Why is this medication prescribed?
Nicardipine dilates arteries in the body and is useful in the treatment of high blood pressure.
It also lowers the pressure burden on the heart, and is useful alone or in combination with beta-blockers in the treatment of angina related to exertion.
Drug Class And Mechanism:
Nicardipine belongs to a class of medications called calcium channel blockers. These medications block the transport of calcium into the smooth muscle cells lining the arteries of the body. Since calcium is important in muscle contraction, blocking calcium transport relaxes artery muscles and dilates these arteries. Relaxing the artery muscles lowers blood pressure, which reduces the burden on the heart as it pumps blood to the body. Reducing the heart burden lessens the heart muscle's demand for oxygen, and helps prevent angina in patients with coronary artery disease.
Unlike other calcium blockers, nicardipine has little effect on the heart muscle or on the electrical conduction of the heart.
Dosage and using this medicine
What special precautions should I follow?
What should I do if I forget a dose?
What side effects can this medication cause?