Adalat, which belongs to a group of medicines called calcium channel brokers, is prescribed for patients having high blood pressure and angina.
The drug acts by widening the blood vessels, which helps in the increased flow of blood.
Adalat has to be taken in empty stomach. Always go by what your doctor says while taking the drug or you may have to face many complications. Take care to swallow the drug and not to crush, break or chew it. Once you have been administered the drug, you have to complete the whole course of the medication. If you stop the drug in the middle, your conditions can worsen.
Keep a tab on the Adalat doses. But if you miss a dose, take it as when you remember it. However, if it is time for your scheduled doses, do not go for the missed dose. Never compensate for a missed dose.
If you suspect any overdose, do not hesitate to contact your doctor. Dizziness, chest pain, fainting, shortness of breath, fast/slow heartbeat, slurred speech and confusion are some of the symptoms of Adalat overdose.
Before taking Adalat, it is god that you inform the physician about all your medical conditions. You have to tell the doctor if you have any disease of the kidney, liver and heart. Do not hide from the doctor if you have any problem of the blood vessels like aortic stenosis and sick sinus or if you have low blood pressure, or coronary artery disease. If you have these conditions, your doctor may go for a dosage adjustment or recommend special monitoring.
The drug is rated FDA pregnancy category C. Though it is not known if Adalat can cause harm to the foetus, pregnant women as well as those who hope to get pregnant should take the medicine only after talking to the doctor. As the drug passes into breast milk, women should not feed their kids if they are on Adalat medication. Elderly People, who are above 65 years, should have to take the drug with caution, as they are likely to experience serious side effects.
While you are on Adalat drug, do not take grapefruit or grapefruit juice, as they do not go together. Alcohol should be taken with caution as it can lower blood pressure.
Once your doctor decides to administer Adalat, tell him about all medicines, including prescriptive/non-prescriptive druigs, that you use so that he can take a wise decision on the Adalat prescription.
Adalat also comes with many allergic reactions also side effects. If you come across allergies like hives, swelling (face, lips, mouth throat, tongue) or breathing difficulty, stop the drug and immediately consult your doctor. You should also be aware of some of the serious side effects like fast/slow heartbeats, dizziness, psychosis and yellowing of skin or eyes. If you come across these side effects, you have to tell your doctor.
Some of the lesser-known side effects are fatigue, headache, flushing, nausea, insomnia and increased urination.
