Finding out you have any type of cardiac disease can be heart-wrenching. Heck, any kind of disease can make you lose hope, but just imagining your heart cannot work well can do a number on anyone.
Luckily, Procardia is here; it is one of the best medications for chest, high blood pressure and heart failure. It helps maintain blood pressure and keep it under control, which is excellent because hypertension can be a silent killer with no symptoms.
We have put together a comprehensive review of Procardia to save you from the hustle of finding the right information. In this Procardia reviews 2022, we have delved into the scientific research behind Procardia medication, dosage recommendations, where to buy Procardia, price and Procardia side effects.
What is Procardia?
There are two types of this brand of medication. There are Procardia immediate-release oral capsules and Procardia XL extended-release oral tablets.
Procardia has been discontinued for some time now, and we aren’t sure if it will come back to the market, but Procardia XL is still being used to treat high blood pressure, heart failure and angina.
Let’s now take a deep dive into what this drug is all about and why you should consider it, as well as why it may not be suitable for some.
Brand Procardia What is the product for ✔️ Chest pain (Angina) Ingredients Nifedipine Dosage 10mg – 120 mg (a physician advises dosage) Form of medication Immediate-release oral capsules Benefits It helps prevent heart attacks, heart disease and strokes Price Prices start at $47 per bottle
✔️ High Blood Pressure
✔️ Pulmonary Hypertension
Over 180 mg per day can lead to serious side effects
Dosage also depends on the type of ailment, age and health factors
Extended-release oral tablets
The main ingredient in both Procardia products is Nifedipine. It is a calcium channel blocker that helps relax blood vessels in the body.What are Procardia Ingredients?
Procardia is just a brand name, and there are many other brands that have Nifedipine as their active ingredients and more or less work the same way.
How does Procardia work? How good is the effect of Procardia?
Procardia capsules come in the 10mg strength, and they are fast release, so they begin working within hours of taking them. Let’s look at how they work in different scenarios.
High Blood pressure
Calcium typically causes contractions in any muscles, including those around the heart, and it can also cause blood vessels to tighten. Calcium chain blockers like Procardia prevent calcium from going into these muscles and blood vessels, making them relax. When they are relaxed, blood can flow freely to all parts of the body, and the heart will have an easier time pumping blood.
Pre-term labor
Full-term labor should take 40 weeks, but sometimes nature has some surprises, and the baby comes early. Pre-term labor is anything 37 weeks and lower. While pre-term is sometimes encouraged, for instance, in the case of multiples, it is dangerous in most other cases.Contractions are a precursor to labor, and they come when the calcium goes to the uterine wall muscles causing them to contract. When calcium leaves the muscles, they relax. Procardia is a calcium channel blocker that prevents contractions and delays labor to allow the child to grow and come out strong.Procardia pre-term labor results show that it slows down contractions and helps the child develop a little more.
But what are some of the reasons for pre-term labor?
- ➡️Uterus and placenta issues
- ➡️Anemia
- ➡️Use of substances
- ➡️Getting pregnant less than six months after giving birth
- ➡️Diabetes
- ➡️Smoking
- ➡️Vaginal bleeding during the pregnancy
- ➡️Incompetent cervix
Angina
Procardia is used to treat two types of angina;
- ➡️ Vasospastic Angina – This type of chest pain occurs when the coronary artery delivering oxygenated blood to the heart suddenly becomes narrow because of the spasm. It feels like a chest constriction and happens mainly in the early morning and at night.
- ➡️ Chronic Stable Angina – it is a type of chest pain that comes when your heart needs more oxygen than usual, but it cannot get the extra oxygen because of heart disease. It happens during periods of exertion, like when exercising.
It treats angina in two ways;
- It relaxes and lowers blood pressure in the coronary artery.
- It increases blood flow to the heart, enabling you to perform exertive activities without the pain.
How to use Procardia for best results? – How much Procardia should you take?
