Dosage
Nicorandil comes as 10mg tablets.
You'll usually take 20mg a day but this may go up to 40mg if your doctor thinks you need it.
If you often get headaches, you may be given a smaller starting dose of 5mg, twice a day. This can be increased after about a week.
Your dose will depend on how nicorandil works for you.
How to take it
You'll usually take 1 tablet in the morning and 1 tablet in the evening.
You can take nicorandil with or without food. Swallow your tablet whole with a drink of water.
The tablets have a score line across the middle. This helps you break them in half if you only need to take 5mg doses, or have difficulties swallowing tablets whole.
How long to take it for
Treatment with nicorandil is usually long term, even for the rest of your life.
Talk to your doctor if you want to stop taking nicorandil. Stopping nicorandil can make your angina pain come back. It usually takes around 2 days for nicorandil to be completely out of your body.
If you're bothered by side effects, your doctor may be able to prescribe a different medicine for your angina.
If you forget to take it
If you miss a dose of nicorandil, take the missed dose as soon as you remember, unless it's nearly time for your next dose. In this case, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time.
Do not take 2 doses to make up for a missed dose.
If you forget doses often, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine.
If you take too much
The amount of nicorandil that can lead to an overdose varies from person to person.
Urgent advice: Contact 111 for advice now if:
you take more than your prescribed dose of nicorandil and:
- feel dizzy or weak (these can be signs of low blood pressure)
- your heart is beating faster or you have an irregular heartbeat
Go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111