as alcohol when they take this drug.

Adalat XL Side Effects

The most common side effects of Adalat XL are as follows:

• Tiredness
• Swelling on feet
• Feeling flushed
• Giddiness
• Headache
• Hypotension

Such side effects generally do not last for a long time. There are some fairly longer lasting and uncommon side effects. These include:

• Worsening of angina
• Swelling of gums
• Rashes and breakouts on the skin
• High palpitations
• Kidney related problems
• Constipation
• Breast pain

Not all side effects might be necessarily experienced by all patients. Also, the severity of the side effects might vary between patients. Hence patients must always consider their physician about any side effects they might experience. There are ways to manage the minor side effects and doctors can advise the patient on these. However for serious and persistent side effects, change in the dose or the medicine itself might be needed.

Possible Drug Interactions With Adalat XL

If more than one drug is taken at the same it is likely to have some kind of interaction. Adalat XL is known to have an interaction with the following:

• Cimetidine
• beta-blockers like the following:
  • acebutolol (Monitan, Sectral)
  • atenolol (Tenormin)
  • bisoprolol (Zebeta)
  • metoprolol (Betaloc, Lopressor)
  • nadolol (Corgard)
  • nebivolol (Bystolic)
  • propranolol (Inderal LA)
• flecainide (Tambocor)
• carbamazepine (Tegretol)
• digoxin (Lanoxin)
• benzodiazepines
• cyclosporine (Neoral)
• HIV medications such as:
  • efavirenz (Sustiva)
  • efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir (Atripla)
  • tenofovir (Viread)
  • emtricitabine (Emtriva)
  • atazanavir (Reyataz)
  • ritonovir (Norvir)
  • darunavir (Prezista)

If you have any questions about buying discount Adalat XL online or any other prescription products you can contact our team of professional Patient Service Representatives or one of our pharmacists 24-7 by calling 1-800-226-3784.

Notice: The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Adalat XL and/or Equivalents warnings, side-effects and general information