When taking Procardia medication, always follow the instructions given by your doctor. Never split the tablets or capsules, and do not overdose.Storage is another thing; always make sure you store your Procardia bottles in a cool, dry place and away from children and sunlight.The dosage depends on several factors, including What if you miss a dose? This happens a lot; you may forget to carry your meds or just forget to take them. Try and avoid this because inconsistency might prevent the drugs from working effectively. But if you happen to miss a dose, just take one and continue, don’t double doses. The dosage depends on a few factors, but the most important ones are the patient’s age and the ailment they are treating. Let’s look at some examples.
Hypertension and Chronic Stable Angina: For people between 18 and 64 years, the starting dose is between 30mg and 60mg orally per day. For people over 65 years, the dosage may be a bit lower because their bodies cannot expel the drugs as fast as the younger people and the drugs may accumulate in their bodies. The high levels of Procardia may lead to extremely low blood pressure. A doctor would be in the best place to choose a dosage.The dosage should be increased every 7 to 14 days until you reach the maximum dosage of 90 to 120 mg.
Vasospastic Angina: For people between 18 and 64 years, the starting dose is between 30mg and 60mg per day, which you can increase every 7 to 14 days until you reach the maximum dosage of 180 mg.Note: The increases in dosage and the dosage for people over 65 years should be from the advice of a doctor. Children under the age of 18 should not use Procardia because there aren’t studies showing what the repercussions would be.
How long does it take for Procardia to work?
It takes less than 2 hours for Procardia to start working, but you will need to take it for at least two weeks for it to be effective. The dosages can be increased every 7 days to 14 days after consulting your doctor.
Procardia Medical Opinions 2024 : Is Procardia safe to use?
The number one question anyone will have about medication is if there is a scientific consensus on its safety. Let’s look at its uses and if science thinks it is safe and effective for them.
High Blood Pressure; In a study, 15 patients with stages 1-4 of hypertension were given the drug once a day to manage blood pressure levels. Their blood pressure was observed for 24 hours, and after
Pre-term labor: Procardia can reduce the rate of contractions in pre-term labor, but like its other benefits, its effectiveness depends on the woman’s sensitivity to the drug.But in the study, it proved to be the most effective calcium channel blocker. In the study, it was able to delay labor for a few days. When used with steroids, it can increase the baby’s chance of survival and lung function.But there is a caveat, women with heart conditions and low blood pressure may not get the benefits of Procardia in this case.
Contraindications: Always make sure you tell your doctor about any other medication you are taking because it has some contraindications with other drugs. Most of these drugs contain Nifedipine, and your doctor should know.
- ➡️Antibiotics – some of these have Nifedipine, and they may increase its levels in your body. They include; quinupristin, erythromycin and clarithromycin. On the flip side, others like rifampin can reduce the levels of Nifedipine and reduce its effectiveness.
- ➡️Heart Drugs – If you are already on other heart medications, let your doctor know because Procardia may increase or decrease some of their levels in the body.
- ➡️Antiseizure drugs – Phenytoin and carbamazepine can cause a reduction in nifedipine levels in your body, while valproic acid can increase those levels.
- ➡️Antifungal Drugs – Fluconazole, ketoconazole and itraconazole are common antifungal meds, but they also increase nifedipine levels and can lead to serious side effects.
- ➡️Beta-blockers – These drugs are used for a variety of conditions. But they also pose a low risk of very low blood pressure, increased chest pain and heart failure when you pair them with Procardia.
- ➡️Antiviral drugs – antiviral drugs like ritonavir, indinavir, atazanavir, nelfinavir and fosamprenavir can increase nifedipine levels and increase your risk for side effects.
Taking alcohol can also cause blood pressure to lower dangerous levels.
Note: We have tried our best to list all the contraindications we know, but we cannot exhaust them. Also, different bodies react differently to different medications. Always talk to your doctor before you start taking any medication. You should also disclose all medications you are on and your entire medical history to get the best advice from your doctor.
Procardia Side Effects
One of the foods that can cause side effects when taking this drug is grapefruit. You should avoid both the fruit and its juice. They increase nifedipine levels in the blood and could lead to toxicity.
