Nifedipine

Brand names of nifedipine

Adalat
Adalat CC
Adalat FT
Adalat PA
Adalat XL
Apo-Nifed
Apo-Nifed PA
Gen-Nifedipine
Nifedipine PA
Novo-Nifedin
Nu-Nifed
Nu-Nifedipine-PA
Procardia
Procardia XL

Nifedipine is a drug that is used to treat a number of health conditions, including high blood pressure, angina (chest pain) and irregular heart rhythms and belongs to the category of drugs known as calcium channel blockers (CCBs). Similar to other drugs in this category, nifedipine also acts to block the transportation of calcium into the muscle cells that surround the arteries carrying blood to the heart (known as coronary arteries) and also the other arteries in the body. As the entry of calcium is responsible for the contraction of the muscle cells, by blocking the inflow of calcium, nifedipine helps to unwind the muscles and, at the same time, widen the arteries. This action of nifedipine augments the blood circulation to the heart, thereby preventing as well as treating angina, which takes place when the blood flow to the heart is insufficient.

It may be noted that when the blood circulation to the heart is inadequate there is also a shortage of oxygen, which is needed for pumping the blood and supplying it to the various body parts. In addition, by unwinding the muscles encircling the other arteries of the body, nifedipine assists in lowering high blood pressure (hypertension) and, in so doing, lessens the force against which the heart needs to pump blood. This action also lowers the demand for oxygen by the heart - this is one more means by which the calcium channel blockers (CCBs) help to prevent the occurrence of angina as well as treat the condition. Moreover, nifedipine also inhibits the transmission of the electrical current that passes through the heart causing the heart muscles to constrict. This outcome may also be employed to rectify the unusually fast heart beats.

Things you need to tell your physician before taking nifedipine

Prior to starting treatment with nifedipine, it is important to tell your physician or pharmacist if you have allergic reactions to this drug, any of its elements or any other medication. If you are not sure, ask your pharmacist to provide you with a list of the ingredients of nifedipine. In addition, tell your physician regarding all the prescription and over-the-counter drugs, herbal products, dietary supplements as well as vitamins that are already being taken by your or you are intending to take.

Before taking nifedipine, you need to tell your physician if you are enduring or have ever endured a constriction or obstruction of the digestive system or any other health condition that results in the food to pass through your digestive system very sluggishly; and/ or any ailment related to the heart, kidneys or the liver. In addition, inform your physician if you have suffered a myocardial infarction (MI) during the past two weeks.

Women who intend to take nifedipine should essentially tell their physician if they are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or are breast-feeding. In case a woman becomes pregnant while undergoing treatment with nifedipine, she should immediately contact her physician for advice on what she should do next.

It is essential for people, who are around 65 year old or above, to consult their physician regarding the safe use of nifedipine capsules. Generally, elderly people ought not to take nifedipine capsules, as they are not safe in comparison to other medicines that may be used to cure the same health condition.

In case you need to undergo any surgery, counting dental operations, you must inform your surgeon or dentist that you are taking nifedipine. Also consult your physician regarding the safe use of alcoholic drinks while you are undergoing treatment with nifedipine. It is worth mentioning here that consumption of alcoholic beverages while taking nifedipine may possibly worsen the side effects of this drug.

Usage

Nifedipine is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) as well as to prevent the bouts of angina pectoris (chest pain accompanied with coronary heart disease).

How to use nifedipine

Nifedipine is available in capsule as well as extended release or long-acting tablet forms and is taken orally. Normally, the capsule is taken thrice or four times daily, while the extended-release tablet ought to be taken only once every day on an empty stomach an hour prior to or two hours following a meal. It is important that you should take nifedipine approximately at the same time every day, as this helps to maintain a standard level of the drug in the bloodstream. It is important to carefully follow the guidelines mentioned on your prescription label and also ask your physician or pharmacist in case you are unable to understand anything mentioned on the prescription label or have any questions regarding the use of the drug. You should strictly take nifedipine as directed by your physician. Here is a word of caution: never take this drug in lesser or excess dosage or for a prolonged period than what has been recommended by your physician.

The extended-release tablets should never be broken, crushed or chewed, but swallowed with a glass of water as a whole. It is very likely that your physician will begin treatment with a low dose of nifedipine and increase the dosage gradually, usually once in a week to a fortnight.

