DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
The dose of CARDENE SR should be individually adjusted according to
the blood pressure response beginning with 30 mg two times daily. The
effective doses in clinical trials have ranged from 30 mg to 60 mg two
times daily. The maximum blood pressure lowering effect at steady-state
is sustained from 2 hours until 6 hours after dosing.
When initiating therapy or upon increasing dose, blood pressure should
be measured 2 to 4 hours after the first dose or dose increase, as well as
at the end of a dosing interval.
The total daily dose of immediate release nicardipine (CARDENE) may
not be a useful guide to judging the effective dose of CARDENE SR.
Patients currently receiving immediate release nicardipine may be titrated
with CARDENE SR starting at their current total daily dose of immediate
release nicardipine and then reexamined to assess the adequacy of blood
pressure control.
Concomitant Use With Other Antihypertensive Agents:
- : CARDENE may be safely coadministered with thiazide
diuretics.
Diuretics
- : CARDENE may be safely coadministered with beta-blockers
(see).
Beta-Blockers
Drug Interactions
Special Patient Populations
Although there is no evidence that CARDENE
SR impairs renal function, careful dose titration beginning with 30-mg
CARDENE SR bid is advised (see).
Renal Insufficiency:
PRECAUTIONS
CARDENE SR has not been studied in patients
with severe liver impairment (see).
Hepatic Insufficiency:
PRECAUTIONS
Caution is advised when titrating CARDENE
SR dosage in patients with congestive heart failure (see).
Congestive Heart Failure:
WARNINGS
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