Ranolazine (By mouth)

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used

You should not use this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to ranolazine, or if you have liver disease (cirrhosis), or are also using carbamazepine (Tegretol®), clarithromycin (Biaxin®), nefazodone (Serzone®), phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin®), rifabutin (Mycobutin®), rifampin (Rifadin®, Rimactane®), rifapentin (Priftin®), medicine to treat fungus infections (such as itraconazole, ketoconazole, Nizoral®, or Sporanox®), medicine to treat HIV or AIDS (such as indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir, Crixivan®, Fortovase®, Invirase®, Norvir®, or Viracept®), or St. John's wort. Talk to your doctor before you use any other medicine with ranolazine.

How to Use This Medicine

Long Acting Tablet

• Your doctor will tell you how much of this medicine to use and how often. Your dose may need to be changed several times in order to find out what works best for you. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.
• Do not use this medicine to treat a sudden onset of chest pain.
• You may take this medicine with or without food.
• Swallow the extended-release tablet whole. Do not crush, break, or chew it.

If a dose is missed:

• If you miss a dose of this medicine, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine

• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
• Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
• Keep all medicine away from children and never share your medicine with anyone.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are using aprepitant (Emend®), arsenic trioxide (Trisenox®), cisapride (Propulsid®), colchicine (Colcrys®), cyclosporine (Gengraf®, Neoral®, Sandimmune®), digoxin (Lanoxin®), diltiazem (Cardizem®, Dilacor®, Tiazac®), fluconazole (Diflucan®), methadone (Methadose®), sunitinib (Sutent®), vardenafil (Levitra®), verapamil (Calan®, Isoptin®, Verelan®), voriconazole (Vfend®), certain antibiotics (such as ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, gatifloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, telithromycin, Avelox®, Cipro®, Levaquin®, or Tequin®), medicine for heart rhythm problems (such as amiodarone, dofetilide, quinidine, sotalol, Betapace®, Cordarone®, or Tikosyn®), medicine for certain types of cancer (lapatinib, nilotinib, pazopanib, Tasigna®, Tykerb®, or Votrient®), medicine for depression (such as amitriptyline, doxepin, nortriptyline, paroxetine, Elavil®, Pamelor®, Paxil®, or Sinequan®), or medicine to treat a mental illness (such as aripiprazole, droperidol, paliperidone, thioridazine, ziprasidone, Abilify®, Geodon®, Inapsine®, Invega®, or Mellaril®).
• Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using alfentanil (Alfenta®), astemizole (Hismanal®), budesonide (Pulmicort®, Rhinocort®), buspirone (Buspar®), eletriptan (Relpax®), eplerenone (Inspra®), felodipine (Plendil®), fentanyl (Sublimaze®), fluticasone (Flonase®), midazolam (Versed®), sildenafil (Viagra®), sirolimus (Rapamune®), tacrolimus (Prograf®), terfenadine (Seldane®), triazolam (Halcion®), medicine to lower cholesterol (such as lovastatin, simvastatin, Altocor®, Mevacor®, or Zocor®), or ergot medicines (such as dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, or Ergomar®).
• Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you are using this medicine.

Warnings While Using This Medicine

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have a history of a heart condition called congenital long QT syndrome.
• This medicine can cause a change in the heart rhythm called prolongation of the QT interval. This condition may change the way your heart beats and can cause palpitations or fainting spells. Check with your doctor right away if you start having any of these symptoms.
• This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Avoid driving, using machines, or doing anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert. You may also feel lightheaded when standing or sitting up straight, so stand up or sit up slowly.
• Your doctor will need to check your progress at regular visits while you are using this medicine. Be sure to keep all appointments.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse, call your doctor.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Blurred vision.
• Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting.
• Fast, slow, pounding, or uneven heartbeat.
• Rapid weight gain.
• Red or dark brown urine.
• Severe or increased chest pain.
• Shortness of breath or troubled breathing.
• Swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet.

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Constipation, nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain.
• Dry mouth.
• Headache.
• Lack or loss of strength.

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088

Introduction

Ranolazine (ra-NOE-la-zeen)

Treats or prevents angina (chest pain). This medicine is usually used together with other medicines, such as ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, anti-platelet medicines, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, lipid-lowering medicines, or nitrates.

Brand Name(s)

Ranexa

There may be other brand names for this medicine.