Ranolazine (By mouth)

ra-NOE-la-zeen

Treats chronic angina (chest pain).

Drug classes

Antianginal (About this – PubMed Health)

Uses

Uses of This Medicine

Ranolazine is used to treat chronic angina (chest pain). This medicine is usually used together with other medicines, such as ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, calcium channel blockers, beta-blockers, or nitrates.

This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription.

Other uses (PubMed Health)

How To Use

Long Acting Tablet

Take your medicine as directed. Your dose may need to be changed several times to find what works best for you.

Swallow the extended-release tablet whole. Do not crush, break, or chew it.

Read and follow the patient instructions that come with this medicine. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Missed dose: If you miss a dose of this medicine, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

Do not use this medicine together with carbamazepine, clarithromycin, itraconazole, ketoconazole, nefazodone, phenobarbital, phenytoin, rifabutin, rifampin, rifapentine, certain medicines to treat HIV or AIDS (such as indinavir, lopinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir), or St John’s wort.

Some foods and medicines can affect how ranolazine works. Tell your doctor if you are using cyclosporine, digoxin, diltiazem, erythromycin, fluconazole, lovastatin, metformin, simvastatin, sirolimus, tacrolimus, verapamil, medicine for a heart rhythm problem (such as amiodarone, dofetilide, quinidine, sotalol), medicine for depression, or medicine to treat a mental illness (such as thioridazine, ziprasidone).

Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you are using this medicine.

When Not To Use

This medicine is not right for everyone. Do not use it if you had an allergic reaction to ranolazine, or if you have liver cirrhosis.

Warnings

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, or heart rhythm problems.

This medicine may cause the following problems:

QT prolongation (heart rhythm problem) Kidney failure

Do not use this medicine to treat a sudden onset of chest pain.

This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.

Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.

Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.

Possible side effects

Summary More details

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing

Decrease in how much or how often you urinate

Fainting, dizziness, or lightheadedness

Fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat

Rapid weight gain, swelling of your hands, ankles, or feet

Severe or increased chest pain

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

More side effects of this drug

Brand names include

Ranexa

There may be other brand names for this medicine.