Motens

Motens contains lacidipine, a long-acting dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker used in the treatment of hypertension.

Lacidipine selectively blocks L-type calcium channels in vascular smooth muscle, causing relaxation of the arterial walls and a reduction in peripheral vascular resistance.

This lowers blood pressure effectively with once-daily dosing.

Lacidipine has a high degree of vascular selectivity, meaning it acts primarily on blood vessels rather than on cardiac muscle.

This makes it less likely to reduce heart rate or cardiac contractility compared with non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers such as verapamil or diltiazem.

It also has lipophilic properties that allow it to accumulate in cell membranes, contributing to its long duration of action.

Motens is typically used as monotherapy or in combination with other antihypertensive agents.

It is particularly suitable for patients who require a calcium channel blocker without significant cardiac-depressant effects, such as those who are also taking a beta-blocker (though this combination should be used with care in heart failure).

Take one Motens tablet once daily at the same time each day, preferably in the morning, with or without food. Swallow the tablet whole with water.

Do not stop taking Motens without consulting your doctor, as untreated hypertension increases the risk of stroke, heart attack, and kidney damage.

Blood pressure should be checked regularly. It may take two to four weeks to see the full effect of a given dose. Your doctor will adjust the dosage based on your individual response.

The usual starting dose is 2 mg once daily.

If blood pressure is not adequately controlled after three to four weeks, the dose may be increased to 4 mg once daily, and subsequently to a maximum of 6 mg once daily if needed.

In elderly patients, start at 2 mg and titrate cautiously. No specific dose adjustment is required for mild to moderate renal impairment, but caution is advised in severe hepatic impairment.

Common side effects (up to 1 in 10 users) include headache, flushing, dizziness, and peripheral oedema (ankle swelling).

These effects are related to the vasodilatory action of the drug and are typically mild, dose-related, and more common at higher doses.

Uncommon effects include palpitations, gastrointestinal upset, and skin rash. Serious adverse events are rare.

Ankle swelling from calcium channel blockers is caused by arteriolar dilatation, not fluid retention, and does not respond to diuretics.

Use with caution in patients with severe aortic stenosis, unstable angina (within one month of a myocardial infarction), and decompensated heart failure.

Combining lacidipine with a beta-blocker requires careful monitoring in patients with impaired cardiac function. Grapefruit juice may increase plasma levels of lacidipine and should be avoided.

Inform your prescriber of all other medications, as calcium channel blockers may interact with certain drugs including CYP3A4 inhibitors.

Motens is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to lacidipine or any excipient, and in patients with cardiogenic shock, unstable angina, and within one month of a myocardial infarction.

It should not be used in patients with severe aortic stenosis.