Sick sinus syndrome Lercanidipine should be administered with caution in patients with sick sinus syndrome (without a pacemaker). Left ventricular dysfunction Although hemodynamic controlled studies revealed no impairment of ventricular function, care is also required in patients with left ventricular dysfunction.
Ischaemic heart disease It has been suggested that some short-acting dihydropyridines may be associated with increased cardiovascular risk in patients with ischaemic heart disease. Although lercanidipine is long-acting caution is required in such patients.
Angina pectoris Some dihydropyridines may rarely lead to precordial pain or angina pectoris. Very rarely patients with pre-existing angina pectoris may experience increased frequency, duration or severity of these attacks. 8).
Use in renal or hepatic impairment:
Special care should be exercised when treatment is commenced in patients with mild to moderate renal impairment. Although the usually recommended dose of 10mg daily may be tolerated, an increase to 20mg daily should be approached with caution.
The antihypertensive effect may be enhanced in patients with moderate hepatic impairment and consequently an adjustment of the dosage should be considered. 3). Peritoneal Dialysis Lercanidipine has been associated with the development of cloudy peritoneal effluent in patients on peritoneal dialysis.
The turbidity is due to an increased triglyceride concentration in the peritoneal effluent. Whilst the mechanism is unknown, the turbidity tends to resolve soon after withdrawal of lercanidipine. This is an important association to recognise as cloudy peritoneal effluent can be mistaken for infective peritonitis with consequential unnecessary hospitalisation and empiric antibiotic administration.
g. 5). 5). Paediatric population The safety and efficacy of lercanidipine have not been demonstrated in children. Lactose This medicine contains lactose. Patients with rare hereditary problems of glucose intolerance, total lactase insufficiency or glucose/galactose malabsorption should not take this medicine.
Sodium This medicine contains less than 1mmol sodium (23mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.