Ranolazine Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Sep 8, 2024.

Applies to ranolazine: oral packet, oral tablet extended release.

Precautions

If you will be taking this medicine for a long time, it is very important that your doctor check you at regular visits for any problems or unwanted effects that may be caused by this medicine. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Do not use ranolazine together with carbamazepine (Tegretol®), clarithromycin (Biaxin®), nefazodone (Serzone®), phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin®), rifabutin (Mycobutin®), rifampin (Rifadin®, Rimactane®), rifapentine (Priftin®), medicine to treat fungus infections (eg, itraconazole, ketoconazole, Nizoral®, Sporanox®), medicine to treat HIV or AIDS (eg, indinavir, lopinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir, Crixivan®, Fortovase®, Invirase®, Norvir®, Viracept®), or St. John's wort.

Do not use this medicine to treat a sudden onset of chest pain.

Contact your doctor right away if you have any changes to your heart rhythm. You might feel dizzy or faint, or you might have a fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat. Make sure your doctor knows if you had a heart rhythm problem, such as QT prolongation.

Check with your doctor right away if you have bloody urine, a decrease in frequency or amount of urine, an increase in blood pressure, increased thirst, loss of appetite, lower back or side pain, nausea, swelling of the face, fingers, or lower legs, trouble breathing, unusual tiredness or weakness, vomiting, or weight gain. These could be symptoms of a serious kidney problem.

This medicine may cause some people to become dizzy, lightheaded, drowsy, or less alert than they are normally. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or not alert.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Serious side effects of ranolazine

Along with its needed effects, ranolazine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking ranolazine:

Other side effects of ranolazine

Some side effects of ranolazine may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to ranolazine: oral granule extended release, oral tablet extended release.

General adverse events

The most common adverse reactions were dizziness, headache, constipation, and nausea.^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Common (1% to 10%): Constipation, nausea, vomiting
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Abdominal pain, dry mouth, dyspepsia, flatulence, stomach discomfort
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Pancreatitis, erosive duodenitis, oral hypoesthesia^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Common (1% to 10%): Dizziness, headache
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Lethargy, syncope, hypoesthesia, somnolence, tremor, postural dizziness, paresthesia, vertigo, tinnitus
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Amnesia, depressed level of consciousness, loss of consciousness, coordination abnormal, gait disturbance, parosmia
• Postmarketing reports: Myoclonus^[Ref]

Other

• Common (1% to 10%): Asthenia
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Fatigue, peripheral edema
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Impaired hearing^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Anorexia, appetite decreased, dehydration, weight decreased
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Hyponatremia
• Postmarketing reports: Hypoglycemia^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Anxiety, insomnia, confusional state, hallucination
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Disorientation^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Pain in extremity, muscle cramp, joint swelling, muscular weakness^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hot flush, hypotension, prolonged QT corrected interval
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Peripheral coldness, orthostatic hypotension
• Frequency not reported: Bradycardia, palpitations^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dysuria, hematuria, chromaturia
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Urinary retention, erectile dysfunction^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dyspnea, cough, epistaxis
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Throat tightness
• Frequency not reported: Pulmonary fibrosis^[Ref]

Ocular

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Blurred vision, visual disturbance, diplopia^[Ref]

Renal

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Serum creatinine increased, blood urea increased
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Acute renal failure
• Frequency not reported: Blood urea increased^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Pruritus, hyperhidrosis
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Angioedema, urticaria, cold sweat, rash^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Platelet or white blood cell count increased
• Frequency not reported: Eosinophilia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, pancytopenia^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Rare (less than 0.1%): Hepatic enzyme levels elevated^[Ref]

See also:

Further information

Ranolazine side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer