Cilnidipine

Cilnidipine is a medicine used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). It belongs to a class of medicines known as a calcium channel blocker which helps to lower blood pressure. This helps prevent heart attacks and strokes. It may also be prescribed to prevent angina (heart-related chest pain). Cilnidipine may be prescribed alone or along with other medicines. The dose depends on the severity of your condition. You can take it at any time of day, with or without food, but it is best to take it at the same time each day. Keep taking it for as long as advised by your doctor. Do not stop this medicine on your own, even if you feel well because high blood pressure often has no symptoms. This makes it hard to identify any sudden spike and if you stop taking it, your condition may get worse. Keeping active with regular exercise, reducing your weight and eating a healthy diet will also help control your blood pressure.

Cilnidipine is a calcium channel blocker. It lowers blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels, which makes the heart more efficient at pumping blood throughout the body.

• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Angina (heart-related chest pain)
• End-organ protection in chronic kidney disease

Cilnidipine is a dihydropyridine calcium-channel blocker. Cilnidipine binds to the dihydropyridine binding sites of the L-type voltage dependent calcium channel and inhibits Ca2+ influx across the cell membranes of vascular smooth muscle cells via this channel, consequently vascular smooth muscle is relaxed, causing vasodilation. Cilnidipine inhibits Ca2+ influx via N-type voltage dependent calcium channels in the sympathetic nerve cell membrane. Cilnidipine is considered to suppress the reflex increase in heart rate after blood pressure reduction.

Cilnidipine is a dihydropyridine calcium-channel blocker. It inhibits cellular influx of calcium, thus causing vasodilatation. It has greater selectivity for vascular smooth muscle. It has little or no action at the SA or AV nodes.

Adult Dose (Oral): 5-10 mg once daily; may increase to 20 mg once daily if necessary.

Elderly: May be more susceptible to hypotension, initiate with the lowest possible dose (5 mg).

Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Cilnidipine may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time. It is recommended to take after breakfast.

If you miss a dose of Cilnidipine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. Do not double the dose.

Common Side Effects:

• Fatigue
• Ankle or foot swelling (peripheral edema)
• Sleepiness
• Flushing (sense of warmth in the face, ears, neck and trunk)
• Headache
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Palpitations
• Abdominal pain
• GI disturbances
• Increased micturition frequency
• Lethargy
• Eye pain
• Depression

• [UNSAFE] Cilnidipine may cause side effects which could affect your ability to drive.
• Take it at the same time every day to help you remember.
• Rise slowly if you have been sitting or lying down to avoid dizziness or fainting.
• To reduce ankle or foot swelling, raise your legs while sitting.
• Avoid driving or activities requiring mental focus until you know how it affects you.
• Inform your doctor if you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding.
• Do not stop suddenly; dosage should be gradually decreased under close observation.

• Cardiogenic shock
• Recent MI or acute unstable angina
• Severe aortic stenosis
• Hypersensitivity to Cilnidipine or any of the excipients

Other antihypertensives; aldesleukin; antipsychotics that cause hypotension; quinidine; carbamazepine; phenytoin; rifampicin; cimetidine; erythromycin.

[CAUTION] Caution is advised when consuming alcohol with Cilnidipine. Please consult your doctor.

[CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR] Information regarding the use of Cilnidipine during pregnancy is not available. Should not be administered in pregnant women or women having possibilities of being pregnant. Please consult your doctor.

[CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR] Information regarding the use of Cilnidipine during breastfeeding is not available. It is advisable to avoid administration to nursing mothers. Please consult your doctor.

The safety of Cilnidipine in pediatric patients has not been established.

Since the elderly may be more susceptible to hypotension, therapy should be initiated with the lowest possible dose (5 mg).

[SAFE IF PRESCRIBED] Cilnidipine is probably safe to use in patients with kidney disease. Limited data available suggests that dose adjustment may not be needed. Please consult your doctor.

[CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR] There is limited information available on the use of Cilnidipine in patients with liver disease. Should be administered with care in patients with serious hepatic dysfunction. Please consult your doctor.

Information on Cilnidipine overdosage is not available. Consult a physician if overdose is suspected.

Store below 30°C, protected from light and moisture. Keep out of reach of children.

Cilnidipine