Seaford Nifedipine and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Cream: Uses, Side Effects and Dosage

What is Seaford Nifedipine and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Cream used for?

Seaford Nifedipine and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Cream is used in adults for the management of anal fissures that have not improved with the use of stool softeners and topical anesthetic agents. Fissures are usually caused by hard, dry bowel movements or loose, frequent bowel movements.

How does Seaford Nifedipine and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Cream work?

Seaford Nifedipine and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Cream contains two medicinal ingredients; nifedipine and lidocaine hydrochloride. Nifedipine relaxes the muscles around the anus. Lidocaine produces a temporary loss of feeling or numbness on the area where it is applied.

What are the ingredients in Seaford Nifedipine and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Cream?

Medicinal ingredients: nifedipine, lidocaine hydrochloride

Non-medicinal ingredients: cetostearyl alcohol – Type A, glycerol monostearate, macrogol stearate, medium chain triglycerides, propyl parahydroxybenzoate, propylene glycol, purified water, sodium methyl parahydroxybenzoate, white soft paraffin.

Seaford Nifedipine and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Cream comes in the following dosage forms:

Cream; 0.3% / 1.5% w/w, each gram of cream contains 3 mg of nifedipine and 15 mg of lidocaine hydrochloride.

Do not use Seaford Nifedipine and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Cream if:

• you are allergic to any of the following:

  • nifedipine
  • other dihydropyridines calcium antagonists, a calcium channel blocker used to treat high blood pressure and other heart problems
  • lidocaine
  • local anesthetics of the amide type
  • other components of the cream including any non-medicinal ingredients (see What are the ingredients in Seaford Nifedipine and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Cream?)

Serious Warnings and Precautions

Seaford Nifedipine and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Cream can cause a rare, but serious, blood disorder called methemoglobinemia. It can appear up to two hours after you use Seaford Nifedipine and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Cream. Stop using Seaford Nifedipine and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Cream and talk to your healthcare professional immediately if you get any of the following symptoms: weakness, confusion, headache, difficulty breathing, pale, grey or blue coloured skin.

• you are pregnant, or planning to become pregnant

• you are breastfeeding. Nifedipine and lidocaine pass into breast milk.
• you have a blood disorder called methemoglobinemia that affects how your blood cells deliver oxygen to your cells and tissues
• you have a condition called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency which causes your red blood cells to break down
• you have severe low blood pressure
• you have heart failure
• you are in cardiogenic shock, a condition where your heart suddenly cannot pump enough blood and oxygen to the brain and other vital organs
• you have had a recent heart attack
• you have unstable angina, sudden chest pain that occurs at rest and gets increasingly worse
• you are taking diltiazem, a calcium channel blocker used to lower blood pressure

Do not use Seaford Nifedipine and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Cream in large quantities.

To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you use Seaford Nifedipine and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Cream. Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if you:

• have inflammation, bruising, an infection or any other injury in the anal or rectal area. Using Seaford Nifedipine and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Cream in these cases may cause you to absorb too much medicine into your body.
• have diabetes
• have kidney, or liver problems
• have, or have a history of, low blood pressure or if you are taking medications that are known to lower blood pressure

• have heart problems, including:

  • a history of severe heart failure or heart disease
  • aortic stenosis, a narrowing of a valve in your heart
  • bradycardia, a slower than normal heart rate
  • an irregular heartbeat
  • chest pain (angina)
• have a history of cerebrovascular insufficiency, a problem with blood flow to your brain
• are going to have surgery. Tell the healthcare professional that will be performing the surgery that you are using Seaford Nifedipine and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Cream.
• are a man and have been repeatedly unsuccessful at fathering a child by in vitro fertilization
• are 65 years of age or older

Other warnings you should know about:

Avoid contact with the eyes. If you get Seaford Nifedipine and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Cream in or near your eyes, rinse thoroughly with water.

Talk to your healthcare professional if your condition does not improve while you are using Seaford Nifedipine and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Cream or if it gets worse.

Serious allergic reactions: Seaford Nifedipine and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Cream can cause serious allergic reactions. These reactions can be delayed, happening hours or days after using Seaford Nifedipine and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Cream. Stop using Seaford Nifedipine and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Cream and get immediate medical help if you have a serious allergic reaction. See the Serious side effects and what to do about them table, below, for more information on this and other serious side effects.

Skin reactions: Seaford Nifedipine and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Cream contains two non-medicinal ingredients, propylene glycol and cetostearyl alcohol, that can cause skin reactions such as dermatitis. Talk to your healthcare professional if you get a skin reaction while using Seaford Nifedipine and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Cream.

Blood tests and monitoring: Your healthcare professional will do blood tests while you are using Seaford Nifedipine and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Cream. They will also check your blood pressure before you start using Seaford Nifedipine and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Cream and periodically during treatment. Your healthcare professional will decide when to perform these tests and will interpret the results.

Driving and using machines: Wait until you know how you respond to Seaford Nifedipine and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Cream before driving or using potentially dangerous machinery.

Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take, including any drugs, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements or alternative medicines.

The following may interact with Seaford Nifedipine and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Cream :

• medicines used to treat high blood pressure and chest pain such as nitroglycerin, nitroprusside, calcium channel blockers (e.g. amlodipine, clevidipine, felodipine, isradipine, nimodine, diltiazem), beta blockers (e.g. atenolol, metoprolol, propranolol)
• medicines used to reduce the amount of acid in your stomach such as cimetidine, cisapride, ranitidine
• medicines used to treat heart problems and irregular heartbeat such as digoxin, quinidine, propafenone, mexiletine, amiodarone
• medicines used to treat fungal infections, with a name ending in “azole”, such as ketoconazole, itraconazole, fluconazole
• medicines used to treat or prevent blood clots such as warfarin, coumadin
• medicines used to suppress the immune system such as tacrolimus, cyclosporine
• medicines used to treat depression such as fluoxetine, nefazodone, imipramine
• medicines used to treat bacterial infections such as erythromycin, clarithromycin, cyclosporine, quinupristin/dalfopristin, rifampicin, sulfonamides, nitrofurantoin, dapsone
• medicines used to treat HIV/AIDS such as amprenavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir
• medicines used to treat seizures such as phenobarbital, phenytoin, valproic acid, carbamazepine
• medicines used to treat or prevent malaria such as primaquine, quinine, chloroquine
• acetaminophen, used to treat pain and fever
• benzodiazepines, used to treat anxiety, seizures and insomnia
• fluvoxamine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• local anesthetics used to numb the skin and provide pain relief such as benzocaine
• para-aminosalicylic acid, used to treat tuberculosis
• St. John’s Wort, an herbal medicine used to treat depression
• terfenadine, used to treat allergies
• theophylline, used to treat breathing problems
• grapefruit or grapefruit juice. Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you are using Seaford Nifedipine and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Cream.

How to use Seaford Nifedipine and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Cream:

• Use Seaford Nifedipine and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Cream exactly as your healthcare professional has told you. Do not change your dose or stop using Seaford Nifedipine and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Cream without talking to your healthcare professional. Do not use more than prescribed or use it more often as this can cause serious side effects.
• Do not swallow. Seaford Nifedipine and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Cream is only to be used inside and, if needed, around the anus (perianally).
• Thoroughly clean and dry the anal/rectal area.
• Lie down in a comfortable place and tilt your body towards the left.
• Remove the cap from the tube. Screw on the applicator (cannula) with the cover.
• Release a small amount of cream to lubricate the outer part of the applicator.
• Insert the tip of the applicator into the anus (up to 1 cm) and gently squeeze the tube from the bottom to release the cream.

• Release the cream until the next marking on the tube is reached. Each marking will administer approximately 2.5g – 3g of cream.

  • For 30 g tubes: There are 10 markings on the side of the tube that are 1 cm apart.
  • For 10 g tubes: There are 3 markings on the side of the tube that are 1.7 cm apart.
• Remain on your left side for 3 - 5 minutes after application.
• Take the applicator off of the tube and rinse it with hot water and soap.
• When finished using, close the tube with the cap.
• Wash your hands after using the medicine.

Usual dose:

30 g tube - Apply 2.5 – 3 g of Seaford Nifedipine and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Cream inside (and if needed, around the anus) twice daily for 3 weeks. The 1 cm markings on the side of tube indicate one dose.

10 g tube - Apply 2.5 – 3 g of Seaford Nifedipine and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Cream inside (and if needed, around the anus) twice daily. The treatment should be continued for 3 weeks. The 1.7 cm markings on the side of tube indicate one dose.

Overdose:

Missed Dose:

If you forgot a dose of Seaford Nifedipine and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Cream at the usual time, do not use a double dose. Skip the missed dose and wait until it is time for your next dose. If you are unsure talk to your healthcare professional.

What are possible side effects from using Seaford Nifedipine and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Cream?

These are not all the possible side effects you may have when using Seaford Nifedipine and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Cream. If you experience any side effects not listed here, tell your healthcare professional.

Side effects may include:

• headache
• nausea, vomiting
• constipation
• hot flashes
• bleeding from the rectum when having a bowel movement
• fecal incontinence (inability to hold stool until you get to a toilet)

Serious side effects and what to do about them

If you have a troublesome symptom or side effect that is not listed here or becomes bad enough to interfere with your daily activities, tell your healthcare professional.

Reporting Side Effects

Storage:

Store at 15°C to 25°C. Do not freeze. Protect from light. Keep out of reach and sight of children.

If you want more information about Seaford Nifedipine and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Cream:

• Talk to your healthcare professional
• Find the full product monograph that is prepared for healthcare professionals and includes this Patient Medication Information by visiting the Health Canada website: (https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products/drug-product-database.html); the manufacturer’s website (Seaford.ca) or by calling 1-888-292-3192

Last Revised JUN 13, 2025