Lercanidipine is a tablet taken daily to lower high blood pressure. The appearance of the tablets may differ between brands, but they’re often round and yellow (10mg) or pink (20mg) in colour with a split halfway to allow you to break them in 2 if necessary.

Lercanidipine hydrochloride is the generic name for this medication, you can buy it under the brand name Zanidip in the UK.

High blood pressure (also called hypertension) happens when your arteries become narrow and your heart contracts, making it harder to pump blood around your body. Lercanidipine reduces high blood pressure by helping your muscle cells relax, which allows blood to flow more easily around your body. It does this by blocking calcium, which muscles need to contract, from entering the muscle cells.

Lercanidipine is one of a group of medications called a calcium-channel blocker. It is not an ACE inhibitor or a beta-blocker, which are two other types of medication used to treat high blood pressure.

How long will lercanidipine take to work?

Lercanidipine starts working right away, and each tablet stays in your system for 24 hours which is why you need to take lercanidipine daily. But, it can take up to 2 weeks to see the full impact of taking it on your blood pressure.

Always follow your doctor’s instructions on how to take your medication. Take your lercanidipine tablet at the same time each day. Swallow it whole with a glass of water. If you find it hard to swallow it whole, you can break it into two using the scoreline. Make sure you take lercanidipine at least 15 minutes before you eat (this is because fatty foods can increase the level of lercanidipine in your blood).

Doctors often recommend that you take lercanidipine in the morning before breakfast. This is because blood pressure is usually higher in the morning and can be easier to remember to take at the start of the day. Discuss your options with your doctor to get the best regimen for your health and lifestyle.

What should I do if I miss my dose of lercanidipine?

If you forget to take your tablet, take it as soon as you remember, unless you have forgotten until the next day. If that is the case, wait and take your usual dose. Do not take a double dose.

What should I do if I take too much lercanidipine?

If you take too much lercanidipine, seek medical advice right away. Taking too much can make your blood pressure too low which can have serious implications.

The recommended dose of lercanidipine is 10mg, and this will be your starting dose. Your doctor may decide to increase this to 20mg if taking the initial dose is not reducing your blood pressure.

You need a prescription from a doctor to buy lercanidipine. This means you cannot get it over the counter from a pharmacist. If you have already been prescribed lercanidipine by your doctor and have attended your scheduled appointments to check your blood pressure, you can buy it online from a registered and reputable online doctor such as Superdrug Online Doctor.

The process is quick and easy:

1. Complete the brief medical questionnaire.
2. Our doctors will review your answers and make sure it is safe to prescribe lercanidipine for you.
3. You can then buy lercanidipine and choose to collect it from your local Superdrug pharmacy or get it sent to an address of your choice.
4. If you have any questions, you can message our doctors through your Patient Account.

The Government’s online checker can reassure you that the site you are using to buy medication is operating legally and safely.

How much does lercanidipine cost?

You can get a 3 month supply (84 tablets) of lercanidipine from Superdrug Online Doctor from £25, or a 6 month supply (168 tablets) from £35.

Can I get lercanidipine on the NHS?

Yes, you can get lercanidipine on the NHS, but you will need to make an appointment with your GP first to have an examination. With Superdrug Online Doctor, you can do this consultation online with one of our doctors, so you do not need to leave the comfort of your home.

As with all medication, it is possible to get side effects from taking lercanidipine. There are uncommon side effects that may affect 1 in 100 people taking lercanidipine. These include:

• dizziness
• headaches
• flushing
• faster heartbeat
• awareness of heart beating
• swollen ankles

If you get any of these side effects, they should go away after a week of taking lercanidipine. Talk to your doctor if they are impacting your life, you feel unwell, or they do not go away.

Uncommon or rare side effects include:

• allergic reaction (skin rash, swollen lips, wheezing, difficulty breathing)
• too big a decrease in blood pressure (may lead to dizziness and fainting)
• increase in the number of times you need to pee
• chest pain
• heart attack
• swelling of gums
• increase in liver enzyme blood test values

If you have chest pain after taking lercanidipine, you should call an ambulance as this could be a sign of a problem with your heart. The patient information leaflet has more details on lercanidipine.

You should not take lercanidipine if you:

• are allergic to lercanidipine or any of the ingredients in the medication
• have had an allergic reaction to other calcium-channel blockers
• have had a heart attack in the last month
• have unstable angina, untreated heart failure or other heart problems
• have severe liver or kidney problems
• are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breast-feeding
• are taking drugs such as antifungal medications, macrolide antibiotics, antivirals or cyclosporin

You should tell your doctor if you are taking medication for:

• epilepsy
• tuberculosis
• ulcers, indigestion or heartburn
• heart problems, including a fast heartbeat
• allergies
• high cholesterol
• problems sleeping

You should tell your doctor if you are taking other medication for high blood pressure and taking any supplements.

Can I take Viagra if I am taking lercanidipine?

Yes, you can take Viagra and lercanidipine at the same time. There are other medications to lower blood pressure that are not suitable to take with Viagra. You should discuss this with your doctor if you are concerned.

Can I take ibuprofen if I am taking lercanidipine?

Yes, you can take ibuprofen and lercanidipine at the same time. It is recommended to avoid ibuprofen as a painkiller if you have high blood pressure that is not under control. But if you are taking lercanidipine, your blood pressure is being reduced and is under control.

Can I drink alcohol if I am taking lercanidipine?

Drinking alcohol can increase the possible side effects of dizziness, fainting, tiredness and weakness. If this happens to you, you should stop drinking while taking lercanidipine.

Can I eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice if I am taking lercanidipine?

No. You should avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while taking lercanidipine. This is because it can increase the concentration of lercanidipine in your body, which can worsen any side effects.

If taking lercanidipine does not work for you, your doctor may recommend that you try another calcium-channel blocker. These include amlodipine, felodipine, and nifedipine.

There are also other types of medications to treat high blood pressure, including:

• ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (these widen your blood vessels to reduce blood pressure)
• Beta-blockers (these work by slowing your heart rate and relaxing blood vessels)
• Diuretics or ‘water pills’ (these flush excess water and salt from your body to reduce blood pressure)

These medications have different side effects and contraindications. Your doctor will be able to advise you on whether they are suitable for you or not.

Lifestyle changes

If you are taking medication to reduce your blood pressure, making some simple changes to your lifestyle can increase how effective the medication is. These include:

• increase the amount of exercise you do
• keep to a healthy weight for your size
• eat a balanced diet
• reduce your salt
• quit smoking
• limit your alcohol and caffeine
• get at least 6 hours of sleep each night