Consumer medicine information

LERCANIDIPINE AN

Lercanidipine hydrochloride

BRAND INFORMATION

Brand name

Lercanidipine AN

Active ingredient

Lercanidipine hydrochloride

Schedule

S4

 

Consumer medicine information (CMI) leaflet

Please read this leaflet carefully before you start using LERCANIDIPINE AN.

What is in this leaflet

This leaflet answers some of the common questions about LERCANIDIPINE AN. It does not contain all the available information. It does not replace seeking advice from your doctor or pharmacist.

Please read this leaflet before you start taking LERCANIDIPINE AN. If you are helping someone else take LERCANIDIPINE AN, please read this leaflet before you give the first dose.

All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking LERCANIDIPINE AN against the benefits this medicine is expected to have for you.

If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Keep this leaflet with the medicine. You may need to read it again.

What LERCANIDIPINE AN is used for

The name of your medicine is LERCANIDIPINE AN, which is also known as lercanidipine. LERCANIDIPINE AN belongs to a group of medicines called calcium channel blockers (of the dihydropyridine group).

LERCANIDIPINE AN lowers high blood pressure, which doctors call hypertension. It works by relaxing some of the blood vessels in the body and reducing resistance to the flow of blood through the blood vessels.

Everyone has blood pressure. This pressure helps get your blood all around your body. Your blood pressure may be different at different times of the day, depending on how busy or worried you are. You have hypertension (high blood pressure) when your blood pressure stays higher than is needed, even when you are calm and relaxed.

There are usually no symptoms of hypertension. The only way of knowing that you have hypertension is to have your blood pressure checked on a regular basis. If high blood pressure is not treated it can lead to serious health problems. You may feel fine and have no symptoms, but eventually hypertension can cause stroke, heart disease and kidney failure. LERCANIDIPINE AN helps lower your blood pressure.

LERCANIDIPINE AN cannot be obtained without a doctor's prescription.

There is no evidence that LERCANIDIPINE AN is addictive.

Before you take LERCANIDIPINE AN

When you must not take it

Do not take LERCANIDIPINE AN if you have an allergy to:

  • lercanidipine or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet
  • any drugs closely related to lercanidipine (such as amlodipine, felodipine or nifedipine)

Do not take LERCANIDIPINE AN if you:

  • have severe liver or kidney disease
  • are also taking another medicine called cyclosporin

Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

Do not take LERCANIDIPINE AN if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.

Like most calcium channel blockers, LERCANIDIPINE AN is not recommended for use during pregnancy. Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while you are taking LERCANIDIPINE AN.

Do not take LERCANIDIPINE AN if you are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed. Like most calcium channel blockers LERCANIDIPINE AN is not recommended while you are breast-feeding.

Do not take LERCANIDIPINE AN if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.

Do not take LERCANIDIPINE AN if the tablets show visible sign of deterioration (for example, are broken or discoloured).

Do not take LERCANIDIPINE AN if the expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack has passed. If you take this medicine after the expiry date has passed, it may not work (as well).

If you are not sure whether you should start taking LERCANIDIPINE AN, talk to your doctor.

Do not give LERCANIDIPINE AN to a child under the age of 18 years. LERCANIDIPINE AN is not recommended for use in children.

Before you start to take it

You must tell your doctor:

  1. if you are allergic to any other medicine or any foods, dyes or preservatives.
  2. if you are taking other drugs for high blood pressure, such as beta-blockers, diuretics, ACE-inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor antagonists.
  3. if you have or have ever had any other health problems/medical conditions, including:
  • liver or kidney disease or are on dialysis
  • being on peritoneal dialysis
  • certain other heart conditions such as: uncontrolled heart failure, an obstruction to flow of blood from the heart, unstable angina (chest pain or tightness at rest or progressively increasing) or you have had a heart attack one month ago or less and / or if you require a pacemaker

If you have not told your doctor about any of the above or if you are not sure, tell them before you take LERCANIDIPINE AN.

Taking other medicines

Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop. Some medicines may interfere with the way LERCANIDIPINE AN works, or may be affected by LERCANIDIPINE AN. These include:

  • ritonavir, cyclosporin, ketoconazole, itraconazole, erythromycin, fluoxetine, cimetidine (more than 800 mg daily).

You may need different amounts of your medicine, or you may need to take different medicines. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you what to do if you are taking any of these medicines.

