Cleviprex

Cleviprex

Generic Name: clevidipine (kle VID a peen)

Brand Names: Cleviprex

What is Cleviprex?

Cleviprex is in a group of drugs called calcium channel blockers. Clevidipine relaxes (widens) blood vessels and improves blood flow.

Cleviprex is an injectable medication that is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) in people who cannot take medicine by mouth.

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

Important information about Cleviprex

You should not receive Cleviprex if you are allergic to clevidipine, eggs, or soy products. You also should not receive Cleviprex if you have high cholesterol or triglyceride levels in your blood, pancreatitis with high cholesterol or triglycerides, a kidney disorder called lipoid nephrosis, or severe narrowing of the aortic valve in your heart (aortic stenosis).

Before you receive Cleviprex, tell your doctor if you have food allergies, pancreatitis, pheochromocytoma (an adrenal gland tumor), heart disease, or a history of high cholesterol.

In an emergency situation, it may not be possible before you are treated to tell your caregivers about any health conditions you have or if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. However, make sure any doctor caring for you afterward knows that you have received this medication.

Tell your doctor about all other heart or blood pressure medications you are using.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before I receive Cleviprex?

You should not receive Cleviprex if you are allergic to clevidipine, eggs, or soy products. If possible, before you receive Cleviprex, tell your doctor if you have:

high cholesterol or triglyceride levels in your blood;

pancreatitis with high cholesterol or triglycerides;

a kidney disorder called lipoid nephrosis; or

severe narrowing of the aortic valve in your heart (aortic stenosis).

If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely receive this medication. If possible before you receive Cleviprex, tell your doctor if you have:

food allergies;

pancreatitis;

pheochromocytoma (an adrenal gland tumor);

heart disease; or

a history of high cholesterol.

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether Cleviprex is harmful to an unborn baby. Before you receive this medication, tell your doctor if you are pregnant. It is not known whether Cleviprex passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Before you receive this medication, tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

In an emergency situation, it may not be possible before you are treated with Cleviprex to tell your caregivers if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. However, make sure any doctor caring for your pregnancy or your baby knows that you have received this medication.

How is Cleviprex given?

Cleviprex is given as an injection through a needle placed into a vein. Your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider will give you this injection. You will continue to receive Cleviprex until you are able to take blood pressure medication orally (by mouth).

Your blood pressure and heart rate will be watched closely while you are receiving Cleviprex. Your blood pressure may also need to be checked often for several hours after you stop receiving this medication.

While you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using your prescribed medications even if you feel fine. High blood pressure often has no symptoms, so you may not know when your blood pressure is high.

You may need to use blood pressure medication for the rest of your life. Call your doctor at once if you have any signs of dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure).

Cleviprex may be only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes a special diet. It is very important to follow the diet plan created for you by your doctor or nutrition counselor. You should become very familiar with the list of foods you must avoid to help control your condition.

Store Cleviprex at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since Cleviprex is given as needed by a healthcare professional, it is not likely that you will miss a dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have received too much of this medication.

Overdose symptoms may include slow heartbeats, severe dizziness, and fainting.

What should I avoid while receiving Cleviprex?

Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.

Cleviprex side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

feeling like you might pass out;

slow heart rate;

urinating less than usual or not at all;

drowsiness, confusion, mood changes, increased thirst, loss of appetite, vomiting;

feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;

swelling, rapid weight gain; or

chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling.

Less serious Cleviprex side effects may include:

headache; or

mild nausea.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: Cleviprex side effects (in more detail)

What other drugs will affect Cleviprex?

Tell your doctor about all other heart or blood pressure medications you are using.

Tell your doctor if you are also taking a beta-blocker drug (such as Blocadren, Corgard, Inderal, Normodyne, Tenormin, Toprol, Trandate, Zebeta, and others). You should not suddenly stop taking the beta-blocker. Stopping a beta-blocker too quickly can cause serious heart problems that will not be prevented by Cleviprex.

There may be other drugs that can interact with Cleviprex. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

More Cleviprex resources

Cleviprex Side Effects (in More Detail)

Cleviprex Dosage

Cleviprex Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Cleviprex Drug Interactions

Cleviprex Support Group

0 Reviews for Cleviprex - Add your own review/rating

Cleviprex Prescribing Information (FDA)

Cleviprex Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information

Cleviprex MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)

Compare Cleviprex with other medications

High Blood Pressure

Hypertensive Emergency

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about Cleviprex.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. 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. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects.