Nicorandil for angina

About nicorandil

La angina de pecho es un dolor que proviene del corazón. Suele deberse al estrechamiento de una o varias de las arterias que suministran sangre al corazón. Este estrechamiento reduce el suministro de sangre a partes del músculo cardíaco. Cuando el corazón necesita más sangre y oxígeno de los que puede recibir a través de las arterias estrechadas (por ejemplo, cuando camina rápido o sube escaleras), siente dolor anginoso.

Nicorandil works by relaxing (widening) your blood vessels. This increases the supply of blood and oxygen to your heart and helps to reduce the number of angina attacks you have. It can also reduce the risk of further heart conditions. You will be prescribed nicorandil if other (more frequently used) medicines are not suitable for you, or if they have not been sufficient to control your chest pains.

Before taking nicorandil

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine can only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking nicorandil it is important that your doctor knows:

• Si está embarazada o en periodo de lactancia.

• Si tiene la tensión baja.

• If you have recently had a heart attack, or been told you have heart failure.

• If you have a problem with fluid build-up in your lungs, called pulmonary oedema.

• Si alguna vez ha tenido una reacción alérgica a un medicamento.

• Si toma o utiliza otros medicamentos. Esto incluye cualquier medicamento que esté tomando y que pueda adquirirse sin receta, así como medicamentos a base de plantas y complementarios.

How to take nicorandil

• Before you start the treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about nicorandil and will also provide you with a full list of side-effects which you could experience from taking it.

• Take nicorandil exactly as your doctor tells you to. It is usual to take one tablet (either 10 mg or 20 mg) twice daily, in the morning and evening. When starting your treatment your doctor may give you a smaller dose (such as half a tablet) and then increase it after a short while. This will help avoid any unwanted side-effects, particularly headache. Your doctor will tell you what dose is right for you, and this information will be printed on the label of the pack of tablets to remind you about what the doctor said to you.

• Try to take your tablets at the same times each day, as this will help you to remember to take your doses regularly. You can take nicorandil tablets either before or after meals. Swallow the tablet with a drink of water.

• Si olvida tomar una dosis, tómela en cuanto se acuerde (a menos que sea casi la hora de la siguiente dosis, en cuyo caso omita la dosis olvidada). No tome dos dosis juntas para compensar la dosis olvidada.
  

Aproveche al máximo su tratamiento

• Nicorandil tablets are not suitable to take to relieve pain if you are having an angina attack. Your doctor will also prescribe a nitrate medicine, such as glyceryl trinitrate (GTN), for you to take if this happens. If after using GTN your pain has not eased within a few minutes, call for an ambulance.

• Procure acudir a las citas periódicas con su médico. Así podrá comprobar su evolución.

• Treatment with nicorandil is usually long-term unless you experience an adverse effect. Continue to take the tablets unless you are advised otherwise by your doctor.

• Nicorandil may cause you to feel faint or dizzy, particularly when you first start taking it. Do not drive and do not use tools or machines until you know how you react. It is best not to drink alcohol while you are on nicorandil, as alcohol will increase these feelings of dizziness.

• If you buy any medicines 'over the counter', please check with a pharmacist that they are suitable for you to take with your prescribed medicines, as some anti-inflammatory painkillers may not be. It is very important that you do not take any medicines for erectile dysfunction while you are on nicorandil, unless they have been prescribed by your doctor.

Can nicorandil cause problems?

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with nicorandil. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

Si experimenta cualquier otro síntoma que crea que puede deberse a los comprimidos, hable con su médico o farmacéutico para que le aconsejen.

How to store nicorandil

• Mantenga todos los medicamentos fuera del alcance y de la vista de los niños.

• Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct heat and light. Keep the blister strip in the outer carton. Do not transfer nicorandil tablets from the blister strips into other containers (including dosette boxes). This is because the original packaging contains a desiccant capsule to keep the tablets fresh and without it they will degrade quickly. Do not swallow the desiccant capsule by mistake.
  

Información importante sobre todos los medicamentos