Also ask your doctor or pharmacist what to do if you are taking, or are about to take the following medicines: phenytoin, carbamazepine, rifampicin, amiodarone, quinidine, digoxin, simvastatin, metoprolol or propranolol.

If you have not told your doctor about any of the medicines listed above, tell them before you start taking LERCANIDIPINE AN.

How to take LERCANIDIPINE AN

How much to take

Follow all directions given to you by your doctor carefully. These directions may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.

The usual dose is one 10 mg tablet taken once daily, but may be increased to 20 mg once daily.

If you do not understand the instructions on the box, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.

How to take it

Swallow LERCANIDIPINE AN whole with a glass of water.

When to take it

Take LERCANIDIPINE AN at about the same time each day, at least 15 minutes before a meal. LERCANIDIPINE AN will have the best effect if it is taken at the same time each day at least 15 minutes before meals. This will also help you remember when to take the tablets.

How long to take it

LERCANIDIPINE AN helps control your condition, but does not cure it. Therefore you must take LERCANIDIPINE AN every day. Continue taking the tablets for as long as your doctor tells you to.

If you forget to take it

If you forget to take a dose but remember within 12 hours from when the dose was due, take it straight away, then continue as normal the next day. Otherwise skip that day's dose but be sure to take the next day's dose when it is due. If you are not sure about what to do, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed.

If you have trouble remembering to take your tablets, ask your pharmacist for some hints.

If you have missed several doses, consult your doctor.

If you take too much (overdose)

Immediately telephone your doctor or Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26), or go to Accident & Emergency at your nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much LERCANIDIPINE AN. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention. Keep telephone numbers of these places/services handy.

If you take too much LERCANIDIPINE AN it may cause your blood pressure to become too low and you may feel your heart beats become irregular and faster. It may also lead to unconsciousness.

While you are using LERCANIDIPINE AN

Things you must do

Use LERCANIDIPINE AN exactly as your doctor has prescribed. If you do not follow your doctor's instructions correctly, your blood pressure may not be controlled.

Be sure to keep all of your doctor's appointments so that your progress can be checked.

If you become pregnant while you are taking LERCANIDIPINE AN, tell your doctor.

If you are about to start taking any new medicine, tell your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking LERCANIDIPINE AN.

Tell all other doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking LERCANIDIPINE AN.

If you have an operation, tell the anaesthetist that you are taking this medicine.

Things you must not do

Do not give LERCANIDIPINE AN to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.

Do not use LERCANIDIPINE AN to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.

Things to be careful of

Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how LERCANIDIPINE AN affects you. LERCANIDIPINE AN generally does not cause any problems with your ability to drive a car or operate machinery. However, as with other medicines used to treat high blood pressure, a few people may feel dizzy, light-headed or faint, especially when first taking LERCANIDIPINE AN or when starting to take a different amount of medicine. Your doctor may also ask you to limit or stop your alcohol intake while taking medicines to control your blood pressure, such as LERCANIDIPINE AN, as alcohol may increase these effects.

If you feel light-headed, dizzy or faint when getting out of bed or standing up, get up slowly.

As with some medicines used to treat high blood pressure such as LERCANIDIPINE AN, you should avoid drinking grapefruit juice as grapefruit juice may increase the effects of these medicines.

Side effects

Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking LERCANIDIPINE AN.

LERCANIDIPINE AN helps most people with high blood pressure, but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.

Possible side effects include:

  • flushing
  • swelling of the ankles, feet or lower legs
  • headache
  • dizziness
  • gastrointestinal disturbances such as heartburn, nausea, epigastric pain or diarrhoea
  • fatigue or sleepiness

These effects when they occur are usually mild. However, should you experience any of these or other undesirable effects not mentioned above, you should consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.

Tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident & Emergency at your nearest hospital if you notice any of the following:

  • angina (chest pain or tightness)
  • increased heart beat
  • signs of allergy such as rash, itching or hives on the skin

These side effects are usually rare but may be serious and need urgent medical attention.

Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.

After using LERCANIDIPINE AN

Storage

Keep your tablets in the blister pack until it is time to take them. If you take the tablets out of the blister pack they may not keep well.

Keep it in a cool dry place away from sunlight where the temperature stays below 30 °C. Do not store it or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink.

Do not leave it in the car or on window sills. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.

Keep it where children cannot reach it. A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.

Disposal

If your doctor tells you to stop taking the tablets or the tablets have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any tablets that are left over.

