ranolazine Health Article

Generic name(s):

ranolazine

Brand name(s):

Ranexa

What is the most important information I should know about ranolazine?

You should not take ranolazine if you have liver disease, hypokalemia (low levels of potassium in your blood), or a personal or family history of "Long QT syndrome." Ranolazine should not be taken together with certain medicines to treat heart rhythm disorders, malaria, infections, mental illness, pain, cancer, or stomach disorders. Before you take ranolazine, tell your doctor about all other medications you are using.

Ranolazine is not for use during an acute (emergency) attack of angina. Continue using any other medicines prescribed by your doctor (such as nitroglycerin) to treat acute angina.

Chronic angina is often treated with a combination of different drugs. To best treat your condition, use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without advice from your doctor.

Do not crush, chew, or break an extended-release tablet. Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.

What is ranolazine?

Ranolazine is an anti-anginal medication. It works by improving blood flow to help the heart work more efficiently.

Ranolazine is used to chronic treat angina (chest pain) when other medications have not helped the condition.

Ranolazine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my health care provider before taking ranolazine?

You should not take ranolazine if you have liver disease, hypokalemia (low levels of potassium in your blood), or a personal or family history of "Long QT syndrome." Ranolazine should not be taken together with certain medicines to treat heart rhythm disorders, malaria, infections, mental illness, pain, cancer, or stomach disorders. Before you take ranolazine, tell your doctor about all other medications you are using.

Ranolazine is not for use during an acute (emergency) attack of angina. Continue using any other medicines prescribed by your doctor (such as nitroglycerin) to treat acute angina.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known if ranolazine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take ranolazine?

Take ranolazine exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take it in larger doses or for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Ranolazine may be taken with or without food.

Chronic angina is often treated with a combination of different drugs. To best treat your condition, use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without advice from your doctor.

Do not crush, chew, or break an extended-release tablet. Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.

To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your heart function will need to be tested with an electrocardiograph or ECG (sometimes called an EKG) on a regular basis. This machine measures electrical activity of the heart. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.

Do not take more than 1000 milligrams of ranolazine two times per day.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.