Some people may also experience some side effects when they start taking nifedipine Procardia which include;
- Nausea
- Headaches
The above symptoms should be mild, and you should talk to your doctor if they get severe or you have them for more than a few hours. There are also people who shouldn’t take Procardia or should at least explain their conditions to the doctor and allow their doctor to prescribe correctly.There are also groups of people who should not take Procardia without a doctor’s advice. Let’s get into a few of them.
Breastfeeding women: Procardia can be passed from mother to child through breast milk and cause serious side effects to the child. Always disclose to your doctor if you are breastfeeding when you go for your checkups.
People with gastrointestinal issues: If you’ve had these issues make sure your doctor knows. There are rare cases when you can get blockages with this drug.
Those with liver disease: The liver is responsible for excreting wastes from the body. Medications that have already been used are included here. When one has liver problems, it is hard to get rid of these drugs, and they may cause increased levels of Nifedipine which can cause extremely low and dangerous blood pressure.
People with severe cases of heart disease: In some rare cases, people with heart diseases may experience heart attacks and increased chest pains. If you’ve just had a heart attack, do not take Procardia without first talking to your doctor about it.
People with low blood pressure: Procardia’s primary role is to lower blood pressure. If you already have low blood pressure sometimes, tell your doctor about it so they can recommend another drug that will not cause dangerous levels of blood pressure.
Pregnant women: There aren’t sufficient studies on Procardia pregnancy effects on pregnant women, but from what we know, it can cause risks to the fetus. Animals used in the research showed there were adverse effects on the fetus.
Children: This drug should not be taken by anyone younger than 18 years.
Procardia results before and after: do Procardia really work, or is it a fake?
Procardia is one of the most popular nifedipine brands around. Many people have used it and have gotten the results. Let’s look at what you can expect when taking the medication.
- Procardia results after two weeks: You may experience some mild side effects, but they shouldn’t last longer than a few days.
- Procardia results after one month: Blood pressure should start stabilizing, and if you have a condition with physical symptoms, they should be alleviated.
- Procardia results after two months: Ensure you continue taking your medication and getting blood pressure tests regularly; blood pressure is stable for most people, and other symptoms should have gone away.
| Procardia results after two weeks | You may experience some side effects during the first week, but they shouldn’t last for more than a few days. Talk to your doctor if they do. |
| Procardia results after four weeks | If you have been taking the medication according to the instructions, your blood pressure should go down and start to stabilize. |
| Procardia results after six weeks | It may be time to increase the dosage, but you should talk to your doctor first. You should be monitoring your blood pressure regularly and tell your doctor immediately if you start to see it rising. |
| Procardia results after eight weeks | If you’d increased your dosage, your body should have reached a state of homeostasis, and your blood pressure should start to stabilize again. If you haven’t increased your dosage and your blood pressure is unstable, you should talk to your doctor about it. |
Note: High blood pressure doesn’t have any glaring symptoms, and it may be too late when you start feeling off. This is why you must keep checking your blood pressure regularly.
Our Procardia reviews and rating: Procardia pros and cons:
Every medication has a good side and a side we need to be careful of. Let’s look at some of them.
Pros
- ✔️ It lowers the heart attack risk for people with high blood pressure
- ✔️ Procardia works well for black people, unlike non-calcium channel blocker medication
- ✔️ It helps prevent heart attacks for people who have already had one
- ✔️ It can help treat three or more conditions simultaneously.
Cons
- ❌ It may not be suitable for people with heart failure and chronic liver disease.
- ❌ It can cause side effects for some people.
- ❌ It has many interactions with other drugs that can cause serious health issues.
Procardia Positive Reviews
Procardia Negative Reviews
Procardia Reviews on the Internet and Forums like Reddit or Consumer Reports:
There is no place like the internet to get Procardia XL reviews, and Reddit especially has brutally honest reviews of many medications, including Procardia. A few people complained of some side effects in the first days, but most reviewers were impressed by Procardia’s effectiveness.
Is Procardia reputable or are there any warnings about Procardia on the internet?
Procardia is a reputable drug that has been used for decades to treat blood pressure and angina and prevent further heart attacks.
What do I need to consider if I want to discontinue Procardia Supplement?
