Calcigard-5

Calcigard-5: use, side effects and interactions with other drugs

Calcigard-5 is a calcium channel blocker of the dihydropyridine group, which is used for the treatment of arterial hypertension, prevention of angina attacks, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, Raynaud's disease, pulmonary hypertension and broncho-obstructive syndrome. The drug is produced by the Indian pharmaceutical company Torrent Pharmaceuticals and contains the active substance nifedipine.

However, like any other drug, Calcigard-5 has its contraindications and side effects. Contraindications include hypersensitivity to the drug, acute period of myocardial infarction, cardiogenic shock, severe aortic stenosis, heart failure in the stage of decompensation, severe arterial hypotension, tachycardia, pregnancy and breastfeeding. In addition, you should refrain from using the drug in pediatric practice, since the safety and effectiveness of its use in children have not been determined.

Among the side effects of Calcigard-5 are the following: facial flushing with a feeling of heat, palpitations, tachycardia, hypotension (up to fainting), angina-like pain, anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, thrombocytopenic purpura, dizziness, headache, stunnedness, changes in visual perception, impaired sensitivity in the arms and legs, constipation, nausea, diarrhea, gingival hyperplasia (with long-term treatment), increased activity of liver transaminases, bronchospasm, myalgia, tremor, itching, urticaria, exanthema, exfoliative dermatitis, swelling and redness of the arms and legs , photodermatitis, hyperglycemia, gynecomastia (in elderly patients), burning sensation at the injection site (with intravenous administration).

You should also consider possible interactions of Calcigard-5 with other drugs. Thus, nitrates, diuretics, beta-blockers, tricyclic antidepressants, fentanyl and alcohol enhance the hypotensive effect of the drug. At the same time, the activity of theophylline increases, the renal clearance of digoxin decreases, and the side effects of vincristine (reduces the production of the drug in the liver) and cyclosporine (increases its concentration in the blood) increase. In addition, the use of Calcigard-5 simultaneously with protease inhibitors may lead to an increase in the concentration of nifedipine in the blood and an increase in its hypotensive effect.

In any case, before starting to take Calcigard-5, you must consult your doctor and inform about all medications you are taking, as well as the presence of any diseases and allergic reactions. The doctor should also prescribe the dose of the drug based on the individual characteristics of the patient and concomitant diseases.