Description

Lercanidipine is a selective calcium channel blocker of the dihydropyridine group and it inhibits the transmembrane influx of calcium into smooth muscle. The mechanism of its antihypertensive action is due to a direct relaxant effect on vascular smooth muscle, thus lowering total peripheral resistance. Lercanidipine is endowed with a prolonged antihypertensive activity because of its high membrane partition coefficient and is devoid of negative inotropic effects due to its high vascular selectivity.

Lercanidipine is contraindicated in patients with left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, untreated congestive cardiac failure, unstable angina pectoris, within 1 month of a myocardial infarction and known hypersensitivity to any dihydropyridine. Lercanidipine should not be taken with grapefruit juice.

Treatment with Lercanidipine is generally well tolerated. The most common side effects are related to the vasodilatory properties of Lercanidipine such as flushing, peripheral edema, headache, dizziness and asthenia. Other side effects, which occurred in less than 1% of patients include fatigue; Gl disturbances such as dyspepsia, nausea, vomiting, epigastric pain and diarrhea, polyurea, rash, somnolence and myalgia.

Since there is no clinical data with Lercanidipine in pregnancy, it should not be administered during pregnancy or to woman with child bearing potential unless effective contraception is used. Lercanidipine is highly lipophilic and distribution in milk may be expected. Therefore, it should not be administered to nursing mother.

Special care should be exercised when Lercanidipine is used in patients with sick sinus syndrome, left ventricular dysfunction and ischaemic heart disease.

There is no data with Lercanidipine overdosage. As with other dihydropyridines, overdosage might be expected to cause excessive peripheral vasodilation with marked hypotension and reflex tachycardia. Since the drug is highly lipophilic, it is most probable that plasma levels are no guide to the duration of the period of risk and dialysis may not be effective.

Calcium-channel blockers