nifedipine

Pronunciation: nye FED i peen

Brand: Adalat CC, Procardia, Procardia XL

Procardia

slide 1 of 42, Procardia,

10 mg, capsule, orange, imprinted with PROCARDIA PFIZER 260

Image of Procardia
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Nifedical XL

slide 2 of 42, Nifedical XL,

30 mg, round, red, imprinted with 30, B

Image of Nifedical XL
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Nifedical XL

slide 3 of 42, Nifedical XL,

60 mg, round, brown, imprinted with 60, B

Image of Nifedical XL
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Nifedipine

slide 4 of 42, Nifedipine,

10 mg, capsule, yellow, imprinted with R497

Image of Nifedipine
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Nifedipine

slide 5 of 42, Nifedipine,

20 mg, capsule, red, imprinted with R 530

Image of Nifedipine
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NIFEdipine ER

slide 6 of 42, NIFEdipine ER,

30 mg, round, white, imprinted with M, NE 30

Image of NIFEdipine ER
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NIFEdipine ER

slide 7 of 42, NIFEdipine ER,

60 mg, round, orange, imprinted with M, NE 60

Image of NIFEdipine ER
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NIFEdipine (Eqv-Adalat CC)

slide 8 of 42, NIFEdipine (Eqv-Adalat CC),

90 mg, round, pink, imprinted with M, NE 90

Image of NIFEdipine (Eqv-Adalat CC)
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NIFEdipine ER

slide 9 of 42, NIFEdipine ER,

30 mg, round, pink, imprinted with M 030

Image of NIFEdipine ER
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NIFEdipine ER

slide 10 of 42, NIFEdipine ER,

60 mg, round, pink, imprinted with M 060

Image of NIFEdipine ER
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NIFEdipine ER

slide 11 of 42, NIFEdipine ER,

90 mg, round, pink, imprinted with M 090

Image of NIFEdipine ER
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Afeditab CR

slide 12 of 42, Afeditab CR,

30 mg, round, brown, imprinted with ELN 30

Image of Afeditab CR
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Afeditab CR

slide 13 of 42, Afeditab CR,

60 mg, round, brown, imprinted with ELN 60

Image of Afeditab CR
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Nifedipine

slide 14 of 42, Nifedipine,

10 mg, capsule, red, imprinted with IMI 10

Image of Nifedipine
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NIFEdipine ER

slide 15 of 42, NIFEdipine ER,

30 mg, round, yellow, imprinted with A 153

Image of NIFEdipine ER
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NIFEdipine ER

slide 16 of 42, NIFEdipine ER,

60 mg, round, yellow, imprinted with A 151

Image of NIFEdipine ER
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Nifedipine

slide 17 of 42, Nifedipine,

10 mg, capsule, orange, imprinted with PROCARDIA PFIZER 260

Image of Nifedipine
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NIFEdipine ER

slide 18 of 42, NIFEdipine ER,

30 mg, round, pink, imprinted with G30

Image of NIFEdipine ER
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NIFEdipine ER

slide 19 of 42, NIFEdipine ER,

60 mg, round, pink, imprinted with G60

Image of NIFEdipine ER
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NIFEdipine ER

slide 20 of 42, NIFEdipine ER,

90 mg, round, pink, imprinted with G 90

Image of NIFEdipine ER
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Nifedipine

slide 21 of 42, Nifedipine,

10 mg, capsule, red, imprinted with IMI 10

Image of Nifedipine
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NIFEdipine (Eqv-Procardia XL)

slide 22 of 42, NIFEdipine (Eqv-Procardia XL),

30 mg, round, pink, imprinted with KU 260

Image of NIFEdipine (Eqv-Procardia XL)
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NIFEdipine (Eqv-Procardia XL)

slide 23 of 42, NIFEdipine (Eqv-Procardia XL),

60 mg, round, pink, imprinted with KU 261

Image of NIFEdipine (Eqv-Procardia XL)
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NIFEdipine (Eqv-Procardia XL)

slide 24 of 42, NIFEdipine (Eqv-Procardia XL),

90 mg, round, pink, imprinted with KU 262

Image of NIFEdipine (Eqv-Procardia XL)
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Adalat CC

slide 25 of 42, Adalat CC,

30 mg, round, pink, imprinted with ADALAT CC, 30

Image of Adalat CC
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Adalat CC

slide 26 of 42, Adalat CC,

60 mg, round, pink, imprinted with ADALAT CC, 60

Image of Adalat CC
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Adalat CC

slide 27 of 42, Adalat CC,

90 mg, round, brown, imprinted with ADALAT CC, 90

Image of Adalat CC
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NIFEdipine ER

slide 28 of 42, NIFEdipine ER,

30 mg, round, yellow, imprinted with 30, B

Image of NIFEdipine ER
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NIFEdipine ER

slide 29 of 42, NIFEdipine ER,

60 mg, round, yellow, imprinted with 60, B

Image of NIFEdipine ER
slide 29 of 42

Nifedipine

slide 30 of 42, Nifedipine,

10 mg, capsule, yellow, imprinted with R 497

Image of Nifedipine
slide 30 of 42

Nifedipine

slide 31 of 42, Nifedipine,

10 mg, capsule, yellow, imprinted with R497

Image of Nifedipine
slide 31 of 42

Nifedipine

slide 32 of 42, Nifedipine,

20 mg, capsule, brown, imprinted with R 530

Image of Nifedipine
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NIFEdipine ER

