Nifedipine, also known as Adalat, Procardia and Nifedical XL and CC, belongs to a family of drugs known as calcium channel blockers. It is commonly prescribed for the treatment of hypertension (high blood pressure) and angina (chest pain). They reduce the workload on your heart by helping its muscles relax and widening its arteries. Before taking this medication, it is wise to familiarize yourself with its side effects; this will help you determine if it is the right course of treatment for you.
Common Side Effects
According to the medical experts at eMedTV.com, the most common side effects of Nifedipine include water retention, fatigue, nausea, muscle cramps, tremors (uncontrollable shaking), impotence, headaches, constipation, dizziness, dry mouth and becoming lightheaded.
Serious Side Effects
Aside from the common side effects, Nifedipine is also accompanied by more serious side effects. If you experience any of these, the experts at Drugs.com recommend stopping its use immediately and seeking medical attention. These include chest pain, dizziness, lightheadedness and fainting (all signs of low blood pressure), depression, enlarged breasts in men, suffering from a heart attack, severe water retention accompanied by difficulty breathing (signs of congestive heart failure), paranoia and temporarily blindness.
Rare Side Effects
Rare side effects do occur, however in less than 1 percent of those who take it, according to the medical experts at eMedTV.com. These side effects include swelling of the face, decreased libido (sex drive), increased perspiration, weight gain, back pain, fever, migraines and hair loss.
Signs of Overdose
It is possible to overdose on Nifedipine. Signs include dizziness, confusion, slurred speech, dizziness, weakness, shortness of breath and a heartbeat that is too fast or too slow. Additionally the experts at Drugs.com state that eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while taking this medication can be dangerous; it is recommended that you check with your doctor before doing so.
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