Ranolazine
Ranolazine is an anti-anginal medicine for chronic angina, sold here as Ranexa extended-release tablets in 500mg and 1000mg for twice-daily, long-term use.
What ranolazine is used for
Chronic angina means chest pain or pressure that keeps returning because part of the heart muscle is not getting enough oxygen. Ranolazine is taken every day to make those episodes less frequent and less intense, either on its own or alongside other angina medicines. It does not widen narrowed arteries or repair the underlying coronary disease, and it is not the tablet to reach for when an attack is already happening.
Ranolazine acts on the electrical activity of heart muscle cells rather than by slowing the heart rate or opening up blood vessels, which is why it can sit alongside a beta-blocker, a calcium channel blocker or a nitrate. The exact mechanism is not fully worked out, but the effect is to help the heart work more efficiently when its blood supply is reduced.
How ranolazine is taken
Ranexa comes as an extended-release tablet to swallow whole, morning and evening, at about the same times each day. It can go with or without food. Treatment often starts at 500mg twice daily and may be raised to 1000mg twice daily. Angina is a long-term condition, so the tablets are taken continuously rather than only on bad days. If a dose is missed, wait for the next one rather than taking two together. Keep the tablets in their original container with the lid closed, somewhere cool and out of children's reach.
Side effects
Nausea, constipation, headache and dizziness are the ones reported most. Dizziness or lightheadedness can affect driving and machinery, so find out how the tablets treat you before getting behind the wheel. A fast, pounding or irregular heartbeat, trouble breathing or fainting are signs that need checking quickly.
Grapefruit, St John's wort and other medicines
Grapefruit and grapefruit juice raise the amount of ranolazine in the blood, so leave them out while taking it. St John's wort does the opposite and is not combined with Ranexa. The antifungals ketoconazole and itraconazole, the antibiotic clarithromycin and some medicines for heart rhythm problems clash strongly with ranolazine as well. Ranolazine is not used by people with long QT syndrome (a rare heart rhythm disorder that can cause fainting) or severe liver disease.
Ranexa 500mg and 1000mg
The ranolazine sold here is Ranexa, an extended-release tablet in 500mg and 1000mg, in the shop's Heart and Blood Pressure section. Both strengths are the same extended-release tablet; 500mg twice daily is the usual starting point, with 1000mg twice daily at the top of the range.
Sources
- Ranolazine: MedlinePlus Drug Information — MedlinePlus / U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Ranolazine (oral route) - Mayo Clinic — Mayo Clinic
Can I order Ranolazine online in Hong Kong?
Ranolazine can be ordered online from PockDose for delivery to Hong Kong. The page lists generic Ranexa tablets in 500mg and 1000mg. Delivery is by tracked courier to Hong Kong and takes 5 to 9 business days, with online tracking.
How much does Ranolazine cost?
The price depends on the strength and pack size you choose. The Ranexa page shows current prices in HKD or the currency you select.
Do I need a prescription to order Ranolazine?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order ranolazine. See the ordering FAQ for details.
What are the other names for ranolazine?
Ranexa is a brand name of ranolazine. Here, ranolazine can be bought online as generic Ranexa. These are generics, not the original brand.
Can ranolazine stop an angina attack?
No. Ranolazine is taken twice a day to make angina attacks less frequent; it is not used to relieve an attack that has already started. Attacks are treated with a fast-acting nitrate instead, and the two medicines do different jobs.
Is ranolazine a beta-blocker?
No. Ranolazine belongs to the anti-anginal class and works on the electrical activity of heart muscle cells; it does not slow the heart rate the way a beta-blocker does or open blood vessels like a nitrate. It is often taken alongside those medicines.
Why is ranolazine taken twice a day?
Because Ranexa is an extended-release tablet, each dose is released gradually rather than all at once, so a morning and an evening dose keep a steady amount in the body across the whole day.
Can I cut or crush a Ranexa tablet?
No. Cutting, crushing or chewing an extended-release tablet releases the whole dose at once instead of gradually, which can make side effects worse. Swallow Ranexa tablets whole with a drink of water.
Is Ranexa the same as ranolazine?
Ranexa is the brand name for ranolazine, and the tablets sold here carry that name with ranolazine as the active ingredient. Both strengths, 500mg and 1000mg, are extended-release tablets taken twice a day.