slide 33 of 42, NIFEdipine ER,

90 mg, round, yellow, imprinted with 90, B

Image of NIFEdipine ER
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NIFEdipine (Eqv-Procardia XL)

slide 34 of 42, NIFEdipine (Eqv-Procardia XL),

30 mg, round, pink, imprinted with T011

Image of NIFEdipine (Eqv-Procardia XL)
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NIFEdipine ER

slide 35 of 42, NIFEdipine ER,

30 mg, round, pink, imprinted with M 475

Image of NIFEdipine ER
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Afeditab CR

slide 36 of 42, Afeditab CR,

30 mg, round, pink, imprinted with ELN 30

Image of Afeditab CR
slide 36 of 42

NIFEdipine ER

slide 37 of 42, NIFEdipine ER,

60 mg, round, pink, imprinted with M482

Image of NIFEdipine ER
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NIFEdipine ER

slide 38 of 42, NIFEdipine ER,

90 mg, round, pink, imprinted with M 495

Image of NIFEdipine ER
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Nifediac CC

slide 39 of 42, Nifediac CC,

90 mg, round, yellow, imprinted with B, 90

Image of Nifediac CC
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Procardia XL

slide 40 of 42, Procardia XL,

30 mg, round, pink, imprinted with PROCARDIA XL 30

Image of Procardia XL
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Procardia XL

slide 41 of 42, Procardia XL,

60 mg, round, pink, imprinted with PROCARDIA XL 60

Image of Procardia XL
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Procardia XL

slide 42 of 42, Procardia XL,

90 mg, round, pink, imprinted with PROCARDIA XL 90

Image of Procardia XL
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What is the most important information I should know about nifedipine?

You may not be able to use this medicine if your heart cannot pump blood properly, or if you also take rifampin.

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using. Many drugs can interact, and some drugs should not be used together.

What is nifedipine?

Nifedipine is a calcium channel blocker that is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) or angina (chest pain).

Nifedipine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking nifedipine?

You should not use nifedipine if you are allergic to it. You may not be able to use nifedipine if your heart cannot pump blood properly.

Some medicines can cause unwanted or dangerous effects when used with nifedipine. Your doctor may change your treatment plan if you also use:

  • St. John's wort;
  • an antibiotic --rifabutin, rifampin; or
  • seizure medicine --carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

  • a heart attack;
  • very low blood pressure;
  • severe narrowing of the aortic valve in your heart (aortic stenosis);
  • congestive heart failure;
  • cirrhosis or other liver disease;
  • kidney disease; or
  • diabetes.

Older adults may be more sensitive to the effects of this medicine.

It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

You should not breastfeed while using nifedipine.

Nifedipine capsules or tablets may contain lactose. Tell your doctor if you have galactose intolerance, or severe problems with lactose (milk sugar).

Nifedipine is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

How should I take nifedipine?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Swallow the tablet or capsule whole and do not crush, chew, or break it.

Take the extended-release tablet on an empty stomach.

Your dose needs may change if you switch to a different brand, strength, or form of this medicine. Avoid medication errors by using only the form and strength your doctor prescribes.

Your blood pressure will need to be checked often and you may need other medical tests.

Keep using this medicine even if you feel well. Use all your heart or blood pressure medications as directed and read all medication guides you receive. Do not change your dose or stop taking your medicine without your doctor's advice.

You may have very low blood pressure while taking this medication. Call your doctor if you are sick with vomiting or diarrhea, or if you are sweating more than usual.

If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using nifedipine. You may need to stop using the medicine at least 36 hours before surgery.

Some tablets are made with a shell that is not absorbed or melted in the body. Part of this shell may appear in your stool. This is normal and will not make the medicine less effective.

Store in the original container at room temperature, away from moisture, heat, and light.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

Take the extended-release tablet without food.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include irregular heartbeats, severe dizziness, or fainting.

What should I avoid while taking nifedipine?

Grapefruit may interact with nifedipine and lead to unwanted side effects. Avoid the use of grapefruit products.

Avoid taking an herbal supplement containing St. John's wort.

Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.

What are the possible side effects of nifedipine?

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling).

Call your doctor at once if you have:

  • worsening chest pain;
  • pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest;
  • a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
  • swelling in your hands or lower legs; or
  • upper stomach pain, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

You may have more severe or more frequent episodes of angina when you first start taking nifedipine or whenever your dose is changed.

Common side effects may include:

  • swelling;
  • flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling);
  • headache, dizziness;
  • nausea, heartburn; or
  • feeling weak or tired.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect nifedipine?

If you have been using a beta-blocker medication (such as atenolol, carvedilol, metoprolol, propranolol, sotalol, and others), you should not stop using it suddenly. Follow your doctor's instructions about tapering your dose. Stopping a beta-blocker too quickly can cause serious heart problems that will not be prevented by nifedipine.

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially other heart or blood pressure medications.

When you start or stop taking other medications, your doctor may need to adjust your nifedipine dose. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.

Many drugs can affect nifedipine, and some drugs should not be used at the same time. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about nifedipine.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.