Ranexa

Common use

Ranexa (ranolazine) belongs to a class of medications called anti-anginals. Ranexa is used in adults to treat chronic angina (ongoing chest pain or pressure that is felt when the heart does not get enough oxygen). Ranexa is used alone or with other medications. This medicine is not for use during an acute (emergency) attack of angina.

Dosage and direction

Take Ranexa exactly as prescribed by your doctor. You may take Ranexa tablets with or without food. Swallow the tablet whole and do not crush, chew, or break it. Chronic angina is often treated with a combination of drugs. Do not change your dose or dosing schedule without your doctor's advice.
Usual Adult Dose for Angina Pectoris: 500 mg orally twice a day; increase to 1000 mg orally twice a day as needed. Maximum dose: 1000 mg orally twice a day.

Precautions

To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had: long QT syndrome (in you or a family member); liver disease; or kidney disease.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Contraindications

You should not take Ranexa if you are allergic to ranolazine, or if you have: cirrhosis of the liver.
Ranexa is not for use during an acute (emergency) attack of chest pain. Continue using any other medicines prescribed by your doctor (such as nitroglycerin) to treat acute chest pain.

Possible side effect

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Ranexa: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Ranexa may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have: a light-headed feeling; fast or pounding heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, shortness of breath, and sudden dizziness (like you might pass out); or kidney problems - swelling, urinating less, feeling tired or short of breath.
Common Ranexa side effects may include: nausea, constipation; headache; or dizziness.

Drug interaction

Some drugs should not be used with Ranexa. Your treatment plan may change if you also use: clarithromycin; nefazodone; St. John's wort; antifungal medicine - itraconazole, ketoconazole; HIV or AIDS medicine - indinavir, lopinavir/ritonavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir; seizure medicine - carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin; or tuberculosis medicine - rifabutin, rifampin, rifapentine.
Tell your doctor about all your current medicines. Many drugs can affect ranolazine, especially: any other medicine to treat heart disease; an antibiotic or antifungal medicine; oral diabetes medicine; medicine to prevent organ transplant rejection; medicine to treat a mental illness; or medicine to treat or prevent nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy or radiation.

Missed dose

Skip the missed dose and use your next dose at the regular time. Do not use two doses at one time.

Overdose

Seek emergency medical attention. Overdose symptoms include nausea, vomiting, numbness or tingling, low blood pressure, dizziness, irregular heartbeats, trouble speaking, double vision, hallucinations, confusion, uncontrolled shaking, or fainting.

Storage

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat, away from children and pets.