Manidipine for the treatment of high blood pressure

The manidipine It is an antihypertensive drug that belongs to the group of medicines called calcium channel blockers. They act by blocking these channels, causing a relaxation of vascular smooth muscles and, thereby, a reduction of vascular resistance.

Thus, Manidipine causes vasodilation and, therefore, a reduction in blood pressure. Manidipine is indicated for the treatment of mild to moderate essential arterial hypertension.

What is hypertension?

Hypertension can be defined as a systolic blood pressure equal to or greater than 140 mm Hg and a diastolic blood pressure of 90 mm Hg or more.

However, we must differentiate essential arterial hypertension from secondary. Secondary arterial hypertension is what occurs as a result of organic diseases, usually renal or endocrine.

Hypertension is currently one of the most prevalent diseases in the developed world. It is considered a cardiovascular risk factor. This is because it is a frequent cause of:

• Heart failure.
• Kidney diseases
• Brain diseases.
• Eye problems

What you need to know before you start taking manidipine

You should not take manidipine if you are allergic to it or to other calcium channel blockers. Nor should you take this medication if you suffer from severe kidney disease, if you have heart problems, unstable angina pectoris or liver disease.

The manidipine should not be administered in children nor in adolescents under 18 years of age.

Discover: 10 symptoms of a kidney disease that you should know

Warnings and precautions

Before starting treatment with manidipine, your doctor should know if you have heart problems. You should also tell your doctor if you are pregnant, think you are or if you are trying. Also if you are breastfeeding, since Manidipine should not be taken while pregnant or breastfeeding.

It is especially important that Your doctor knows if you are taking any of the following medications:

• Diuretics and beta-blockers: These medications may increase the effect of manidipine.
• Digoxin (medication used in the treatment of cardiac disorders).
• Other medications such as cimetidine, certain antibiotics (clarithromycin and erythromycin), some antifungals (itraconazole and ketoconazole) and antiarrhythmics such as amiodarone and quinidine.

In these cases, the doctor can prescribe another antihypertensive or adjust the dose both of manidipine and the other medicine. Also, it should be borne in mind that alcohol consumption can enhance the blood pressure lowering effect of the drug.

How to take Manidipine

Manidipine will be prescribed by the doctor and you must follow his instructions. Usually, the initial dose is 10 mg per day and, after 2-4 weeks, if the desired decrease has not been achieved, the dose can be increased to 20 mg once daily.

The dose can be reduced when the patient's age is advanced and in case of suffering from kidney or liver disease.

This medicine should be taken in the morning after breakfast, being advisable to take it at the same time every day. In case you forget a dose, you should not take a double dose but you must take the next one according to the medical prescription.

Possible side effects

Manidipine can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them.. However, if adverse effects appear, they will be mainly mild and temporary.

However, some adverse effects can be serious and require medical attention. According to its frequency of appearance They can be classified as follows:

• Frequent side effects: fluid retention, and may cause edema, hot flashes, dizziness, dizziness, headache and palpitations.
• Uncommon: tingling, increased heart rate, hypotension, respiratory distress, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, skin rash and inflammation of the skin and itching. In addition, there may be temporary changes in laboratory tests.
• Rare: irritability, redness of the skin, itching, stomach and abdomen pain, drowsiness, chest pain, diarrhea, decreased appetite and abnormal blood test results.
• Very rare side effects: myocardial infarction. In patients with preexisting angina pectoris there may be an increase in the frequency, duration or severity of these attacks.

Read also: Do ​​we know how to recognize the symptoms of a heart attack?

conclusion

Based on the available studies of manidipine versus other antihypertensives, Manidipine shows similar efficacy to them without significant effects on heart rate.