Confusion over Lercanidipine instructions

I've just started on Lercanidipine 10mg for hypertension and arrhythmia.

On the instruction leaflet, and all other information that I've found on the Internet, the advice is to take it 15 minutes, 30 minutes or an hour before eating.

None of that answers my question though (which I can't find an answer to)..

Does a meal need to be eaten?

(I use intermittent fasting.)

Thanks for reading.

[Happyrosie]

If it says thirty minutes before eating, I take it to mean:

7.30a.m. Take tablet

8 a.m. have something to eat.

[Myhat]

I take it first thing in the morning and don't eat till about 12. Have you noticed any side effects? I have been noticing quite bad bladder leakage since starting them. My GP says it's nothing to do with them, but I'm not convinced.

[Hidden in reply to Myhat]

Thank you for reply. Incidentally, has your blood pressure reduced?

I have have a friend who's been taking Lercanidipine (20mg) for years.

He takes it in the morning, on an empty stomach) with some water and doesn't eat until the evening. He's had no side effects apart from sometimes needing to urinate more often than normal. His blood pressure is in the healthy range.

As for me. I'm only on my second day of taking it. I cannot find the answer to my question anywhere on the Internet. Even the pharmacist I phoned and spoke to doesn't know.

I understand that it needs to be taken on an empty stomach, but is it a *requirement* to eat something later, even if a meal is delayed?

I've not heard of the particular side effect you mention linked with Lercanidipine. I would check on the Internet, and if you want to, you can log your symptoms with mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard

It's possible your are not connected and the timing is a coincidence.

[Myhat in reply to Hidden]

Thanks, I have had issues with side effects from medication in the past so I might be a bit paranoid. As to your question, I really don't know. It's worth remembering that Lercanipine can give you heartburn, though. I suspect that it probably doesn't matter as long as you take it on an empty stomach but I can't find anything on the subject either. I can't think why you would have to eat afterwards, I wouldn't think it would have any effect on the drug's absorption.

[Hidden in reply to Myhat]

My side effects are flushing face, arrhythmia and feeling very tired.

I'm looking into nattokinase as a long term future replacement.

[Happyrosie]

I replied earlier to this, and have also seen the other replies. I still see it as completely straightforward. If it says to take one hour before a meal, you take it one hour before a meal.

Have I misunderstood?

[Hidden]

Hi I also take 10mg LERCANIDIPINE, the reason for taking this tablet before food, (ie) on an empty stomach is fatty food in the stomach can increase the amount of LERCANIDIPINE the body takes in and can make you more likely to have side effects, this info is on the NHS website under this drugs name. So take 15 to 30 mins before food, then do whatever you normally do regarding eating, you can eat or fast whatever. Hope it helps but worth a visit to the NHS site.

[Hidden]

Thank you for your reply.

There's no clear information regarding this topic. I understand the instructions ie. best taken before a meal.

My question is: does there need to be a meal?

I say this because a friend of mine takes a Lercanidipine tablet every morning, very early. He has nothing to eat all day and only starts eating in the evening. An empty stomach for perhaps 10, 11, 12 hours.

The closest I've come to discovering the answer to my question is on an Australian website, whose instructions say: **works best taken 15 minutes before a meal.**

[LegzRmine in reply to Hidden]

It means to take lercanindipine before food as opposed to with food.. to give the drug time to work..eating food at the same time reduces the effectiveness of the drug...you don’t have to eat after taking it...

[TheJazzSinger in reply to Hidden]

Hello Hidden, I think if you were meant to eat a meal the instructions would say so. I take 10mg of Lercanidipine and I use intermittent fasting. I don’t eat until 1 p.m apart from high days and holidays and have not had any side effects whether I eat one hour or 4 hours later.