What is Nifedipine?
Nifedipine oral tablet is a prescription drug that is available as Adalat CC, Afeditab CR, and Procardia XL brand-name products. These are tablets with extended-release. Over time, an extended-release drug is released into the bloodstream slowly. As the brand-name drug Procardia, Nifedipine immediate-release capsules are available. The tablets are used for angina treatment (chest pain). The medications are also used for the treatment of blood pressure and angina.
Nifedipine Uses
This drug is used to stop the pain in the chest (angina). It can make it possible for you to exercise more and reduce the frequency of angina attacks. By relaxing the blood vessels, it reduces blood pressure so that the heart does not have to pump so heavily. It controls pain in the chest by increasing the heart's supply of blood and oxygen. Nifedipine belongs to a class of drugs called blockers of the calcium channel. It should not be used for treating chest pain attacks as they occur. Use other drugs to alleviate chest pain attacks (such as sublingual nitroglycerin) as instructed by your doctor. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for information. Older adults should discuss with their doctor or pharmacist the risks and benefits of this drug, as well as other potentially safer types of nifedipine.
Nifedipine Side Effects
Some of the common side effects of Nifedipine are:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Flushing
- Heartburn
- Muscle Cramps
- Constipation
- Cough
- Edema
- Weakness
Some of the serious side effects of Nifedipine are:
- Trouble in breathing
- Trouble swallowing
- Rash or hives
- Lightheadedness
- Fainting
- If you have any of these serious symptoms immediately contact your doctor for further assistance. In any case, due to Nifedipine if you get any kind of reactions in your body try avoiding it.
- A doctor advised you to take the medicines by seeing your problems and the benefits of this medicine are greater than the side effects. Majority of the people who use this medicine don’t show any side effects. Get medical help immediately if you get any serious Nifedipine side effects.
Precautions
Before taking Nifedipine talk with your doctor if you are allergic to it or any other medication. The product may contain some inactive ingredients which can cause some serious allergic reactions or some other serious problems
Before taking Nifedipine talk with your doctor if you are having any medical history such as:
- Liver problems
- Kidney problems
How to take Nifedipine?
Nifedipine comes as a capsule to be taken by mouth and an extended-release (long-acting) tablet. Usually, the capsule is taken three or four times a day. The extended-release tablet should be taken on an empty stomach once a day, 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal, respectively. Take nifedipine at about the same time every day to help you remember to take it. Swallow whole extended-release tablets; do not cut them, chew them, or crush them. The doctor can start you on a low dose of nifedipine, and raise your dose gradually, usually once every 7 to 14 days. Nifedipine controls chest pain when taken daily, but it does not stop the pain in the chest once it starts. When you have chest pain, your doctor can recommend a different medicine to take.
Dosage Forms and Strengths
Generic: Nifedipine
- Form: Oral capsule (10 mg, 20 mg)
- Form: Oral extended-release tablet (30 mg, 60 mg, 90 mg)
- Brand: Adalat CC
- Form: Oral extended-release tablet (30 mg, 60 mg, 90 mg)
- Brand: Afeditab CR
- Form: Oral extended-release tablet (30 mg, 60 mg)
Brand: Procardia X
- Form: Oral extended-release tablet (30 mg, 60 mg, 90 mg)
- Brand: Procardia
- Form: Oral capsule (10 mg)
Dosage for Vasospastic Angina
Adult Dosage: 30 mg or 60 mg taken orally once a day.
Dosage for Chronic stable angina
Adult dosage: 30 mg or 60 mg taken orally once a day.
Missed Dose
Missing one or two-dose of Nifedipine won’t show any effect on your body. The skipped dose causes no problem. But with some medication, it won’t work if you don’t take the dosage on time. If you miss a dose some sudden chemical change may affect your body. In some cases, your doctor would advise you to take the prescribed medicine as soon as possible if you have missed the dose.
Overdose
Overdose of a drug can be accidental. If you have taken more than the prescribed Nifedipine tablets there is a chance of getting a harmful effect on your body’s functions. Overdose of a medicine can lead to some medical emergency.
Warnings for some Serious Health Conditions
For people with Heart Failure
You can develop edema that is caused by the medication and not your condition (swelling of your legs or feet). In order to find out the true cause of any increased swelling, you might have, talk to your doctor. You will help the doctor determine how to treat it.
For people with Liver Disease
Your liver extracts this medicine from your blood. The amount of nifedipine in your blood may become too high if your liver is not functioning properly.
For people with low blood pressure
Nifedipine can make these episodes worse if you have episodes of low blood pressure. This could be more likely to occur when you start taking nifedipine for the first time or when the dosage is raised by your doctor. If you have repeated periods of low blood pressure, speak to your doctor.
For people with severe Heart Disease
Rare cases of worsening chest pain and heart attacks have been recorded in people with chronic heart disease. Nifedipine (Procardia) capsules should not be administered for the first week or two after a heart attack. In order to see if nifedipine is right for you, ask your doctor about this risk.
Storage
Direct contact with heat, air and light may damage your medicines. The exposure of medicine may cause some harmful effects. The medicine must be kept in a safe place and out of children’s reach.
Mainly the drug should be kept at room temperature between 68ºF and 77ºF (20ºC and 25ºC).
Before taking Nifedipine consult your Doctor. In case if you face any problems or get any side effects after taking Nifedipine rush immediately to your nearby hospital or consult your doctor for better treatment. Carry your medications always in your bag while travelling to avoid any immediate emergencies. Follow your prescription and follow your Doctor advice whenever you take Nifedipine.
Nifedipine vs Amlodipine
| Nifedipine oral tablet is a prescription drug that is available as Adalat CC, Afeditab CR, and Procardia XL brand-name products. These are all tablets with extended-release. | As a brand-name drug and a generic drug, Amlodipine oral tablet is available. Name of the brand: Norvasc. |
| This drug is used to stop such sources of pain in the chest (angina). It can make it possible for you to exercise more and reduce the frequency of angina attacks. | Amlodipine is used for treating elevated blood pressure, with or without other drugs. Lowering high blood pressure helps to avoid strokes, kidney complications, and heart attacks |
Some of the common side effects of Nifedipine are:
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Some of the common side effects of Amlodipine are:
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