Ranexa Treatment and Use
What is Ranexa?
Ranexa | ranolazine is an anti-anginal medication that is used to treat adult patients who suffer from chronic angina(chronic chest pain). Angina has many causes, such as stress, exercise, extreme high or low temperatures, and eating. Ranexa can help patients by:
- Reducing the number of angina attacks, which can cause persistent pain and discomfort.
- Decreasing the amount of nitroglycerin tablets(which are used to halt an attack that has already started) a patient must take.
- Increasing the amount of time in which a patient is able to talk. This is especially beneficial, as some angina attacks can occur as a result of exercise.
Although Ranexa is effective in reducing the number of angina attacks a patient may experience, it should not be used to stop an attack that has already begun.
How does Ranexa work?
Ranexa’s exact mechanism of action is not fully understood, however it is thought to prevent angina attacks and heart muscle damage by inhibiting the amount of sodium that flows through heart cells. Higher levels of sodium are thought to interfere with the heart’s ability to contract properly, which in turn can cause chest pains.
Ranexa Dosing Instructions
Ranexa may be taken alone or with other medications, such as beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, or calcium channel blockers. Patients may be started on an initial dosage of 500 mg twice a day, with an increase to 1000 mg twice daily depending on the appearance of adverse effects. Your doctor may modify your dosage, based on the drug’s effectiveness, up to a maximum of 1000 mg twice daily. Do not take more Ranexa than prescribed, even if you have missed a dose, and do not tamper with or chew the tablets.
