Adalat

Other Names: Nifedipine, Afeditab, Nifedical, Procardia.

Commonly Prescribed For: Adalat is generally prescribed for treating high blood pressure. This medication is also used to control chest pain.

How to Take it: Adalat is available in the form of a capsule, as an extended-release tablet to be taken via mouth. The long-acting tablet must be taken once every day on an empty stomach. The capsule is generally taken 3 or 4 times every day. Take this medication as prescribed, around the same time every day. Do not crush or chew the extended-release tablet, instead swallow the tablet entirely.

How it Works: Adalat belongs to a group of drugs known as calcium-channel blockers. It relaxes the blood vessels, so that the heart can pump more efficiently. It works by increasing the supply of oxygen and the blood to the heart.

Some Side Effects: Common side effects include headache, decreased sexual ability, nausea, cough, dizziness or lightheadedness, constipation, flushing, muscle cramps and heartburn. Some serious side effects include inflammation of the eyes, hands or lower legs, severity of chest pain, difficulty breathing or swallowing, yellowing of the skin and fainting.