Product description

What it looks like

LERCANIDIPINE AN is available in 10mg or 20mg tablets.

The 10mg tablets are yellow and round with a score line on one side and an “L” on the other.

The 20mg tablets are round and pink with a score line on one side and an “L” on the other.

LERCANIDIPINE AN comes in packs of 7 (sample) or 30 tablets.

Ingredients

Active Ingredient
Lercanidipine hydrochloride 10 mg or 20 mg per tablet.

Excipient Ingredients
Lactose, cellulose microcrystalline, sodium starch glycollate, povidone, magnesium stearate, polyvinyl alcohol, talc-purified, titanium dioxide, macrogol 3350, iron oxide yellow and iron oxide red (20mg only).

Sponsor

Southern Cross Pharma Pty Ltd
56 Illabunda Drive
Malua Bay NSW 2536

ABN 47 094 447 677

Date of Information:
29 June 2016

Australian Registration Number:

LERCANIDIPINE AN 10 mg blister pack: 172211

LERCANIDIPINE AN 20 mg blister pack: 172212

Published by MIMS February 2017

BRAND INFORMATION

Brand name

Lercanidipine AN

Active ingredient

Lercanidipine hydrochloride

Schedule

S4

 

Name of the medicine

Lercanidipine hydrochloride.

Excipients.

Lactose, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium starch glycollate, povidone, magnesium stearate and the film coating ingredients Opadry II Yellow 85F32553, which contains polyvinyl alcohol, titanium dioxide, macrogol 3350, purified talc and iron oxide yellow (10 mg) or Opadry II Pink 85F34564, which contains polyvinyl alcohol, titanium dioxide, macrogol 3350, purified talc and iron oxide red (20 mg).

Description

Chemical name: 3,5-pyridinedicarboxylic acid, 1,4- dihydro-2, 6-dimethyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-2- [(3,3- diphenylpropyl)methylamino]- 1,1-dimethylethyl methyl ester hydrochloride. Chemical formula: C36H41N3O6.HCl. MW: 648.2; 611.7 (free base). CAS: 132866-11-6. Lercanidipine hydrochloride is a microcrystalline, odourless, citrine powder, readily soluble in chloroform and methanol, practically insoluble in water. Octanol: water partition coefficient (LogP): 6.4. Lercanidipine is a dihydropyridine derivative. It is a racemate due to the presence of a chiral carbon atom at position 4 of the 1,4-dihydropyridine ring.

Pharmacology

Pharmacodynamic properties.

Lercanidipine is a calcium antagonist of the dihydropyridine group and selectively inhibits the transmembrane influx of calcium into cardiac and vascular smooth muscle, with a greater effect on vascular smooth muscle than on cardiac smooth muscle. The antihypertensive action is due to a direct relaxant effect on vascular smooth muscle which lowers total peripheral resistance and hence blood pressure. Lercanidipine has a prolonged antihypertensive activity because of its high membrane partition coefficient. It is devoid of negative inotropic effects and its vascular selectivity is due to its voltage dependent calcium antagonist activity. Since the vasodilatation induced by lercanidipine hydrochloride is gradual in onset, acute hypotension with reflex tachycardia has rarely been observed in hypertensive patients.
As for other asymmetric 1,4-dihydropyridines, the antihypertensive activity of lercanidipine is mainly due to the (S) enantiomer.
No significant effects on electrocardiogram (ECG) have been seen.

Pharmacokinetics.

Absorption.

Lercanidipine is completely absorbed after oral administration. Peak plasma levels of 3.30 nanogram/mL ± 2.09 SD and 7.66 nanogram/mL ± 5.90 SD occur 1.5 to 3 hours after dosing with 10 and 20 mg, respectively. The absolute bioavailability of lercanidipine is about 10%, because of high first-pass metabolism. The bioavailability increases fourfold when lercanidipine is ingested up to two hours after a high fat meal, and about two-fold when taken immediately after a carbohydrate rich meal. Consequently, lercanidipine should be taken at least 15 minutes before a meal.
With oral administration, lercanidipine exhibits nonlinear kinetics. After 10, 20 or 40 mg, peak plasma concentrations observed were in the ratio 1:3:8 and areas under plasma concentration-time curves (AUC) in the ratio 1:4:18, showing a progressive saturation of first-pass metabolism. Accordingly, bioavailability increases as dosage increases.
The two enantiomers of lercanidipine have a similar time to peak plasma concentration. The peak plasma concentration and AUC are, on average, 1.2-fold higher for the (S) enantiomer. No in vivo interconversion of enantiomers is observed.

