Ranexa is a prescription medication used to treat adults with chronic angina. Chronic angina
is chest pain, discomfort, or pressure that is brought on by exercise, extreme temperatures, mental or emotional stress, or walking in cold weather, uphill, or after eating.1,2 Ranexa can help to reduce the number of angina attacks if taken as prescribed, but it will not stop an angina episode once it has started.
Although not all patients respond to Ranexa in the same way, clinical studies have shown that most patients experience these benefits from treatment with Ranexa. In one clinical study, these results were seen:
Fewer angina attacks
People who took Ranexa had 36% fewer angina attacks per week than patients who took placebo (sugar pill).
- Patients taking placebo had 3.3 attacks
per week.
- Patients taking Ranexa had 2.1 attacks
per week.
Less nitroglycerin use
People taking Ranexa took fewer nitroglycerin tablets per week than patients taking placebo. (Nitroglycerin tablets are taken to stop an angina attack once it has started.)
- Patients taking placebo used nitroglycerin 3.1 times
per week.
- Patients taking Ranexa used nitroglycerin 1.8 times
per week.
More time walking
On an incline treadmill test where the treadmill was made steeper and faster over time, Ranexa allowed people to walk 24 seconds longer before feeling angina. The benefits of Ranexa on the number of angina attacks and time spent walking were smaller in women than in men.
Patients in clinical studies of Ranexa were also taking other medications, such as atenolol, amlodipine, or diltiazem CD with or without long-acting nitrates (Imdur® or Isordil®). Sublingual nitroglycerin was used if needed.
Do not use Ranexa if you have liver cirrhosis or if you take certain other medications. Talk to your doctor to see if Ranexa may be right for you.
Please click here to review safety and side effects information.
Imdur® is a registered trademark of AstraZeneca.
Isordil® is a registered trademark of Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.
