Every year an increasing number of patients come to doctors complaining of high blood pressure. There are many reasons for the development of hypertension, so treatment should be selected individually for each person. The pharmacy can offer a huge number of drugs that help keep blood pressure indicators within normal limits. But the choice must be made only after consultation with a specialist. In our article, we will get acquainted with one of these drugs, consider what the Cordaflex drug is. Instructions for use, analogues, reviews are presented to your attention in the article.
Pharmacological action of Cordaflex
This drug is well known to patients suffering from hypertension. It is included in the group of antihypertensive drugs. The main active ingredient is nifedipine, it is able to block calcium channels. After taking it, the transmembrane intake of calcium is normalized, which is disturbed with hypertension.
The drug has the following effect:
- Expands coronary vessels.
- Reduces vascular tone.
- Reduces the oxygen demand of the heart muscle.
- Provides good nutrition for ischemic areas of the heart.
- Reduces overall resistance.
After entering the body, the drug is well absorbed into the bloodstream, bioavailability is about 70%. The medicine “Kordaflex” has a prolonged action, the maximum concentration is reached after 50-60 minutes and remains for 6 hours.
The active substance of the drug is able to penetrate in small amounts through the blood-brain barrier, the placenta, and into breast milk.
To whom reception of "Cordaflex" is shown
Any analogue of Cordaflex, like the drug itself, is usually prescribed in the following conditions:
- High blood pressure, which is observed for a long time.
- Hypertensive crisis.
- Coronary artery disease.
- Angina pectoris.
As can be seen from the list of diseases, “Kordaflex” has limited indications for use and is prescribed for conditions associated with the risk of high blood pressure. You should not prescribe this medication for yourself, because it also has its own contraindications. Only a competent specialist should do this.
Contraindications
Not always with high pressure you can take " Cordaflex". Its use is prohibited in the following conditions:
- Myocardial infarction.
- Cardiogenic shock.
- Low blood pressure
- Aortic or mitral stenosis.
- Severe heart failure.
- The first trimester of pregnancy.
- Breast-feeding.
- Age to 18 years.
- High susceptibility to the components of the drug.
Choosing the “Cordaflex” remedy, indications for use should be studied, but it is also necessary to pay attention to contraindications.
Undesirable manifestations during therapy "Cordaflex"
When taking any medication, there is a risk of side effects. “Cordaflex” is no exception in this regard, although they are rarely seen. But it must be borne in mind that the following side effects are possible:
- On the part of the cardiovascular system, pronounced arterial hypotension, an increase in heart rate are possible, there may be swelling, an increase in angina attacks, fainting, and an increase in heart failure.
- The nervous system can respond to sleep disturbances, headache and dizziness, and mood swings.
- Some patients may experience vomiting and nausea, dry mouth, and bloating.
- A blood test may show leukopenia, anemia, or thrombocytopenia.
- Urination becomes more frequent, renal function decreases, which is especially undesirable for those patients who suffer from kidney diseases.
- Some have allergic reactions in the form of skin itching, urticaria.
- Fever.
- Fluctuations in body weight, a person can either gain weight or lose weight.
- Pain in the muscles and joints.
- General weakness.
With pronounced side effects that do not go away after several days of therapy, you should definitely consult a doctor. He will pick up an analogue of Cordaflex, which will be better tolerated. You should not do this on your own.
Drug therapy regimen
It is important to remember that only a doctor can prescribe this medication. Cordaflex has limited indications, but the treatment regimen will not be the same for all patients. The dosage is always prescribed individually, it will depend on the severity of the disease, the general condition of the body.
The drug is taken orally, tablets must be taken before meals and washed down with water.
The initial stage of therapy usually begins with taking 1 tablet three times a day. The daily maximum dosage should not exceed 40 mg. Cordaflex medicine is also available in the form of sustained-release tablets, which must be taken 2 times a day, the interval between doses should be 12 hours.
The duration of therapy is determined by the doctor, but keep in mind that drug withdrawal should occur gradually. If it gives side effects, “ Cordaflex”, analogues of the drug can replace it, but the dosage and treatment regimen is determined by the doctor.
