Lercanidipine Tablets

Effective blood pressure control reduces the long-term risk of heart attack, stroke, and kidney damage. Lercanidipine tablets are a prescription-only calcium channel blocker used in adults for the treatment of mild to moderate hypertension. Lercanidipine belongs to the dihydropyridine class and is notable for its high selectivity for vascular smooth muscle and its gradual onset, which may contribute to good tolerability in some patients. A prescription can only be issued following a clinical consultation.

Lercanidipine tablets are an oral prescription medicine containing lercanidipine hydrochloride as the active ingredient. Lercanidipine belongs to the dihydropyridine class of calcium channel blockers, which are widely used in cardiovascular therapy for the treatment of high blood pressure.

Lercanidipine is licensed in the UK for the treatment of mild to moderate hypertension in adults. It is not licensed for the treatment of angina. The sole licensed indication for lercanidipine tablets is hypertension. Lercanidipine is available in two strengths: 10 mg and 20 mg tablets.

One characteristic of lercanidipine is its high lipophilicity, meaning it is highly soluble in fat containing tissues. This property gives it a long duration of action and a gradual onset compared to some other calcium channel blockers. Its selective action on vascular smooth muscle, combined with this gradual pharmacological profile, is associated with a lower incidence of some common side effects such as ankle swelling and palpitations compared to earlier dihydropyridine medicines, though individual responses vary and all side effects listed in the SmPC remain possible.

Lercanidipine lowers blood pressure by acting on calcium channels in blood vessel walls. Its mechanism is shared with other dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers, but its pharmacological properties give it a distinctive profile.

Calcium Channel Blockade and Vasodilation

In the smooth muscle cells lining blood vessel walls, calcium enters through voltage dependent channels, triggering contraction and narrowing of the vessel. This narrowing increases the resistance against which the heart must pump, raising blood pressure. Lercanidipine blocks these calcium channels selectively in vascular smooth muscle. By preventing calcium entry, lercanidipine stops the contraction signal. The blood vessel walls relax and widen, reducing peripheral vascular resistance and lowering blood pressure. This process is known as vasodilation.

Vascular Selectivity and Gradual Onset

Lercanidipine has a high degree of selectivity for vascular smooth muscle compared to cardiac muscle. This means its primary action is on blood vessels rather than directly on the heart. Its high lipophilicity means it is taken up into vascular tissue gradually, resulting in a smooth and sustained blood pressure lowering effect throughout the day from a single daily dose.

Because lercanidipine acts gradually, the blood pressure lowering effect builds over a period of weeks after starting treatment. This gradual pharmacological profile is thought to reduce the risk of the reflex rapid heart rate and acute flushing that can occur with faster acting calcium channel blockers, though these effects can still occur with lercanidipine in some patients.

Always take lercanidipine exactly as your prescriber instructs. The information below summarises key points from the current UK SmPC. Read the Patient Information Leaflet supplied with your medicine before starting treatment.

• Take one tablet once daily, in the morning.
• Take lercanidipine at least 15 minutes before a meal. This is important because taking lercanidipine with food, particularly a high fat meal, significantly increases the amount of the medicine absorbed into the blood, which could lead to an excessive blood pressure lowering effect. The SmPC specifically states that lercanidipine should be taken before eating.
• Swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water. Do not crush or chew the tablet.
• Do not take lercanidipine with grapefruit juice or eat grapefruit while taking this medicine. Grapefruit can significantly increase lercanidipine blood levels.
• If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember on the same day. If you only remember the following day, skip the missed dose and continue with your normal schedule. Do not take two doses on the same day.
• Do not stop taking lercanidipine without speaking to your prescriber first. High blood pressure often has no symptoms, and stopping treatment can cause blood pressure to rise again.
• The blood pressure lowering effect of lercanidipine develops over several weeks. Your prescriber will review your blood pressure at follow up appointments and may adjust your dose if needed. Attend these appointments so that your response to treatment can be monitored.

Lercanidipine tablets are available in two strengths. The appropriate strength for you will be determined by your prescriber based on your blood pressure readings and your response to treatment.

Lercanidipine 10 mg Tablets

The 10 mg tablet is the standard starting dose for adults with mild to moderate hypertension. The usual starting dose is 10 mg once daily. This starting dose allows the prescriber to assess your blood pressure response and tolerability. Most patients begin at this dose and remain on it if blood pressure is adequately controlled.

Lercanidipine 20 mg Tablets

If blood pressure is not adequately controlled after two weeks on the 10 mg dose, the prescriber may increase the dose to 20 mg once daily. The 20 mg dose is the maximum recommended daily dose. All dose adjustments are clinical decisions made by your prescriber. Do not change your dose without medical advice.

Lercanidipine requires only a short titration period of around two weeks compared to some other calcium channel blockers, because its pharmacological effects stabilise relatively quickly within this class. Your prescriber will guide you through any dose changes and arrange blood pressure reviews as needed.

Like all medicines, lercanidipine can cause side effects, although not everyone experiences them. The information below is based on the current UK SmPC. Refer to the Patient Information Leaflet for the full list of side effects.

Common Side Effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)

• Headache, particularly at the start of treatment
• Flushing or a feeling of warmth
• Peripheral oedema (swelling of the ankles and lower legs). This is a recognised effect of calcium channel blockers and relates to the vasodilatory action of the medicine.
• Palpitations or a faster heart rate
• Dizziness

Uncommon Side Effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)

• Nausea or vomiting
• Skin rash or itching
• Fatigue
• Low blood pressure, which may cause dizziness on standing
• Increased frequency of passing urine

Serious Side Effects: Seek Urgent Medical Attention

Contact your prescriber or go to your nearest accident and emergency department promptly if you experience:

• Signs of a severe allergic reaction such as sudden swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, difficulty breathing, or a severe skin reaction
• Chest pain or worsening cardiovascular symptoms. Any new or worsening chest pain in a patient taking an antihypertensive medicine warrants prompt medical review.
• Severe low blood pressure causing fainting or collapse

Report any suspected side effect to your prescriber, pharmacist, or via the MHRA Yellow Card scheme at yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk.

Lercanidipine Tablets May Be Suitable If You:

• Are an adult aged 18 or over with a confirmed diagnosis of mild to moderate hypertension
• Require antihypertensive medication as part of a cardiovascular therapy plan for blood pressure control
• Are already prescribed lercanidipine and require a repeat prescription through an online prescribing service

Lercanidipine Tablets Are Not Suitable If You:

• Are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Lercanidipine is not recommended during pregnancy. Contact your prescriber immediately if you become pregnant while taking lercanidipine.
• Are breastfeeding
• Have left ventricular outflow obstruction, including aortic stenosis
• Have unstable angina or have had a heart attack within the preceding four weeks
• Have uncompensated heart failure
• Have severe liver disease
• Have severe kidney disease
• Have a known allergy or hypersensitivity to lercanidipine, other dihydropyridines, or any excipient listed in the SmPC
• Are under 18 years of age

Tell your prescriber and pharmacist about all medicines you take, including over the counter products and herbal supplements. The following interactions are of particular clinical importance:

• Grapefruit and grapefruit juice: grapefruit inhibits the CYP3A4 enzyme responsible for breaking down lercanidipine in the gut wall. This significantly increases lercanidipine blood levels. Avoid grapefruit entirely during treatment.
• CYP3A4 inhibitors such as ketoconazole, itraconazole, erythromycin, clarithromycin, and HIV protease inhibitors: these can increase lercanidipine blood levels and the risk of side effects.
• CYP3A4 inducers such as rifampicin, phenytoin, carbamazepine, and phenobarbitone: these can reduce lercanidipine blood levels and may reduce its effectiveness.
• Ciclosporin: lercanidipine may increase ciclosporin blood levels. The SmPC advises against using lercanidipine in patients taking ciclosporin.
• Beta blockers: combining lercanidipine with beta blockers is generally well tolerated in hypertension, though additive blood pressure lowering effects should be considered.
• Metoprolol: studies suggest the bioavailability of lercanidipine may be reduced when taken with metoprolol. Your prescriber will take this into account.
• Other antihypertensive medicines and diuretics: combining with these may enhance the blood pressure lowering effect.

Your prescriber will review all current medicines during the clinical assessment before any prescription is considered.

Lercanidipine is a Prescription Only Medicine. The clinical consultation is the essential first step. A prescription will only be issued if a registered prescriber concludes, based on their individual assessment of your circumstances, that lercanidipine is clinically appropriate for you.

During your online consultation with Pharmacy Planet, a registered prescriber will review the information you provide. This includes your blood pressure history, confirmation that your hypertension is mild to moderate in severity, current medicines, relevant cardiac or vascular conditions, and other aspects of your medical history. Based on this assessment, the prescriber will decide whether lercanidipine is appropriate, which strength is suitable, or whether a different approach is more appropriate for your cardiovascular therapy.

If you are under the care of your GP or a specialist for hypertension or heart health, please keep them informed of any medicines prescribed through online services. This supports safe and coordinated care for your BP regulation and overall cardiovascular health.

• Store below 25°C.
• Store in the original packaging to protect from light and moisture.
• Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
• Do not use after the expiry date printed on the packaging.
• Do not dispose of medicines via household waste or wastewater. Return unused or out of date tablets to your pharmacist for safe disposal.
• Full storage instructions are provided in the Patient Information Leaflet supplied with your medicine.

The table below compares calcium channel blocker tablets. Dihydropyridines (such as amlodipine and nifedipine) act mainly on blood vessels. Non-dihydropyridines (verapamil and diltiazem) also slow the heart rate and have antiarrhythmic properties.

Important: This comparison is for general information only and does not replace medical advice. A prescriber will decide which treatment is suitable for you following an online consultation.

Pharmacy Planet is a GPhC-registered online pharmacy providing access to prescription medicines through a clinically led consultation process. Our registered prescribers and pharmacists are committed to patient safety, clinical accuracy, and responsible prescribing.

We follow GPhC standards, MHRA guidance, and ASA advertising regulations in all aspects of our service. Every prescription is reviewed and dispensed by qualified healthcare professionals. We provide clear, accurate information to help patients understand their antihypertensive medication and make well-informed decisions about their health.

If you have questions about lercanidipine, blood pressure control, or cardiovascular therapy, our pharmacy team is available to help. We are committed to transparent, patient centred care.

References

1. Electronic Medicines Compendium (eMC). Lercanidipine 10 mg and 20 mg tablets — Summary of Product Characteristics. https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc. Accessed May 2026.
2. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Hypertension in adults: diagnosis and management. NICE guideline NG136. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng136. Accessed May 2026.
3. NHS. High blood pressure (hypertension). https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/high-blood-pressure-hypertension. Accessed May 2026.
4. Joint Formulary Committee. British National Formulary (BNF). Lercanidipine hydrochloride. BMJ Group and Pharmaceutical Press. https://bnf.nice.org.uk. Accessed May 2026.
5. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Yellow Card — report a side effect. https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk. Accessed May 2026.