General Information
Uses
What should I know before taking this drug
Precautions
Dosage information
Adverse reactions
Storage
Additional information if any
Caritec (Ranbaxy (Stancare))
Benidipine is a prescription drug available from your pharmacy store only with the prescription of a qualified medical practitioner.
Benidipine is an Anti hypertensive drug belongs to calcium channel blocker.
Benidipine is used in the treatment of
- Take Benidipine exactly as prescribed by your doctor. If do not understand these instructions ask your pharmacist, nurse or doctor to explain them to you.
- Do not take the medication in larger amounts or for longer duration than recommended by your doctor. Take this medication with a full glass of water.
- Take benidipine at the same time every day to avoid forgetting.
- Do not skip doses or stop taking benidipine without consulting your doctor. Stopping suddenly may worsen hypertension or cause other serious cardiac problems like worsening of angina.
- Always remember to inform your health expert if you are currently taking any prescription like, cimetidine, other anti hypertensive drugs like beta blocker or diuretics like furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide or OTC
- Inform your doctor if you have medical conditions like liver diseases , other cardiac conditions as benidipine should be used cautiously in these conditions
Children:
Old people: Caution is advised for using this drug in older people.
Pregnant woman: Benidipine belongs to FDA pregnancy category C. This means that benidipine may harm an unborn baby if used during pregnancy but potential benefit may warrant use of the drug in pregnant woman despite potential risks. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or are planning for conception.
Lactating women: It is not known whether benidipine passes into breast milk or if it could harm the baby. Do not take benidipine with out first talking to doctor if you are breast feeding a baby.
Other:
It causes dizziness when used for the first time when getting up from sitting or lying down position due to postural hypotension. Therefore when dizzy do not drive or get involve in activity which requires you to be alert.
Benidipine is available in the form of tablet.
Use as directed by your physician, your physician prescribes depending on the severity of disease.
Use the complete course of medication as prescribed by your physician even though you feel better after one or two days of usage of medication.
If it is almost the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not take two doses at same time to cover up the missed dose.
In case of overdose contact your nearest poison control centre or emergency medical centre for immediate care by physician. The overdose symptoms of Benidipine are light headedness, fainting and irregular heartbeat.
Benidipine may cause following side effects
Consult your doctor immediately if notice following symptoms.
- Allergic reaction like swollen lips, hives, difficulty in breathing, rashes. Peeling of skin etc
- Chest pain, breathing difficulty,
Store benidipine at room temp (15 – 30 degrees C). Avoid excessive heat, moisture or direct sunlight, never store in the bathroom.
Keep it out of reach of children. Make sure that any leftover portion is disposed off safely.
- Never stop benidipine abruptly without consulting your doctor as it causes rebound hypertension and worsening of angina or attack of MI.
- Visit your doctor regularly for monitoring your blood pressure and pulse rate when taking Benidipine.
- Your doctor may advise you to undergo liver function test when Benidipine is prescribed for long period to look for possible side effects.
- Hypertension often has no symptoms, so you may not even feel that you have high blood pressure. Continue using this medicine as directed, even if you feel well. You may need to use blood pressure medication for the rest of your life.
It is imp to read manufacturing packaging instruction carefully if available and always do not hesitate to consult pharmacist or physician for any information.
Written by: Healthplus24 team
Date last updated: May 27, 2011