Symptoms of an overdose
If you do not follow the doctor’s recommendations for taking the drug and in the hope of a speedy recovery, take the medicine at a higher dosage, that is, there is a risk of developing the following consequences:
- A sharp decrease in blood pressure.
- Pain similar to the manifestation of angina pectoris.
- Tachycardia.
- Loss of consciousness.
- Collapse.
- Bradycardia
- In severe situations, metabolic alkalosis, cardiogenic shock with pulmonary edema.
- Hypoxia
- Impaired consciousness, the risk of developing coma.
Any analogue of “Cordaflex” can also give such manifestations if taken in a larger dosage than prescribed by the doctor.
Interaction with other medicines
If the patient takes alcohol-containing drugs, then it is not recommended to prescribe “Cordaflex” at the same time. If you take the medicine together with Methyldopa, Clonidine, Prazosin, orthostatic hypotension may develop .
Simultaneous therapy with Cimetidine, Ranitidine and tricyclic antidepressants will enhance the antihypertensive effect of Cordaflex.
If “Cordaflex” is combined with “Theophylline” and “Digoxin”, then it is necessary to control the content of the latter in blood plasma.
Calcium preparations, "Rifampicin" and "Phenitonin" lower the effectiveness of "Cordaflex", so it is better not to take them together. “Cordaflex” reduces the rate of elimination of “Vincristine”, which can provoke an increase in the manifestation of side effects, therefore, it is necessary to adjust the dosage.
The concomitant use of erythromycin, grapefruit juice and azole antimicrobials slows down the metabolism of nifedipine, which must also be taken into account.
If “Cordaflex” is prescribed, the indications are important, but the doctor must be informed which medicines are being taken at this time. Then you can choose the appropriate dosage or replace the drug.
Use of the drug during pregnancy
It has already been noted that taking Cordaflex in the first three months of pregnancy is categorically not recommended. This is based on the fact that the active substance of the drug is able to penetrate the placental barrier. Special studies on the effect of nifedipine on the developing fetus have not been conducted, so it is better not to risk the health of the unborn baby.
At a later date, the use of the drug is indicated only when other medicines cannot normalize blood pressure.
Given that nifedipine can pass into breast milk, therapy during breastfeeding is also not recommended. If treatment cannot be delayed, then the child is transferred to artificial feeding.
Special instructions for the use of the drug "Cordaflex"
The ability to lower blood pressure in this medicine is enhanced in the presence of hypovolemia. Reducing the pressure in the pulmonary artery can enhance the therapeutic effect of the drug, so it is necessary to slightly reduce the dosage.
In some cases, chest pain may appear at the initial stage of Cordaflex therapy or with an increase in dosage. If the relationship between taking the medicine and angina pectoris is proved, then the therapy with this drug will have to be stopped or the dosage adjusted.
It is necessary to cancel the drug gradually, since a sharp cessation of admission can cause hypertensive crisis or myocardial ischemia.
Be sure to inform about the reception of "Cordaflex" if surgery is expected.
Special care should be taken during treatment for elderly patients, since there is a risk of a decrease in cerebral blood flow. During the course of treatment, taking alcoholic beverages is not recommended, since a decrease in blood pressure can occur sharply.
Analogues of the drug
Any drug has (and is not an exception "Cordaflex") analogues, synonyms. They differ in similar pharmacological effects on the body and have in their composition the same active substance the following drugs:
- "Adalat."
- Calcigard Retard.
- "Zanifed".
- "Cordaflex Retard."
- "Cordipine ChL."
- Corinfar.
- Nifedicap.
- "Nicardia."
- Nifebene.
- "Nifelat."
- "Nifesan."
- “Phenigidin” (this, by the way, is the cheapest analogue of “Cordaflex”).
- Corinfar UNO.
- "Sponif 10".
- "Nifedipine."
- Kordafen.
It must be borne in mind that analogues can not always give such an effect as the original drug. Replacement should always be discussed with your healthcare provider.
Analogs are produced both by Russian manufacturers and foreign. It should be noted that the latter are sometimes much more expensive than domestic drugs, but nevertheless this does not increase their effectiveness. After all, more expensive does not mean better.
If we talk about Kordafleks, the Russian counterparts are the already mentioned Nifedipine and Phenigidin. These drugs are low cost, and their effectiveness is quite high.