Distribution.

Distribution of lercanidipine from plasma to tissues and organs is rapid and extensive. Serum protein binding exceeds 98%. The free fraction of lercanidipine may be increased in patients with renal or hepatic impairment as plasma protein levels are decreased in these disease states.

Metabolism.

As for other dihydropyridine derivatives, lercanidipine is extensively metabolised by CYP3A4. It is predominantly converted to inactive metabolites; no parent drug is found in the urine or faeces. About 50% of the dose is excreted in the urine.

Excretion.

The mean terminal elimination half-life of S and R-lercanidipine enantiomers is 5.8 ± 2.5 and 7.7 ± 3.8 hours, respectively. No accumulation was seen upon repeated administration. The therapeutic activity of lercanidipine lasts for 24 hours, due to its high binding to lipid membranes.

Elderly patients.

In elderly patients, the pharmacokinetics of lercanidipine are similar to those observed in the general population.

Hepatic impairment.

A study in patients with mild hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh class A) showed that the pharmacokinetic behaviour of the drug is similar to that observed in the general population. No studies have been undertaken in patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment.

Renal impairment.

In patients with severe renal dysfunction (creatinine clearance < 12 mL/minute) or dialysis dependent patients, plasma levels were increased by about 70%. As a consequence, the drug should be contraindicated in severe renal impairment.

Clinical Trials

Placebo controlled studies.

Lercanidipine has been compared to placebo in four 4 to 16 week studies, involving 671 patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension. All studies used a three week placebo run-in period. Endpoints were diastolic and systolic blood pressure 24 hours postdose. Both 10 and 20 mg once daily significantly lowered diastolic and systolic blood pressure compared to placebo, and the reduction in blood pressure was maintained throughout the 24 hour dosing period.
Diastolic blood pressure changes observed after four weeks of treatment with lercanidipine 10 to 20 mg daily ranged between 8 and 13 mmHg, as compared to 3 to 6 mmHg induced by placebo.
Studies with 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring have documented that the antihypertensive effect of lercanidipine is maintained throughout the 24 hour dosing period, with limited variations between peak (5 to 7 hours postdosing) and trough blood pressure changes.

Active controlled studies.

Four clinical trials involving 538 patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension have compared lercanidipine with nifedipine SR, atenolol, hydrochlorothiazide and captopril. Trials included a two week washout period followed by a three week placebo run-in, and 12 to 16 weeks of active treatment. Diastolic and systolic blood pressure was measured 24 hours postdose. Lercanidipine was as effective as the comparator drugs, and at least as well tolerated. 24 hour blood pressure monitoring was used in a comparative, crossover trial of lercanidipine versus amlodipine (n = 16). The effect of lercanidipine paralleled that of amlodipine throughout the 24 hour period.

Patients with isolated systolic hypertension.

The effect of lercanidipine 10 to 20 mg daily on isolated systolic hypertension was studied in a double blind, randomised, placebo controlled study in 83 elderly patients (sitting systolic blood pressure > 160 mmHg and sitting diastolic blood pressure < 95 mmHg). The study consisted of one week washout, three weeks placebo run-in, and eight weeks of active treatment. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure was measured 24 hours postdose. Lercanidipine 10 to 20 mg was efficacious in lowering systolic blood pressure from the initial values of 172.6 ± 5.6 mmHg to 140.2 ± 8.7 mmHg (mean ± SD, per protocol population in all patients completing the whole eight weeks of double blind treatment), as compared to the changes in the placebo group (from 172.4 ± 6.3 to 162.8 ± 9.7 mmHg). Therefore, at study endpoint, patients treated with lercanidipine experienced a significantly greater decrease (-22.6 mmHg, p < 0.001) in sitting systolic blood pressure in comparison to placebo. The diastolic blood pressure was within normal range.

Long-term studies.

In long-term studies, 399 patients were followed for 12 months, with dose titration allowed every four weeks, to 30 mg daily. Development of tolerance was not seen. The antihypertensive effect was maintained and the heart rate was not significantly affected. A further fall in blood pressure was seen after the first and second month, with blood pressure stabilising in the third month. The majority of patients remained on 10 mg once daily.

Indications

Treatment of hypertension.

Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to any dihydropyridine or any ingredient of Lercardinipine AN; severe hepatic impairment; severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance < 12 mL/minute).
Concomitant treatment of Lercardinipine AN with cyclosporin should be avoided.

Precautions

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 should be required in such patients.

Outflow obstruction (aortic stenosis).

Lercanidipine should be administered with caution in patients with left ventricular outflow obstruction (aortic stenosis).

Congestive heart failure.

In general, calcium channel blockers should be used with caution in patients with heart failure. Although animal data and acute haemodynamic evaluation in patients with preserved left ventricular function have not demonstrated that lercanidipine exerts a direct negative inotropic effect, safety in patients with congestive heart failure has not been established. Therefore, as for other calcium channel blockers, lercanidipine should be used with caution in such patients, especially if untreated.

Unstable angina pectoris or within one month of a myocardial infarction.

Rarely patients have developed documented increased frequency, duration and/or severity of angina on starting calcium channel blocker therapy or at the time of dosage increase (particularly those with severe obstructive coronary artery disease). The mechanism of this effect has not been elucidated, however the possibility of an exacerbation of angina and/or cardiac ischaemia exists. It is, therefore, suggested that the use of calcium channel blockers is not advisable in patients with unstable angina pectoris or recent myocardial infarction.

Impaired renal function.

Although the pharmacokinetics of lercanidipine in patients with mild to moderate renal impairment are similar to those observed in the general population, special care should be exercised when commencing treatment in such patients. The usual recommended dose of 10 mg daily may be tolerated; however, an increase to 20 mg daily should be approached with caution.

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.

Impaired hepatic function.

The pharmacokinetics of lercanidipine in patients with mild hepatic impairment are similar to those observed in the general population. However, there are no studies in patients with moderate hepatic impairment and dosage recommendations have not been established. Lercanidipine should, therefore, be used with caution in this patient group and careful monitoring undertaken during treatment, since the bioavailability and hypotensive effect may be increased. The use of lercanidipine in patients with moderate hepatic impairment should only be undertaken if the benefits are considered to outweigh the risks. Lercanidipine is contraindicated in patients with severe hepatic disease.

Use in the elderly.

Although the pharmacokinetic data and clinical experience suggest that no adjustment of the daily dose is required, special care should be exercised when initiating treatment in the elderly.

Carcinogenesis, mutagenesis, impairment of fertility.

No evidence for genotoxic activity was observed with lercanidipine in in vitro assays of gene mutation (reverse mutation in S. typhimurium, forward mutation in Chinese hamster V79 fibroblasts), gene conversion (in Saccharomyces cerevisiae D4) or chromosomal damage (Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cytogenetic assay). Negative findings were also obtained with lercanidipine in an in vivo assay of chromosomal damage (mouse micronucleus test).
Carcinogenicity studies of lercanidipine (administered via the diet) have been performed in rats and mice (18 months), using doses up to 60 mg/kg/day for mice and 5 mg/kg/day for rats. Plasma concentrations (AUC) of lercanidipine at the highest doses used in these studies were about two to four times the highest AUC expected in humans during treatment with lercanidipine. Lercanidipine showed no evidence of carcinogenic activity in these studies.
Administration of lercanidipine at oral doses up to 12 mg/kg/day (associated with plasma lercanidipine concentration (AUC) about 20 to 40 times higher than the expected human AUC) had no effect on male or female fertility in rats.

Use in pregnancy.

(Category C)
There is no clinical experience with lercanidipine in pregnancy, but other dihydropyridine compounds have been found to cause irreversible malformations in animals. Therefore, lercanidipine should not be administered during pregnancy or to women with childbearing potential unless effective contraception is used.
In animal studies, pregnant rats given lercanidipine orally at doses greater than or equal to 2.5 mg/kg/day beginning prior to mating, or 12 mg/kg/day beginning from early gestation, showed signs of dystocia and had an increased incidence of stillbirths and a lower neonatal survival index. The no effect dose for effects on parturition and neonatal survival was 0.5 mg/kg/day (associated with lercanidipine concentration (AUC) about 50% of the expected human AUC) when dosing started before pregnancy or 2.5 mg/kg/day (about three times the human AUC) when dosing started during early gestation. Administration with lercanidipine at doses of 2.5 mg/kg/day during gestation also caused a higher incidence of fetal visceral abnormalities (mono/ bilateral renal pelvic and/or ureteric dilatation) and skeletal abnormalities (mainly delayed ossification) at all dose levels. A no effect dose was not established. The effects of lercanidipine during pregnancy have not been investigated adequately in a nonrodent species.

