Ranolazine

Ranolazine is used alone or with other medications to treat ongoing angina (chest pain or pressure that is felt when the heart does not get enough oxygen). Ranolazine is in a class of medications called anti-anginals. The exact way that ranolazine works is not known at this time.

Ranolazine comes as an extended-release (long-acting) tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken with or without food two times a day. Take ranolazine at around the same times every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take ranolazine exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Swallow the tablets whole; do not break, chew, or crush them. Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of ranolazine and gradually increase your dose. Do not take ranolazine to treat a sudden attack of angina. Your doctor will tell you what you should do if you experience an attack of angina. Make sure that you understand these directions. Ranolazine may help control your condition but will not cure it. Continue to take ranolazine even if you feel well. Do not stop taking ranolazine without talking to your doctor.

<p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Ranolazine may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

<ul>
<li>
nausea</li>
<li>
constipation</li>
<li>
headache</li>
<li>
dizziness</li></ul></p> <p></p> <p>Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

<ul>
<li>
fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat</li>
<li>
difficulty breathing</li>
<li>
fainting</li></ul>Ranolazine may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while you are taking this medication.</p>

Before taking ranolazine, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to ranolazine or any other medications. tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medications: clarithromycin (Biaxin, in Prevpac); certain antifungals such as itraconazole (Sporanox) and ketoconazole (Nizoral); certain medications to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) such as indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir, in Kaletra), and saquinavir (Invirase); nefazodone; certain medications for seizures such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Equetro, Tegretol, others), phenobarbital, and phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek); rifabutin (Mycobutin); rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, in Rifamate); and rifapentin (Priftin). Also tell your doctor if you are taking St. John's wort. Your doctor may tell you not to take ranolazine if you are taking one or more of these medications or herbal products. tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone); certain antidepressants such as amitriptyline, clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), and imipramine (Tofranil); aprepitant (Emend); cisapride (Propulsid) (not available in the US); cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune); digoxin (Lanoxicaps, Lanoxin); diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac, others); disopyramide (Norpace); dofetilide (Tikosyn); erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, Erythrocin); fluconazole (Diflucan); certain medications for mental illness such as haloperidol (Haldol), risperidone (Risperdal), thioridazine, and ziprasidone (Geodon); moxifloxacin (Avelox); pimozide (Orap); procainamide; quinidine; sotalol (Betapace); sparfloxacin (Zagam) (not available in the US); and verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, others). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. Many other medications may also interact with ranolazine, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list or the list above. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver disease. Your doctor may tell you that you should not take ranolazine. tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family has or has ever had a prolonged QT interval (a rare heart problem that may cause fainting or irregular heartbeat) or a fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat. Also tell your doctor if you have or have ever had an abnormal electrocardiogram (EKG: heart rhythm test), low levels of potassium in the blood, or kidney disease. you should know that ranolazine may make you dizzy and lightheaded. Do not drive a car, operate machinery, or participate in activities requiring mental alertness and coordination until you know how this medication affects you.

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911. Symptoms of overdose may include:

<ul>
<li>
nausea</li>
<li>
vomiting</li>
<li>
dizziness</li>
<li>
confusion</li>
<li>
double vision</li>
<li>
pain, burning, numbness, or tingling in any part of the body</li>
<li>
fainting</li></ul>