clevidipine

What is the most important information I should know about clevidipine?

In an emergency, you may not be able to tell caregivers about your health conditions. Make sure any doctor caring for you afterward knows you received this medicine.

What is clevidipine?

Clevidipine is a calcium channel blocker that is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) in people who cannot take medicine by mouth.

Clevidipine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before receiving clevidipine?

• high cholesterol or triglycerides (especially if you also have pancreatitis);
• problems with metabolizing fats;
• severe narrowing of the aortic valve in your heart (aortic stenosis);
• a kidney disorder called lipoid nephrosis; or
• an allergy to eggs, soybeans, or soy products.

If possible before you receive clevidipine, tell your caregivers if you have ever had:

• high cholesterol;
• pancreatitis;
• congestive heart failure;
• food allergies;
• pheochromocytoma (an adrenal gland tumor); or
• liver or kidney disease.

In an emergency, you may not be able to tell caregivers if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Make sure any doctor caring for your pregnancy or your baby knows you received this medicine.

How is clevidipine given?

Clevidipine is given as an infusion into a vein. A healthcare provider will give you this injection.

You may be given another blood pressure medication to take after treatment with clevidipine.

If your doctor does not prescribe blood pressure medication for you to keep taking, you will need to be watched for at least 8 hours after your last clevidipine injection to make sure your blood pressure does not go back up again.

Keep using your blood pressure medicine as directed, even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medicine for the rest of your life.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Because you will receive clevidipine in a clinical setting, you are not likely to miss a dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Since this medicine is given by a healthcare professional in a medical setting, an overdose is unlikely to occur.

What should I avoid while receiving clevidipine?

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.

What are the possible side effects of clevidipine?

• chest pain;
• pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest;
• a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
• severe dizziness or confusion;
• vision problems;
• shortness of breath; or
• swelling in your hands or feet.

Common side effects may include:

• headache; or
• nausea and vomiting.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect clevidipine?

If you have been using a beta-blocker medication (such as atenolol, carvedilol, metoprolol, nebivolol, propranolol, sotalol, and others), you should not stop using it suddenly. Follow your doctor's instructions about tapering your dose. Stopping a beta-blocker too quickly can cause serious heart problems that will not be prevented by clevidipine.

Other drugs may affect clevidipine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Where can I get more information?

Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about clevidipine.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2023 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 4.01. Revision date: 3/14/2019.