Index
It is a drug used to relieve chest pain in conditions such as chronic angina.
It works by relaxing the heart muscles and thereby relieving chest pain.
Appropriate lifestyle modifications are necessary for conjunction with this drug for a speedy recovery.
Elderly patients with low body weight should use this medicine with caution due to the increased risk of unwanted effects.
Side effects
Due to its content, this drug can generate significant and minor side effects, although their presence is unlikely.
However, it is necessary to stop treatment and contact a doctor if it occurs.
Some of the most common effects are:
- Constipation .
- Dry mouth.
- Stomach ache.
- Loss of strength
Other lesser effects are less frequent but can be severe.
The patient should contact their doctor immediately if they experience any of these symptoms regularly:
- Dizziness
- Ringing in the ears.
- Chest tightness.
- Headache.
- Blurry vision.
This is not an exhaustive list of side effects. The patient should inform their physician if they experience any other adverse drug reaction.
Mechanism of action
Start of action
The amount of time it takes for this medicine to show its effect is not clinically established. However, it takes 2 to 6 hours to reach the maximum concentration in the blood.
Duration of effect
This drug remains active in the body for 21 hours after an oral dose.
Precautions
Can you drink alcohol during treatment?
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. However, the patient should consult with his doctor before consumption.
Drug dependence
Habit formation tendency has not been reported. However, it is advisable to ingest only the dose established by a doctor and avoid excessive consumption.
Use in pregnancy
The use of this medication is not recommended for pregnant women unless necessary. The risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medication.
Use during lactation
The use of this medicine is not recommended in breastfeeding women unless necessary.
This is because there are chances that the components of the medicine will be transferred to the baby by this means.
The risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before receiving this medication.
Contraindications of ranolazine
The use of this medicine is not recommended in patients with:
- Liver disease
- Severe liver disease
- Interaction with drugs.
Ranolazine is also not recommended in patients with a history of liver disease due to an increased risk of severe adverse effects.
In turn, ranolazine should be used with caution in patients with a history of kidney disease.
An alternative treatment option should be considered based on the clinical condition.
Also, it should be used with caution in patients with a history of the prolonged QT interval and patients using medications that prolong the QT interval.
Appropriate dose adjustments should be made under the supervision of your physician.
It is essential to mention that this medicine can generate contradictions with other components. Therefore, the use of this medicine is not recommended in patients receiving:
- CYP3A enzyme inhibitors.
- Ketoconazole inducers.
- Clarithromycin.
- Nelfinavir.
- Carbamazepine.
- Phenobarbital.
- Phenytoin
- Rifampin.
These components cause changes in blood levels of ranolazine that can cause more significant difficulties.
All medications interact differently from person to person.
The patient should verify all possible interactions with their physician before starting any medication.
Lastly, consuming grapefruit juice while taking ranolazine is not recommended due to an increased risk of dizziness, rapid heartbeat, and fainting.
Any such symptoms should be reported to the doctor first.
Dosage
The doses depend on the instructions established by the doctor, adapting to the patient’s situation.
It is important to remember that it should be taken as soon as possible if the patient misses a dose. It is advisable to skip the missed dose if it is already time for the next scheduled dose.
Overdose
If the patient is in this condition, it is necessary to seek emergency medical assistance.
General instructions
The patient is taking ranolazine as directed by the doctor. It would help if you did not consume more significant amounts than prescribed. It is recommended that the patient inform the physician if they have a liver or kidney disease history.
Appropriate lifestyle modifications should be adopted in conjunction with the medication to prevent further complications.
The person should inform the doctor if they experience any unwanted effects while receiving the medicine.
General warnings
Older population
Ranolazine should be used with caution in patients over 60 years of age due to an increased risk of unwanted effects.
Kidney function needs to be closely monitored. The dose should be adjusted according to kidney function.
