What Is Zan-Extra Used For?

Zan-Extra is a combination medication that contains two active ingredients: lercanidipine hydrochloride (a calcium channel blocker) and enalapril maleate (an ACE inhibitor). This combination works together to effectively lower high blood pressure.

Primary Uses

Zan-Extra is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure often has no symptoms, but if left untreated, it can lead to serious health problems including stroke, heart disease, and kidney failure.

How It Works

Zan-Extra works by relaxing some of the blood vessels in your body and reducing resistance to blood flow through the blood vessels. The lercanidipine component blocks calcium channels, while the enalapril component inhibits the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), both contributing to lower blood pressure.

How to Take Zan-Extra

Take Zan-Extra exactly as prescribed by your doctor. The medication works best when taken consistently at the same time each day.

Dosage Instructions

The usual dose is one tablet taken once daily. Take Zan-Extra at about the same time each day, at least 15 minutes before a meal. Swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water. Do not break or crush the tablet.

What If You Miss a Dose?

If you forget to take a dose but remember within 12 hours from when the dose was due, take it straight away, then continue as normal the next day. Otherwise, skip that day’s dose and take the next day’s dose when it is due. If you have missed several doses, consult your doctor.

Available Tablet Strengths

Side Effects

Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.

Common Side Effects

These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:

• flushing
• swelling of the ankles, feet or lower legs
• headache
• dizziness
• nausea
• abdominal pain
• taste alteration
• diarrhea
• fatigue or sleepiness
• dry cough

Important Warnings

Before taking Zan-Extra, it’s important to discuss your medical history and current medications with your doctor to ensure this medication is safe for you.

Who Should Not Take Zan-Extra

Do not take Zan-Extra if you: are allergic to lercanidipine, enalapril, or related medications; have an obstruction to blood flow from the heart; have untreated heart failure; have unstable angina or recent heart attack (within one month); have severe liver or kidney disease or are on dialysis; are taking certain antifungals, ciclosporin, macrolide antibiotics, or antivirals; consume grapefruit or grapefruit juice; have diabetes with kidney problems and take aliskiren; are taking sacubitril/valsartan; have a history of angioedema; are pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding.

Medical Conditions to Discuss

Tell your doctor if you have: low blood pressure; recent severe vomiting or diarrhea; heart problems; blood vessel conditions in the brain; kidney problems; liver problems; blood disorders; collagen vascular disease; diabetes; require a pacemaker; upcoming surgery; are undergoing cholesterol removal treatment; are receiving allergy desensitization; follow a very low salt diet; or are allergic to other medications or foods.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Do not take Zan-Extra if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while taking this medication. The medicine may harm your baby through the womb or breast milk.

Drug Interactions

Many medications can interact with Zan-Extra, potentially affecting how well it works or increasing the risk of side effects. Always tell your doctor about all medications you’re taking.

• allopurinol, procainamide
• anti-diabetic medicines including insulin or vildagliptin
• arthritis medicines including gold therapy
• carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin
• certain anesthetics, tricyclic antidepressants and antipsychotic medicines
• cough and cold medicines and weight reducing medicines with sympathomimetics
• ciclosporin
• cimetidine (more than 800 mg daily)
• clarithromycin, erythromycin, troleandomycin
• diuretic tablets
• heparin
• itraconazole, ketoconazole
• lithium
• organ transplant rejection and cancer medicines
• metoprolol, propranolol
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines
• other blood pressure medications
• potassium-containing salt substitutes and potassium tablets
• racecadotril
• rifampicin
• ritonavir
• sacubitril/valsartan
• vildagliptin

Alcohol & Driving

Zan-Extra may affect your ability to drive or operate machinery, and alcohol can increase these effects. Take precautions until you know how this medication affects you.

Alcohol

Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. Your doctor may ask you to limit or stop your alcohol intake while taking Zan-Extra, as alcohol may increase the blood pressure-lowering effects of this medicine.

Driving and Operating Machinery

Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how Zan-Extra affects you. While it generally doesn’t cause problems, some people may feel dizzy, light-headed, or faint, especially when first starting the medication. If you feel light-headed when getting up, rise slowly.

Storage

Keep your tablets in the blister pack until it’s time to take them. Store in a cool, dry place below 25°C away from moisture, heat, or sunlight. Do not store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car, or on window sills. Keep out of reach of children – a locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half meters above the ground is ideal.

Overdose Information

If you think you have taken too much Zan-Extra, seek urgent medical attention immediately. Contact the Poisons Information Centre (Australia telephone 13 11 26), your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department, even if you feel fine. An overdose may cause your blood pressure to become too low, irregular and faster heartbeat, and potentially unconsciousness.

Frequently Asked Questions