lacidipine at a glance
Medicine class
Dihydropyridine calcium-channel blocker
Usual role
Treatment of high blood pressure in adults
Practical point
Keep tablets in their blister until needed and protect them from light.
Avoid
Grapefruit juice can alter lacidipine exposure.
What is lacidipine used for?
The selected UK product is licensed for:
High blood pressure, used alone or with other antihypertensive treatments.
How does lacidipine work?
Lacidipine blocks calcium entry into vascular smooth-muscle cells. This relaxes peripheral arterioles, lowers vascular resistance and reduces blood pressure.
lacidipine preparations and strengths
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 2 mg, 4 mg
How to take lacidipine
Use exactly as prescribed.
Swallow the film-coated tablet with water.
Do not take it with grapefruit juice.
Leave the tablet in its foil blister until required.
lacidipine side effects
Common or expected effects
- Headache or dizziness
- Flushing
- Palpitations or a fast heartbeat
- Ankle or other swelling
- Abdominal discomfort or nausea
- Rash, skin redness or itching
- Passing more urine
- Weakness
Get urgent medical advice
- Rapid swelling of the face, mouth or throat, particularly with breathing difficulty
- New or worsening angina-type chest pain
- Fainting or symptoms of marked low blood pressure
lacidipine in pregnancy
Human pregnancy data for lacidipine are lacking. The product information recommends use only when expected maternal benefit outweighs possible fetal or newborn risks. Lacidipine is less commonly used among calcium-channel blockers; treatment should be reviewed when pregnancy is planned or confirmed and should not be stopped without medical advice.
lacidipine while breastfeeding
Animal evidence suggests lacidipine or its metabolites may enter breast milk, while medicine-specific human evidence is limited. The product information advises weighing maternal benefit against possible infant risk. Specialist advice is appropriate, particularly for a premature or unwell infant.
lacidipine interactions
Important interactions include:
Other blood-pressure-lowering medicines
Their effects may add together, increasing the likelihood of low blood pressure or dizziness.
Grapefruit juice
May alter lacidipine bioavailability and should be avoided.
Cimetidine
May increase the blood concentration of lacidipine.
Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors or inducers, such as itraconazole or rifampicin
May change lacidipine metabolism and exposure.
Common questions about lacidipine
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What is lacidipine used for?
It is licensed to treat high blood pressure, either alone or with other blood-pressure treatments.
Can lacidipine be taken with grapefruit juice?
No. Grapefruit juice may alter lacidipine bioavailability and should be avoided.
Can lacidipine cause swollen ankles?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.