Taking nicorandil with other medicines and herbal supplements

Cautions with other medicines

Some medicines can lower your blood pressure too much when they're taken with nicorandil. This can make you feel dizzy or faint.

There are also some medicines that may affect the way nicorandil works.

Tell your pharmacist or doctor if you're taking:

• medicines used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension)
• antidepressants such as amitriptyline
• muscle relaxants, such as baclofen
• riociguat, a medicine used for pulmonary hypertension
• medicines that increase potassium levels – these include ACE inhibitors, such as lisinopril or ramipril, and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), such as valsartan, losartan or candesartan
• medicines for Parkinson's disease, like co-careldopa or levodopa
• dapoxetine, vardenafil, sildenafil, tadalafil or other medicines to treat erection problems (erectile dysfunction) or hypertension. Taking these with nicorandil can cause a serious drop in blood pressure
• regular non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin, or steroid tablets – these can increase the risk of stomach ulcers

Taking nicorandil with painkillers

It's safe to take nicorandil with paracetamol.

But talk to your doctor before taking painkillers like ibuprofen and high-dose aspirin, known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). This is because they can increase the risk of stomach ulcers.

Your doctor can help you decide on the best pain relief for you.

Mixing nicorandil with herbal remedies and supplements

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have low blood potassium levels and are taking potassium supplements. When mixed with nicorandil, they may make the level of potassium in your blood too high.

There's not enough information to say that other herbal remedies or supplements are safe to take with nicorandil. They're not tested in the same way as pharmacy and prescription medicines. They're generally not tested for the effect they have on other medicines.