Adult Dosing
Hypertension
Substituting oral therapy
Drug-free patient
- Start: 5 mg/hr IV
- Titrate: Increase 2.5 mg/hr q5-15 min. PRN; Max: 15 mg/hr
Pediatric Dosing
- Safety and efficacy in pediatric patients have not been established
- Nicardipine may produce symptomatic hypotension or tachycardia. Closely monitor blood pressure and heart rate. Take precaution when administering to patients who have sustained an acute cerebral infarction or hemorrhage
- In CHF patients, therapy may cause a negative inotropic effect, alone or when used in combination with a beta-blocker. Therefore monitor vital signs carefully when using nicardipine
- Nicardipine is metabolized in the liver. Use with caution in patients with impaired hepatic function and portal hypertension. Reduce dosage
- Titrate dose carefully when administering to patients with moderate to severe renal impairment
- Therapy does not give protection against the dangers of abrupt beta-blocker withdrawal. Withdraw beta-blockers gradually
- Administer drug through large peripheral veins or central veins rather than arteries or small peripheral veins to reduce the possibility of venous thrombosis. Change the site of the drug infusion every 12 hours
- For long term control of hypertension, transfer patients to oral medication as soon as their clinical condition permits
Cautions: Use cautiously in
- Renal impairment
- Severe hepatic impairment
- Serious ventricular arrhythmias
- CHF
- Cardiac conduction defects
- Cerebral infarct
- Cerebral hemorrhage
- Pheochromocytoma
- Geriatric patients
Pregnancy Category:C
Breastfeeding: Due to the low levels of nicardipine in breastmilk, it would not be expected to cause any adverse events in breastfed infants. This information is based based upon LactMed database (available at http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT last accessed 12 February 2011). According to manufacturer's data, women taking therapy with nicardipine should not breastfeed.
US Trade Name(s)
US Availability
nicardipine (generic)
Cardene
Cardene in 0.83% NaCl in Plastic Container
Cardene in 0.86% NaCl in Plastic Container
Cardene in 4.8% NaCl in Plastic Container
Cardene in 5.0% NaCl in Plastic Container
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Canadian Availability
UK Trade Name(s)
UK Availability
Australian Trade Name(s)
Australian Availability
