Ranexa

Pronunciation: ra-NOE-la-zeen
Generic Name: Ranolazine
Brand Name: Ranexa

Ranexa is used for:

Treating chronic chest pain (angina). It may be used alone or in combination with other medicines.

Ranexa is an antianginal medicine. Exactly how it works is not known.

Do NOT use Ranexa if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Ranexa


• you have liver cirrhosis


• you are taking certain azole antifungals (eg, itraconazole, ketoconazole), barbiturates (eg, phenobarbital), carbamazepine, hydantoins (eg, phenytoin), certain macrolide antibiotics (eg, clarithromycin), nefazodone, certain protease inhibitors (eg, indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir), a rifamycin (eg, rifampin), St. John's wort, or telithromycin

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Ranexa:

Some medical conditions may interact with Ranexa. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding


• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement


• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances


• if you have a history of liver problems, kidney problems or if you are on dialysis, or have diabetes


• if you have a personal or family history of irregular heartbeat (eg, prolonged QTc interval, congenital long QT syndrome), abnormal heart function tests, or low blood potassium levels


• if you take certain antipsychotics (eg, thioridazine, ziprasidone) or antiarrhythmics (eg, amiodarone, dofetilide, quinidine, sotalol), or any other medicine that may increase the risk of a certain type of irregular heartbeat (prolonged QT interval). Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure if any of your medicines may increase the risk of this type of irregular heartbeat

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Ranexa. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Aprepitant, azole antifungals (eg, itraconazole, ketoconazole, fluconazole), cyclosporine, diltiazem, macrolide antibiotics (eg, clarithromycin, erythromycin), nefazodone, protease inhibitors (eg, boceprevir, ritonavir), telithromycin, or verapamil because they may increase the risk of Ranexa's side effects


• Barbiturates (eg, phenobarbital), carbamazepine, hydantoins (eg, phenytoin), rifamycins (eg, rifampin), or St. John's wort because they may decrease Ranexa's effectiveness


• Digoxin, lovastatin, simvastatin, sirolimus, tacrolimus, or tricyclic antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline) because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Ranexa

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Ranexa may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Ranexa:

Use Ranexa as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Take Ranexa by mouth with or without food.


• Swallow Ranexa whole. Do not break, crush, or chew before swallowing.


• Check with your doctor before you eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you are taking Ranexa.


• If you miss a dose of Ranexa, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Ranexa.

Important safety information:

• Ranexa may cause dizziness, light-headedness, or blurred vision. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Ranexa with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.


• Ranexa may cause dizziness, light-headedness, or fainting; alcohol, hot weather, exercise, or fever may increase these effects. To prevent them, sit up or stand slowly, especially in the morning. Sit or lie down at the first sign of any of these effects.


• Do NOT take more than the recommended dose without checking with your doctor.


• Ranexa is not effective in treating an angina attack. Talk to your doctor about how to treat an angina attack.


• Lab tests, including heart function, may be performed while you use Ranexa. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.


• Use Ranexa with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects.


• Ranexa should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed.


• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Ranexa while you are pregnant. It is not known if Ranexa is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Ranexa.

Possible side effects of Ranexa:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Constipation; dizziness; headache; nausea.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; unusual hoarseness); blood in the urine; blurred vision; change in the amount of urine produced; chest pain; confusion; decreased sense of touch; fainting; fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; fever, chills, or persistent sore throat; numbness, burning, prickling, or tingling of the skin; severe or persistent dizziness, light-headedness, or weakness; shortness of breath; swelling of the hands or feet; tremor; unusual bruising or bleeding.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

See also: Ranexa side effects (in more detail)

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include confusion; double vision; fainting; numbness, burning, prickling, or tingling of the skin; severe or persistent dizziness, nausea, or vomiting.

Proper storage of Ranexa:

Store Ranexa at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). Brief storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Ranexa out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Ranexa, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.


• Ranexa is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.


• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.


• Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Ranexa. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

Issue Date: February 1, 2012

Database Edition 12.1.1.002

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

More Ranexa resources

• Ranexa Side Effects (in more detail)
• Ranexa Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Drug Images
• Ranexa Drug Interactions
• Ranexa Support Group
• 11 Reviews for Ranexa - Add your own review/rating

• Ranexa Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Ranexa Consumer Overview


• Ranexa Monograph (AHFS DI)


• Ranexa Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information


• Ranolazine Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)

Compare Ranexa with other medications

• Angina