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:
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).
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:
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.