You first need to speak to your doctor about it. A few things may happen if you stop taking the drugs abruptly, but the worst is that whatever condition you are treating will get serious. Primarily people with blood pressure will experience increased blood pressure.
You can wean yourself off the drug slowly to allow the body to slowly get into a new state of homeostasis (balance).
If you are quitting because of the side effects, you can talk to your doctor to change the medication to continue to manage your condition.
Where can you buy Procardia over the counter? Procardia price comparison & deals for sale:
You can find Procardia in many pharmacies, but we have grown accustomed to having everything delivered for convenience in recent times. That’s why we recommend you buy Procardia online on Web Rx 24.
Can you buy Procardia in a pharmacy?
Yes. It is a prescription drug and will mainly require a prescription. But you can also get the drugs Web Rx 24. On Web RX 24, you can enjoy a seamless online purchase and delivery to most worldwide countries.
Procardia Review Conclusion - Our experience and recommendation:
Having to take medication for a long time is not enjoyable. But it's nice when the drug works and helps you manage the condition.
Procardia has scientific backing showing that it is safe and has been used for a long time to treat heart conditions.
Adalat vs Procardia
Both Adalat and Procardia are calcium channel blockers used to treat high blood pressure and angina. They can also be used to prevent further heart attacks and treat some cases of heart failure.
Manufacturers: Adalat’s manufacturer is the German company Bayer and was even awarded the prestigious Prix Galien in 1980.On the other hand, Procardia is made by Pfizer and has legal generic versions by various pharmaceutical companies.So both are made by reputable companies.
Side effects: Most of the Procardia side effects are similar to Adalat’s and include; dizziness, stomach pain, joint pains, itching, fatigue, muscle cramps, insomnia, drowsiness, nausea, jitters and constipation. Side effects unique to Procardia include swollen feet, ankles and arms.Other Adalat side effects include; vivid dreams and sexual problems.
Interactions: Both Adalat and Procardia have interactions with other medications and some foods. Adalat – has known interactions with antifungals, antibiotics, antiarrhythmics, ACE inhibitors, phenobarbital, central alpha one blockers, rifabutin, anticoagulants, nefazodone, other calcium blockers, antivirals, beta-blockers, diuretics, angiotensin II blockers and other drugs. Procardia – Interacts with erythromycin, itraconazole, other heart medications, rifampin, carbamazepine, cimetidine and others.
Dosage: You need 30 to 60 mg per day of either Procardia or Adalat. But your doctor will be in a better position to advise on this. Both should be taken orally as whole tablets/capsules.
Price: Procardia is a bit more expensive compared to Adalat.
Effectiveness: Procardia XL delivers Nifedipine through osmotic pump delivery while Adalat does the same via dissolving successive layers. One PharmD at a cardiac center in Omaha sites a study that shows Procardia XL has a longer-lasting effect than Adalat.In a study where patients used both drugs and wore blood pressure monitors for 24 hours, Procardia XL showed more stable blood pressure. The blood pressure also spiked in the mornings with Adalat.
Our Final thoughts: Adalat and Procardia have the same ingredient and are very similar but not identical. Procardia seems to have fewer side effects than Adalat and also fewer interactions. And although Adalat’s price is lower, the study has swayed us and made us see Procardia as the better option.
Frequently asked questions about Procardia:
Whenever you want to take any medication, you will need answers to some basic questions. Let’s look at some of those questions and their answers.
What is Procardia?
What does Procardia do?
How to take Procardia?
How much does Procardia cost?
Does Procardia lower heart rate?
Where can I buy Procardia without a prescription?
Are there any criticisms of Procardia, or is it recommended to take Procardia?
Does Procardia have any risks or side effects?
Is it safe to take Procardia continuously?
Do I need a prescription to buy Procardia?
References
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8888089/
- https://www.chp.edu/our-services/transplant/liver/education/medications/nifedipine-procardia-xl-adalat-cc
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3437772/
- https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/6180/smpc
- https://www.ecrjournal.com/articles/unique-adalat-story-nifedipine-gastrointestinal-therapeutic-system
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0011502/
- https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/01.HYP.33.1.24
- https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/conditions/vasospastic-angina
