Nicorandil
About
Nicorandil belongs to a class of medication called 'vasodilators' used to prevent or treat angina pectoris (heart-related chest pain) in adults who cannot take beta-blockers (blood pressure-lowering pills). Angina pectoris is a kind of chest pain due to decreased blood flow to the heart. It is a symptom of coronary artery disease.
Nicorandil contains Nicorandil, a potassium-channel activator that opens potassium channels present on the muscle cells within the walls of blood vessels and relaxes these muscle cells and widens blood vessels. Thereby, Nicorandil reduces the heart's workload by making it easier for the heart to pump blood around the body and does not require much oxygen. Also, Nicorandil helps to prevent angina by increasing oxygen and blood supply to the heart muscle by widening coronary arteries within the heart.
Take Nicorandil as prescribed by your doctor. You are advised to take Nicorandil for as long as your doctor has prescribed it for you based on your medical condition. Some people may experience headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, weakness, flushing (reddening of the skin) or very fast, forceful or uneven heartbeat. Most of these side effects of Nicorandil do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects persist, please consult your doctor.
If you are allergic to Nicorandil or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. Do not take Nicorandil if you are pregnant or breastfeeding and consult a doctor. Nicorandil is not recommended for children as the safety and effectiveness were not established. Drive only if you are alert as Nicorandil may cause dizziness or weakness. Avoid alcohol consumption with Nicorandil as it may cause severely low blood pressure. Avoid taking vardenafil, sildenafil, tadalafil and riociguat with Nicorandil as it may affect blood pressure.
Uses of Nicorandil
Medicinal Benefits
Nicorandil contains Nicorandil, a potassium-channel activator used to prevent or treat angina pectoris (chest pain). Nicorandil works by opening potassium channels present on the muscle cells within the blood vessels' walls and relaxes these muscle cells and widens blood vessels. Thereby, Nicorandil reduces the heart's workload by making it easier for the heart to pump blood around the body and does not require much oxygen. Also, Nicorandil helps to prevent angina by increasing oxygen and blood supply to the heart muscle by widening coronary arteries within the heart. Nicorandil is given to adults who cannot tolerate other heart medicines such as calcium antagonists or beta-blockers.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Nicorandil
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Flushing (reddening of the skin)
- Uneven heartbeat
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
If you are allergic to Nicorandil or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. Avoid taking Nicorandil if you have hypotension (severe low blood pressure), low blood volume, pulmonary oedema (accumulation of fluid in the lungs) or any heart problems. Do not take Nicorandil if you are pregnant or breastfeeding and consult a doctor. Nicorandil is not recommended for children as the safety and effectiveness were not established. Drive only if you are alert as Nicorandil may cause dizziness or weakness. Avoid alcohol consumption with Nicorandil as it may cause severely low blood pressure. Avoid taking vardenafil, sildenafil, tadalafil and riociguat with Nicorandil as it may affect blood pressure. If you notice in blood in stools while taking Nicorandil, inform your doctor immediately as it may be due to ulcers in the stomach, intestines or back passage.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Nicorandil may interact with medicines used to treat erectile dysfunction (vardenafil, sildenafil, tadalafil), drugs to treat pulmonary hypertension (riociguat), medicine to treat premature ejaculation (dapoxetine), pain reliever (aspirin), steroids (prednisolone), high blood pressure-lowering medicines (lisinopril, ramipril, losartan, valsartan, candersartan).
Drug-Food Interaction: Nicorandil may interact with alcohol. Therefore, avoid alcohol intake while taking Nicorandil as it may cause severely low blood pressure.
Drug-Disease Interaction: Avoid taking Nicorandil if you have hypotension (severe low blood pressure), low blood volume, pulmonary oedema (build-up of fluid in the lungs) or any heart problems.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeYou are recommended to avoid consumption of alcohol with Nicorandil as it may cause severely low blood pressure.
Pregnancy
unsafeNicorandil is not recommended for pregnant women as it may harm the foetus. Please consult a doctor if you are pregnant.
Breast Feeding
unsafeNicorandil is contraindicated in breastfeeding women. Please consult a doctor if you are breastfeeding.
Driving
cautionNicorandil may cause dizziness or weakness in some people. Therefore, avoid driving if you feel dizzy or weak after taking Nicorandil.
Liver
cautionTake Nicorandil with caution, especially if you have a history of Liver diseases/conditions. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required.
Kidney
cautionTake Nicorandil with caution, especially if you have a history of Kidney diseases/conditions. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required.
Children
unsafeNicorandil is not recommended for children as the safety and effectiveness were not established.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Follow a cholesterol-lowering diet.
- Consume low-salt and a low-fat diet.
- Exercise regularly. It helps in maintaining proper weight and lowers cholesterol.
- Limit salt and sugar intake.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption.
- Choose healthy fats and cut down on trans-fat.
- Include omega-3 fatty acids, fibre-rich food, fruits and vegetables.
- Get active by doing any physical activity such as swimming, brisk walking or jogging. Take the stairs instead of elevators/lifts.
Special Advise
- Avoid consumption of alcohol with name as it may cause severe low blood pressure.
- Regular exercise is recommended along with Nicorandil for effective results.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Angina pectoris: It is a kind of chest pain caused due to decreased blood flow to the heart, which means insufficient oxygen supply to the heart muscle. The chest pain is often triggered by emotional stress or physical activity. Angina is a symptom of coronary artery disease. The symptoms of angina include dizziness, shortness of breath, nausea, tiredness, anxiety or excessive sweating. The risk factors for angina include smoking, diabetes, overweight, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, not exercising, or a history of heart disease.
FAQs
Nicorandil contains Nicorandil that works by relaxing and widening blood vessels. Thereby, Nicorandil reduces the workload of the heart by making it easier for heart to pump blood around the body and does not require much oxygen. Also, Nicorandil helps to prevent angina by increasing oxygen and blood supply to the heart muscle by widening coronary arteries within the heart.
Nicorandil may cause headache as a common side effect especially in the first few days of treatment. However, if the condition persist or worsens, please consult a doctor so that the dose may be reduced initially.
Nicorandil is not recommended for patients with severe hypotension (low blood pressure) as it may increase the risk of worsening the condition. Therefore, inform your doctor if you have low blood pressure before taking Nicorandil.
You are not recommended to take aspirin (pain reliever) with Nicorandil as co-administration of these two medicines may increase the risk of ulcers or other adverse effects. However, please consult a doctor before taking other medicines with Nicorandil.
You are recommended to avoid taking Nicorandil if you have hypotension (severe low blood pressure), low blood volume, pulmonary oedema (accumulation of fluid in the lungs) or any heart problems such as left ventricular failure with low filling pressure, cardiac decompensation or cardiogenic shock.
You are not recommended to take more than the prescribed dose of Nicorandil as it may cause Nicorandil overdose resulting in symptoms such as weakness, dizziness (signs of low blood pressure), fast or irregular heartbeat. However, if you experience any of these symptoms while taking Nicorandil, please consult a doctor immediately.