The cheapest analogue of Cordaflex
Such is the drug produced in Russia "Fenigidin" (also produced in Ukraine). This analogue of Cordaflex is produced not only in tablet form, but also in the form of a solution for intravenous or intracoronary administration.
The active substance is the same as in the original medicine, nifedipine. Its content in one tablet is 10 milligrams, as in Cordaflex.
If Cordaflex should be taken before meals, then Phenigidine can be used during meals or after meals. The initial dosage should be one tablet twice a day. Typically, the duration of therapy is about 1-2 months, but all this is individual and is determined by the doctor, taking into account the severity of the patient's condition.
The peculiarity of the Phenigidin tablets is that they can be taken not only orally, but also sublingually, while the preparation after chewing is kept in the oral cavity until it is completely dissolved. After this, it is advisable for the patient to lie down for about an hour. This technique provides a quick relief of an attack. In the future, you can take inside.
Doctors believe that the drug has good effectiveness, provides significant assistance with high blood pressure, angina attacks, but some patients noted a headache while taking it.
There is also evidence that during therapy there may be dizziness, muscle pain. But doctors are sure that the appearance of undesirable consequences is most often associated with improper use of the drug.
That is why taking the drug is recommended only under the supervision of specialists. This is especially true in cases where the patient has acute myocardial infarction, there are cerebrovascular accidents, diabetes mellitus, as well as problems in the liver and kidneys. Malignant arterial hypertension also requires careful administration of “Phenigidin”.
How not to go wrong with the choice of medicine
Quite often, the high cost of original drugs becomes the reason for the search for analogues. It has already been noted that medicines of Russian manufacturers are several times cheaper, and in quality they are not inferior to foreign medicines.
Before you prefer the original to its analogue, you need to discuss this issue with your doctor. Quite often, when acquiring a generic, you can not wait for the effect that is required. And besides, giving preference to analogues, you can easily run into a fake. To prevent this from happening, you need to pay attention to the following points when buying a drug:
- The presence of spelling errors in the instructions for the drug should make you doubt the authenticity of the medicine.
- Different font on the package.
- The box or bottle is ajar.
- The tablet engraving does not have a clear pattern.
- The barcode does not match the country of manufacture.
- No data on the manufacturer of the drug.
- No registration number.
- Shelf life is also missing.
If such inaccuracies are found, then, most likely, this is not a real drug, but a fake, and it may be dangerous to your health. In the best case, such unscrupulous manufacturers made the medicine out of ordinary chalk, but in the worst it’s even scary to imagine what the consequences may be after treatment with such a remedy.
If during the examination of the packaging with the drug there are any doubts about its authenticity, then you can ask the pharmacist for a quality certificate, it must be on all medicines.
Reviews on "Cordaflex" and its substitutes
Any drug may not be equally suitable for all patients, therefore, Kordaflex itself, analogues reviews have both positive and negative.
For example, doctors note that the medication has a short-term effect, so taking is necessary at least 2 times a day. But the big plus of this drug is the lack of addiction, so at any time it can be replaced with another without consequences for the body.
Patients note that the drug quickly normalizes blood pressure. If you take it according to the scheme prescribed by your doctor and observe the dosage, then the indicators always remain within the normal range. Well, according to patients, the medicine also helps with angina pectoris. With regular admission, repeated attacks practically stop.
There are also negative reviews about the drug. In some patients, after taking the medicine, the face reddens and swelling appears. Many note a severe headache during treatment with this drug, the appearance of dryness in the oral cavity, there may be nausea and vomiting.
Some patients taking a medication for a long time note that a cough appears as a side effect.
To reduce the likelihood of adverse events, Cordaflex is recommended to be taken only after consulting a doctor. Be sure to comply with the dosage and treatment regimen, as well as if there are contraindications, do not rely on what will carry and everything will be fine. It is better to choose another drug than to suffer from side effects later.
Any drug before prescribing requires a thorough examination, an accurate diagnosis, so that you can choose the most effective dosage and prescribe the duration of therapy. Do not risk your health, do not self-medicate, it does not bring to good, but only exacerbates the situation. Only a competent specialist can recommend an effective drug and choose a treatment regimen.