Use in lactation.

There is no clinical experience with lercanidipine in lactation. Distribution into milk may be expected, due to the high lipophilicity of lercanidipine. Therefore, lercanidipine should not be administered to lactating women.

Use in children.

Due to lack of clinical experience, lercanidipine is not recommended for use in patients under the age of 18.

Interactions

Lercanidipine has been safely administered with diuretics and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. It may also be administered safely with beta-blockers which are eliminated unchanged (such as atenolol).

Inhibitors or inducers of cytochrome CYP3A4.

Since the main metabolic pathway of lercanidipine involves the enzyme CYP3A4, drugs that inhibit or induce this enzyme have the potential to alter the plasma concentration of the compound.
Therefore, inhibitors of CYP3A4 (such as ketoconazole, itraconazole, erythromycin, ritonavir and fluoxetine) may increase the plasma concentration of lercanidipine, and such combinations should be used with caution.
When coadministrered with CYP3A4 inducers, such as anticonvulsants (e.g. phenytoin, carbamazepine) and rifampicin, the antihypertensive effect of lercanidipine may be reduced and, therefore, blood pressure should be monitored when the coadministration is foreseen.

CYP3A4 and CYP2D6 substrates.

The potential for in vivo inhibition of CYP3A4 by lercanidipine is negligible, as confirmed by an interaction study with midazolam in healthy volunteers. After repeated coadministration with lercanidipine, midazolam (a probe for CYP3A4 activity) was found to be essentially bioequivalent to the drug administered alone. However, unless specific data are available, caution should also be exercised when lercanidipine is coprescribed with other substrates of CYP3A4 which have a narrow therapeutic index, such as cyclosporin, and class III antiarrhythmic drugs (e.g. amiodarone and quinidine).
Coadministration of lercanidipine with cyclosporin resulted in a three-fold increase in the plasma levels of lercanidipine and a 21% increase in the bioavailability of cyclosporin. However, when cyclosporin was administered three hours after lercanidipine, no increase in plasma levels was observed for lercanidipine, while the bioavailability of cyclosporin increased by 27%. Therefore, cyclosporin and lercanidipine should not be administered together.
Moreover, interaction studies in humans have shown that lercanidipine did not modify the plasma levels of metoprolol, (a typical substrate of CYP2D6). Therefore, at therapeutic doses it is unlikely that lercanidipine will inhibit the biotransformation of drugs metabolised by CYP2D6.
These findings confirm that the inhibition of cytochrome P450 isoenzymes observed in vitro with lercanidipine is devoid of any clinical significance. In vitro experiments with human liver microsomes demonstrated that lercanidipine inhibits CYP3A4 and CYP2D6 (IC50 of 2.6 and 0.8 microgram, respectively). The IC50 concentrations for CYP3A4 and CYP2D6 are 160 and 40 times higher, respectively, than those reached at peak in the plasma after a 20 mg dose.

Beta-blockers.

When lercanidipine was administered with metoprolol, a beta-blocker eliminated mainly by the liver, the bioavailability of metoprolol was not changed, while that of lercanidipine was reduced by 50%. Therefore, when coadministered with metoprolol, it may be necessary to increase the dose of lercanidipine. It is anticipated that a similar effect may occur with propranolol.

Cardiac glycosides.

Coadministration of lercanidipine in patients chronically treated with beta-methyldigoxin (a prodrug of digoxin) showed no evidence of a pharmacokinetic interaction. However, patients on concomitant digoxin treatment should be closely monitored.

Cimetidine.

Concomitant administration of cimetidine 400 mg twice daily does not cause significant changes in the plasma levels of lercanidipine: AUC and Cmax were increased by a mean of 11%. However, at higher doses caution is required since the bioavailability and the hypotensive effect of lercanidipine may be increased.

Simvastatin.

Coadministration of a dose of lercanidipine 20 mg with simvastatin 40 mg resulted in no increase in the bioavailability of lercanidipine, however a 56% increase was observed for simvastatin and a 28% increase for its active metabolite beta-hydroxyacid. It is unlikely that these changes are clinically relevant. However, it is recommended that when required lercanidipine be administered in the morning and simvastatin in the evening.

Food.

