Hypertensives Co-administration of lacidipine with other antihypertensives may have additive hypotensive effect.. 

Cimetidine The plasma level of lacipidine may be increased by cimetidine. 

Betablockers No specific adverse interactions have been observed with common cardiovascular drugs like beta-blockers, diuretics or digoxin.

Hypertension

Lacidipine is generally well tolerated. Commonly reported adverse events are: headache, flushing, edema, dizziness & palpitations. Asthenia, rash, erythema, itching, gastric upset, polyuria, chest pain, gingival hyperplasia have been reported infrequently.

A reversible increase in alkaline phosphatase has been reported, in some rare cases.

Hypersensity. Pregnancy.

Special precautions:

Use with caution in elderly and in patients with liver impairment, poor cardiac reserve. If ischemic pain develops shortly after initiating lacidipine, the therapy should be stopped.

Dosage-

Recommended dose is 4mg once daily. Should be taken at the same time every day, preferably in the morning.

If necessary the dose may be increased to 6mg after adequate time (not less tha 3-4 weeks). In patients with hepatic impairment, the initial dose is 2mg once daily, and may be increased to 4mg after 4 weeks.

Pharmacology:

Lacidipine possesses one of the highest known membrane partition coefficients which allows it to position more deeply within the vascular cell membrane lipid bilayer. This property allows accumulation and slow diffusion of the drug into a reservoir in the lipid layer, where the calcium channels are situated.

Pharmacokinetics:

Lacidipine is rapidly absorbed via the oral route, and like other other dihydropyridines, it undergoes extensive first pass metabolism, giving a bioavailability of about 10% . The terminal plasma half-life is about 14hrs. Lacidipine and its metabolite undergoes minimal renal excretion, hence no dosage adjustments are required in patients with renal impairment. However, in the elderly, and in hepatic impairment, dosage adjustments are recommended.

Food does not interfere with its absorption, however, concomittant grape juice slightly enhances the bioavailability of lacidipine.

Not recommened for use during pregnancy

Lactation: Drug is known to be excreted in milk. Use the drug only if the benefit outweighs the risk.