It is important to note that while nifedipine is effective in controlling hypertension (high blood pressure) and angina (chest pain), it does not cure these conditions. It is important to keep on taking this drug even if you begin to feel better. Never stop taking nifedipine without consulting your physician. Prior to discontinuing with this drug, your physician is like to advise you to lower the dosage of nifedipine step by step.

How nifedipine works

As nifedipine belongs to the class of drugs called calcium channel blockers (CCBs), it works by obstructing the transportation of calcium to the cells of the heart muscle as well as the cells of the smooth muscle lining the walls of the arteries. The action of nifedipine helps to unwind and dilate the blood vessels, which, in turn, brings down the blood pressure, augments the flow of blood to the heart and also lowers the general burden of the heart in pumping blood to all parts of the body.

Side effects

Serious:

breathing difficulty
chest pain
coughing
fainting
pounding or irregular heartbeat
wheezing

Common:

dizziness
headache
palpitations
skin flushing and feeling of warmth
swelling in the ankles, feet or calves

Less common:

constipation
diarrhea
heartburn
increased urination
nausea
skin rash
unusual weakness and fatigue
vision problems

Possible interactions

Herbal medicines or minerals:: Specific herbal products and/ or minerals are likely to interact with nifedipine and, hence, they should never be taken in conjunction. For instance, taking the Chinese herb ginseng is likely to raise the blood pressure, dulling the benefits of calcium channel blockers (CCBs), the category of drugs nifedipine belongs. In addition, several other herbs like yohimbe, goldenseal, ma huang, hawthorn, saw palmetto and licorice may also raise the blood pressure. On the other hand, garlic and calcium are also likely to bring down the blood pressure. While the Indian snakeroot possesses a German Commission E monograph indication for hypertension, it is advisable that you consult your physician prior to taking this herb. People who are enduring high blood pressure should keep away from ephedra and eleuthero root. When herbs like St. John's wort are taken in conjunction with nifedipine, it may enhance sensitivity to sunlight. Hence, you need to consult your physician before taking this herb. In fact, you need to talk to your physician prior to including any new herbal medication to your list of medicines when you are already taking nifedipine.
Foods:: People taking nifedipine should not consume grapefruit for about an hour after taking this drug. In addition, it is also advisable that such people should restrict their intake of salt.
Beverages:: Drinking grapefruit juice is likely to considerably enhance the absorption (also called bioavailability) of nifedipine and also worsen the remedial effects of this drug. In fact, it is best to take this medication only with water.
Alcohol:: Consumption of alcoholic beverages is likely to worsen the decline in blood pressure in some people taking nifedipine. Hence, it is advisable that people taking this drug should restrict their alcohol consumption.
Tobacco smoking:: Smoking tobacco is likely to lessen the benefits of taking nifedipine. Hence, people taking this drug should quit smoking.
Marijuana smoking:: Smoking marijuana while undergoing treatment with nifedipine is likely to diminish the efficiency of this drug and also result in mild to moderate augmentation in frequency of attacks of angina. In addition, it may also cause alterations in electrocardiogram, thereby, perplexing the reading.
Exposure to heat:: When people taking nifedipine are exposed to excessive heat, it may diminish the blood pressure-lowering action of this drug. It is advisable that when such people are exposed to heat they need to carefully watch whether they are experiencing debility or dizziness.
Exposure to sun:: People taking the calcium channel blocker drug nifedipine ought to take care not to expose themselves excessively to sunlight. However, incidences of photo-toxicity owing to exposure to sun have rarely been reported.
Heavy exercise or exertion:: Although use of nifedipine has the aptitude to enhance your competence to become more active devoid of causing any pain owing to angina, it is advisable to exercise caution and keep away from undertaking heavy exercise or exerting yourself for this may possibly harm the functioning of your heart without any warning of pain.

Discontinuation

You should never stop taking nifedipine all of a sudden, but talk to your physician about gradually decreasing the dosage of this drug before discontinuing it totally. When you stop taking nifedipine, you need to carefully watch for any possible development of recurrent angina.

Storage instructions

Nifedipine should be stored in the container the medicine came in. Seal the lid of the container tightly and keep it in a place that is beyond the reach of children and pets. This medication should always be stored at room temperature and at a place that is away from moisture, heat and light. Never keep nifedipine in your bathroom, which is generally a damp place. Dispose of all the medications that are needed no longer or have become outdated. Unless instructed otherwise, do not discard the medications by flushing them down the toilet or pouring them into a drain. Consult your physician or a neighbourhood waste disposal company regarding the safe and proper way to dispose of the medications.