See Pharmacology, Pharmacokinetics.
The metabolism of dihydropyridines can be inhibited by grapefruit juice, leading to increased plasma concentration and hypotensive effect.
Alcohol should be avoided while taking lercanidipine since it may potentiate the effect of vasodilating antihypertensive drugs.

Adverse Effects

Treatment with lercanidipine is generally well tolerated. In nine placebo controlled clinical trials with a treatment duration lasting at least four weeks, 582 patients were initially treated with lercanidipine, and 292 patients received placebo. Most of the events reported in the studies were related to the vasodilatory effects of lercanidipine, and were classified mild to moderate in severity.
Table 1 lists, according to organ system, adverse events that were reported in placebo controlled trials in hypertensive patients with lercanidipine tablets at an incidence greater than or equal to 1% in at least one of the active treatment groups.
More extensively, over 15,500 patients were treated with lercanidipine in clinical trials (including PMS studies) with doses from 2.5 mg daily up to 40 mg daily, and with treatment duration ranging from a single dose up to more than one year. Adverse experiences which were not clearly drug related and which occurred in < 1% but greater than or equal to 0.1% of patients are summarised according to organ system.

Cardiovascular.

Palpitations/ tachycardia.

Central and peripheral nervous system.

Dizziness, vertigo.

Gastrointestinal.

Nausea, dyspepsia, abdominal pain, diarrhoea.

Psychiatric.

Somnolence.

General.

Flushing, asthenia (including fatigue and muscle weakness).
The following events have been rarely reported.

Cardiovascular.

Hypotension, orthostatic hypotension, periorbital oedema, anginal pain, myocardial infarction, cardiac failure.

Respiratory.

Dyspnoea.

Central and peripheral nervous system.

Migraine, paraesthesia, leg cramps.

Special senses.

Taste alteration.

Gastrointestinal.

Vomiting, gastrointestinal disorder not otherwise specified (NOS).

Liver and biliary system.

Gamma glutaryl transferase (GGT) increased.

Genitourinary.

Polyuria, urinary frequency, impotence.

Musculoskeletal.

Myalgia.

Skin and appendages.

Rash, pruritus, allergic dermatitis, hives, sweating increased.

Psychiatric.

Anxiety, insomnia.

Metabolic.

Hypercholesterolaemia.

General.

Chest pain, malaise.
Serious adverse events have been reported in clinical trials in less than 0.002% of the patients. The remaining adverse events have been reported as mild to moderate in intensity.

Other adverse effects.

Gastrointestinal: cloudy peritoneal effluent (in patients on peritoneal dialysis).

Laboratory tests.

There were reports of isolated and reversible increases in serum levels of hepatic transaminases; no other clinically significant pattern of laboratory test abnormalities related to lercanidipine has been observed. Lercanidipine does not affect blood sugar or lipid levels.

Dosage and Administration

The recommended dose is 10 mg once daily, at least 15 minutes before a meal. The dose may be increased to 20 mg once daily depending on the individual response. Dose titration should be gradual, as it may take about two weeks for the maximal antihypertensive effect to be apparent. Titration may proceed more rapidly, however, if clinically warranted, provided the patient is assessed frequently. Since it is unlikely that increasing the dose beyond 20 mg will further improve the efficacy, and may be associated with side effects, doses above 20 mg are not recommended. Some individuals not adequately controlled on a single antihypertensive agent may benefit from the addition of lercanidipine at the same doses used in monotherapy to the existing regimen with a beta-blocker, a diuretic or an ACE inhibitor.

Use in the elderly, children, hepatic and renal impairment.

See Precautions.

Overdosage

Symptoms.

There is limited experience with lercanidipine overdosage. As with other dihydropyridines, overdosage might be expected to cause excessive peripheral vasodilatation with marked hypotension and reflex tachycardia.

Treatment.

In case of severe hypotension, bradycardia and unconsciousness, cardiovascular and respiratory monitoring will be required and supportive treatment may be necessary. Since lercanidipine is highly lipophilic, dialysis is unlikely to be effective.
Contact the Poisons Information Centre on 131 126 for management of overdose.

Presentation

Tablets (round, biconvex, coated, scored on one side, marked L on reverse), 10 mg (yellow); 20 mg (pink): 7's (sample), 30's (PVC/ PVDC/ aluminium blister packs).

Storage

Store below 25°C. Protect from light.

Poison Schedule

S4.