Ranolazine

What it is used for

Ranolazine extended-release tablet is a prescription medicine used to treat angina that keeps coming back (chronic angina).

Ranolazine extended-release tablet may be used with other medicines that are used for heart problems and blood pressure control.

It is not known if ranolazine extended-release tablet is safe and effective in children.

Chronic angina means pain or discomfort in the chest, jaw, shoulder, back, or arm that keeps coming back. There are other possible signs and symptoms of angina including shortness of breath. Angina usually comes on when you are active or under stress. Chronic angina is a symptom of a heart problem called coronary heart disease (CHD), also known as coronary artery disease (CAD). When you have CHD, the blood vessels in your heart become stiff and narrow. Oxygen-rich blood cannot reach your heart muscle easily. Angina comes on when too little oxygen reaches your heart muscle.

How to take it

• Take ranolazine extended-release tablet exactly as your doctor tells you.
• Your doctor will tell you how much ranolazine extended-release tablet to take and when to take it.
• Do not change your dose unless your doctor tells you to.
• Tell your doctor if you still have symptoms of angina after starting ranolazine extended-release tablet.
• Take ranolazine extended-release tablet by mouth, with or without food.
• Swallow the ranolazine extended-release tablet whole. Do not crush, break, or chew ranolazine extended-release tablet before swallowing.
• If you miss a dose of ranolazine extended-release tablet, wait to take the next dose of ranolazine extended-release tablet at your regular time. Do not make up for the missed dose. Do not take more than 1 dose at a time.
• If you take too much ranolazine extended-release tablet, call your doctor, or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

Side effects, and when to stop

Ranolazine extended-release tablet may cause serious side effects, including:

• changes in the electrical activity of your heart called QT prolongation. Your doctor may check the electrical activity of your heart with an ECG. Tell your doctor right away if you feel faint, lightheaded, or feel your heart beating irregularly or fast while taking ranolazine extended-release tablet. These may be symptoms related to QT prolongation.
• kidney failure in people who already have severe kidney problems. Your doctor may need to do tests to check how your kidneys are working.

The most common side effects of ranolazine extended-release tablet include:

• dizziness
• headache
• constipation
• nausea

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away.

These are not all the possible side effects of ranolazine extended-release tablet. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

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

Who should not take it

Do not take ranolazine extended-release tablet if:

• you take any of the following medicines:
  • for fungus infection: ketoconazole (Nizoral ® ), itraconazole (Sporanox ®, Onmel TM )
  • for infection: clarithromycin (Biaxin ® )
  • for depression: nefazodone
  • for HIV: nelfinavir (Viracept ® ), ritonavir (Norvir ® ), lopinavir and ritonavir (Kaletra ® ), indinavir (Crixivan ® ), saquinavir (Invirase ® )
  • for tuberculosis (TB): rifampin (Rifadin ® ), rifabutin (Mycobutin ® ), rifapentine (Priftin ® )
  • for seizures: phenobarbital, phenytoin (Phenytek ®, Dilantin ®, Dilantin125 ® ), carbamazepine (Tegretol ® )
  • St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum)

• you have scarring (cirrhosis) of your liver

What to say before you start

Before you take ranolazine extended-release tablet, tell your doctor if you:

• have or have a family history of a heart problem, called 'QT prolongation' or 'long QT syndrome'.
• have liver problems.
• have kidney problems.
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if ranolazine extended-release tablet will harm your unborn baby.
• are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed. It is not known if ranolazine extended-release tablet passes into your breast milk. You and your doctor should decide if you will breast-feed.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including all prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Ranolazine extended-release tablet may affect the way other medicines work and other medicines may affect how ranolazine extended-release tablet works.

Tell your doctor if you take medicines:

• for your heart
• for cholesterol
• for diabetes
• for infection
• for fungus
• for transplant
• for nausea and vomiting because of cancer treatments
• for mental problems

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your doctor or pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

What to avoid

• Grapefruit and grapefruit juice. Limit products that have grapefruit in them. They can cause your blood levels of ranolazine extended-release tablet to increase.
• Ranolazine extended-release tablet can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting. If you have these symptoms, do not drive a car, use machinery, or do anything that needs you to be alert.

Storing it

Store ranolazine extended-release tablets between 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F).

Keep ranolazine extended-release tablet and all medicines out of the reach of children.

General information about ranolazine extended-release tablet.

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in the Patient Information. Do not use ranolazine extended-release tablet for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give ranolazine extended-release tablet to other people, even if they have the same condition you have. It may harm them.

The Patient Information summarizes the most important information about ranolazine extended-release tablet. If you would like more information, talk with your doctor. You can ask your pharmacist or doctor for information about ranolazine extended-release tablet that is written for health professionals.

For more information, call Viona Pharmaceuticals Inc. at 1-888-304-5011.