Side Effects:

Common Fatigue, Ankle swelling, Sleepiness, Flushing (sense of warmth in the face, ears, neck and trunk), Headache, Nausea, Dizziness, Palpitations, Edema, Abdominal pain.

Expert advice for Avacard Tablet
It is very common to have dizziness, lightheadedness, swelling ankles/feet, flushing, or a headache as a side effect. To lower your risk of dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position. Inform your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if it worsens (for example, your blood pressure readings remain high or increase, chest pain continues or worsens).  Inform your doctor immediately if any of these serious side effects occur: fast/irregular/pounding heartbeat, fainting. Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time each day. It is important to continue taking this medication even if you feel well. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is Avacard used for?
Avacard is indicated for the treatment of high blood pressure (hypertension), angina pectoris (pain in the chest caused by blockages in the arteries leading to the heart) or chest pain classed as vasospastic angina pectoris (or Prinzmetal’s angina).

Q. Is Avacard a calcium channel blocker and how does it works?
Avacard is a calcium channel blocker. In patients with high blood pressure, it works by relaxing blood vessels, so that blood passes through them more easily. In patients with angina, it works by improving blood supply to the heart muscle, which then receives more oxygen, and hence, prevents chest pain. It does not provide immediate relief of chest pain from angina.

Q. Is Avacard safe?
Avacard is safe if used at prescribed doses for the prescribed duration as advised by your doctor.

Q. Can I take Avacard at night?
Avacard can be taken at night. You should take Avacard at the same time each day with a glass of water.

Q. Can I take Avacard and aspirin?
Avacard can be taken with aspirin. No drug-drug interactions have been reported between the two. However, interactions can occur. Please consult your doctor before taking the two medicines together.

Q. Can I take Avacard with sildenafil?
Both Avacard and sildenafil cause a lowering the blood pressure. So, taking the two medicines together could be harmful. Please consult your doctor before taking them together.

Q. Is Avacard a beta blocker?
Avacard is not a beta blocker. It belongs to a group of medicines called calcium channel blockers.

Q. Is Avacard safe for kidneys?
Avacard is not known to damage kidneys. However, Avacard can cause urinary disorders like difficulty in passing urine, increased the need to urinate at night, increased number of times of passing urine as an uncommon side effect.

Q. Is Avacard a diuretic?
Avacard is not a diuretic. It belongs to a group of medicines called calcium channel blockers.

Q. Is Avacard a blood thinner?
Avacard is not a blood thinner. It belongs to a group of medicines called calcium channel blockers.

Q. Is Avacard a statin?
Avacard is not a statin. It belongs to a group of medicines called calcium channel blockers.

Q. Is Avacard an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor?
Avacard is not an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. It belongs to a group of medicines called calcium channel blockers.

Q. Does Avacard cause tachycardia?
Avacard can rarely cause changes in heart rate, which can be an increase (tachycardia) or a decrease in heart rate (bradycardia) or an irregular heart rate. Please consult your doctor if you experience any changes in your heart rate while taking Avacard.

Q. Does Avacard cause pedal edema (swelling of the ankles)?
Avacard can cause pedal edema (swelling of the ankles). Please consult your doctor if you have pedal edema while taking Avacard.

Q. Does Avacard increase creatinine?
Avacard has not been reported to increase creatinine levels. Please consult your doctor if you have increased creatinine levels while taking Avacard as it requires proper diagnosis and management.

Q. Does Avacard cause erectile dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction is an uncommon side effect of Avacard. Please consult your doctor if you experience erectile dysfunction when you are taking Avacard.

Q. Does Avacard cause bradycardia (decreased heart rate)?
Avacard can rarely cause changes in heart rate, which can be an increase (tachycardia) or a decrease in heart rate (bradycardia) or an irregular heart rate. Please consult your doctor if you experience any changes in your heart rate while taking Avacard.

Q. Does Avacard cause weight gain?
Avacard can cause changes in weight, it can either cause weight gain or weight loss. However, these changes are very rare. Please consult your doctor if you experience a change in weight while taking Avacard.

Q. Does Avacard cause joint pain (arthralgia)?
Avacard can cause joint pain (arthralgia). Please consult your doctor if you experience excessive joint pains while taking Avacard.

Q. Does Avacard cause cough?
Avacard can cause cough, but it is a very rare side effect. Please consult your doctor if you experience excessive coughing while taking Avacard.

Q. Does Avacard cause dry mouth?
Avacard can cause dry mouth as an uncommon side effect. Please consult your doctor if you experience excessive dryness of mouth after taking Avacard.

Q. Can I take Avacard without food?
Avacard can be taken before or after food and drinks. Avacard should be taken same time each day with a glass of water. Do not take Avacard with grapefruit juice.

Q. Can I take Avacard with milk?
There are no specific recommendations on the use of Avacard with milk. However, it can be taken before or after food and drinks.

Q. Can I take Avacard with lisinopril?
Avacard can be taken with lisinopril. No drug-drug interactions have been reported between the two. However, as both the medicines have a blood pressure lowering effect, interactions can occur. Please consult your doctor before taking the two medicines together.

Q. Can I take Avacard with ibuprofen?
Avacard can be taken with ibuprofen. No drug-drug interactions have been reported between the two. However, interactions may occur. Please consult your doctor before taking the two medicines together.

Q. Can I take Avacard with metoprolol?
Avacard and metoprolol both have a blood pressure lowering effect. So, taking both the medicines together can be harmful. Please consult your doctor before taking the two medicines together.

Q. Can I take Avacard with losartan?
Avacard and losartan both have a blood pressure lowering effect. So, taking both the medicines together can be harmful. Please consult your doctor before taking the two medicines together.

Q. Can I take Avacard with ramipril?
Avacard and ramipril both have a blood pressure lowering effect. So, taking both the medicines together can be harmful. Please consult your doctor before taking the two medicines together.

Q. Can I take Avacard with simvastatin?
Avacard can increase the levels of simvastatin, causing an increased tendency towards myopathy (muscle pain) and rhabdomyolysis (increased breakdown of muscle). The dose of simvastatin may need to be reduced when giving along with Avacard . Please consult your doctor.

Q. Can I take Avacard with atorvastatin?
Avacard can be taken with atorvastatin. No drug-drug interactions have been reported between the two. However, interactions may occur as interactions have been reported between simvastatin (belongs to the same class). Please consult your doctor before taking the two medicines together.

Q. Can the use of Avacard cause gout?
Avacard does not cause gout. It may cause joint pains (arthralgia). Please consult your doctor in case you have any signs and symptoms of gout as you may need treatment for the same.