Cleviprex

Generic Name: clevidipine (kle VID a peen)

Brand Names: Cleviprex

What is clevidipine?

Clevidipine is in a group of drugs called calcium channel blockers. Clevidipine relaxes (widens) blood vessels and improves blood flow.

Clevidipine is an injectable medication that is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) in people who cannot take medicine by mouth.

Clevidipine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about clevidipine?

You should not receive this medication if you are allergic to clevidipine, eggs, or soy products. You also should not receive clevidipine if you have high cholesterol or triglyceride levels in your blood, pancreatitis with high cholesterol or triglycerides, a kidney disorder called lipoid nephrosis, or severe narrowing of the aortic valve in your heart (aortic stenosis).

Before you receive clevidipine, tell your doctor if you have food allergies, pancreatitis, pheochromocytoma (an adrenal gland tumor), heart disease, or a history of high cholesterol.

In an emergency situation, it may not be possible before you are treated to tell your caregivers about any health conditions you have or if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. However, make sure any doctor caring for you afterward knows that you have received this medication.

Tell your doctor about all other heart or blood pressure medications you are using.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before I receive clevidipine?

You should not receive this medication if you are allergic to clevidipine, eggs, or soy products. If possible, before you receive clevidipine, tell your doctor if you have:

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  high cholesterol or triglyceride levels in your blood;

  
  


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  pancreatitis with high cholesterol or triglycerides;

  
  


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  a kidney disorder called lipoid nephrosis; or

  
  


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  severe narrowing of the aortic valve in your heart (aortic stenosis).

  
  

If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely receive this medication. If possible before you receive clevidipine, tell your doctor if you have:

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  food allergies;

  
  


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  pancreatitis;

  
  


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  pheochromocytoma (an adrenal gland tumor);

  
  


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  heart disease; or

  
  


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  a history of high cholesterol.

  
  

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether clevidipine is harmful to an unborn baby. Before you receive this medication, tell your doctor if you are pregnant. It is not known whether clevidipine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Before you receive this medication, tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

In an emergency situation, it may not be possible before you are treated with clevidipine to tell your caregivers if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. However, make sure any doctor caring for your pregnancy or your baby knows that you have received this medication.

How is clevidipine given?

Clevidipine is given as an injection through a needle placed into a vein. Your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider will give you this injection. You will continue to receive clevidipine until you are able to take blood pressure medication orally (by mouth).

Your blood pressure and heart rate will be watched closely while you are receiving clevidipine. Your blood pressure may also need to be checked often for several hours after you stop receiving this medication.

While you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using your prescribed medications even if you feel fine. High blood pressure often has no symptoms, so you may not know when your blood pressure is high.

You may need to use blood pressure medication for the rest of your life. Call your doctor at once if you have any signs of dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure).

Clevidipine may be only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes a special diet. It is very important to follow the diet plan created for you by your doctor or nutrition counselor. You should become very familiar with the list of foods you must avoid to help control your condition.

Store clevidipine at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since clevidipine is given as needed by a healthcare professional, it is not likely that you will miss a dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have received too much of this medication.

Overdose symptoms may include slow heartbeats, severe dizziness, and fainting.

What should I avoid while receiving clevidipine?

Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.

Clevidipine side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

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  feeling like you might pass out;

  
  


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  slow heart rate;

  
  


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  urinating less than usual or not at all;

  
  


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  drowsiness, confusion, mood changes, increased thirst, loss of appetite, vomiting;

  
  


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  feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;

  
  


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  swelling, rapid weight gain; or

  
  


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  chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling.

  
  

Less serious side effects may include:

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  headache; or

  
  


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  mild nausea.

  
  

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect clevidipine?

Tell your doctor about all other heart or blood pressure medications you are using.

Tell your doctor if you are also taking a beta-blocker drug (such as Blocadren, Corgard, Inderal, Normodyne, Tenormin, Toprol, Trandate, Zebeta, and others). You should not suddenly stop taking the beta-blocker. Stopping a beta-blocker too quickly can cause serious heart problems that will not be prevented by clevidipine.

There may be other drugs that can interact with clevidipine. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

More Cleviprex resources

• Cleviprex Side Effects (in more detail)
• Cleviprex Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Cleviprex Drug Interactions
• Cleviprex Support Group
• 0 Reviews for Cleviprex - Add your own review/rating

• Cleviprex Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Cleviprex Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information


• Cleviprex MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)


• Cleviprex Consumer Overview

Compare Cleviprex with other medications

• High Blood Pressure
• Hypertensive Emergency

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about clevidipine.

See also: Cleviprex side effects (in more detail)