Taking excess of Lerka may cause vomiting, sleepiness, heart attack and drastic fall in blood pressure resulting in fast heartbeat. However, the exact severity of these symptoms will depend on the amount of Lerka ingested by the person. In some cases, it can even lead to unconsciousness. Seek emergency medical care in case of an overdose and depending on the patients condition, even hospitalization may be required. The patient may need to be monitored for 24-48 hours.

Lerka is a blood pressure-lowering medicine. It does not cure hypertension but helps to keep the blood pressure under control for as long as you take it. For this reason, blood pressure-lowering medicines may need to be taken for a long period of time or even life long. Lerka is safe and well tolerated by most people and does not have any lasting toxicity when taken for a long time. For best results, take it exactly as advised by the doctor. Do not stop taking this medicine without consulting your doctor first.

Swallow Lerka tablet with a glass of water, do not break, chew or dissolve. Take Lerka on an empty stomach, at least 15 minutes before a meal. This is because fatty food can increase the amount of Lerka in your body and may cause side effects.

No, you should not take cyclosporine with Lerka. The reason being, both the medicines interfere with each other’s working, thereby increasing the risk of getting the side effects of both medicines.

Yes, you should avoid taking alcohol while taking Lerka since your blood pressure may fall further. As a result, you may feel dizzy or develop a headache.

No, continue taking Lerka even if you feel better and your blood pressure is under control. Sudden discontinuation of Lerka may increase your blood pressure, and your chances of stroke or heart attack may rise. Usually, once you start taking any medicine for controlling blood pressure, you have to continue taking it a life long unless you cannot tolerate it.

Lerka starts working on the day you start taking it. However, it may take 2 weeks to notice the full benefits of Lerka. Since there are usually no symptoms of hypertension, you may not notice any difference unless you get your blood pressure checked. Keep taking this medicine regularly as advised by your doctor and keep a track of your blood pressure.

Grapefruit (chakotara) and grapefruit juice should not be consumed while taking Lerka because it may increase the levels of Lerka. This can cause a dip in blood pressure, lightheadedness and your friend may even faint.