Nifedipine

About Nifedipine

Nifedipine is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and chest pain (angina).

How does Nifedipine work?

Nifedipine prevents the entry of calcium (calcium ions) into the heart muscles and blood vessels. This relaxes the muscles and helps control hypertension.

The relaxation of your blood vessels allows blood to flow freely and reduces blood pressure in hypertension.

The relaxation of blood vessels reduces the effort required to pump blood and thus the burden of the heart, which is helpful in chest pain (angina).

What are the side-effects I may experience?

You may experience:

• Dizziness

• Headaches

• Palpitations (skipping a heartbeat or pounding of the heart)

• Constipation

• Swelling of the ankle

  You can raise your legs when sitting or lying down to help with ankle and foot swelling.

Useful information

You must keep taking your medication if these symptoms become a bother. Inform your pharmacist or doctor and discuss management of your side effects.

Are there any medications and foods I should avoid?

• You may eat normally while taking nifedipine.

• Grapefruit or grapefruit juice and nifedipine shouldn’t be taken together. Grapefruit increases the amount of nifedipine in your body.

• Reduce smoking, salt, alcohol, and caffeine intake because they worsen high blood pressure (hypertension).

• You should inform your doctor before taking sildenafil (viagra) with nifedipine. A combination of these medications can lower your blood pressure drastically and can be harmful.

I forgot a dose. What should I do?

If you forget to take your prescription, take it as soon as you remember.

If you miss a dose, don’t take a double dose.

If your next dose is approaching, skip the missed dose and take the next one.

Can I drive or operate machinery?

Nifedipine can cause dizziness and headaches. This can affect your reaction time. You must not drive or operate machinery if you feel dizzy or nauseous.

Should I be bothered about possible addiction or dependence?

Nifedipine isn’t addictive.

Will my sexual performance, fertility or contraceptive be impaired?

Nifedipine hasn’t been shown to affect sexual performance or contraceptives.

There is insufficient evidence to conclude nifedipine affects the fertility of males.

Useful information

Certain contraceptives are not recommended for high blood pressure patients. If you have hypertension, consult your doctor or pharmacist about taking contraceptives.

Can I use this medication if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?

You should avoid nifedipine when pregnant unless prescribed by your doctor.

Nifedipine is present in breast milk. The effect of nifedipine on your baby is unknown. If you are breastfeeding, inform your doctor or pharmacist before taking nifedipine.