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Nifedipine User Reviews & Ratings

Brand names: Procardia, Procardia XL Afeditab CR

Nifedipine has an average rating of 5.1 out of 10 from a total of 155 reviews on Drugs.com. 35% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 44% reported a negative experience.

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Reviews for Nifedipine

  • CCa...
  • October 14, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I take nifedipine 60mg 2x a day. First started with 30mg 1x a day, my blood pressure was still high so Dr. increased to 60mg a day and 30mg at night. Later switched it to 60mg 2x a day. Side effects in the beginning: dizziness and fast heart rate. At times, it felt like my heart was beating out of my chest when I would wake up in the middle of the night. Then the twitching in my left hand, told my Dr. to keep taking the medicine. I would get really cold and shiver so I drove myself to the ER because my body was so cold. Dr. still kept me on this medicine. I have headaches, insomnia, and anxiety. Dr. kept me on this medicine and prescribed me anxiety pills. Now I have tingling in my feet, legs, hands, arms, and the top of my head. I'm also having muscle spasms in my calves, thighs, arms, and hands. These headaches are getting 10x worse. I have pressure in my head and chills going through my head with a burning sensation in the back of my head."

3 / 10
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168 Report
  • Red...
  • August 14, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I was having a lot of side effects from my other blood pressure meds, maybe that is common. Fatigue and restlessness and heart palpitations. After being tried on lisinopril, losartan and clonidine at different times, I felt none of them were safe. That the side effects were too bad... but I was very wrong. When they put me on time release nifedipine, my side effects increased, and they were so bad, I had to go off of it suddenly, I almost lost my life, my legs swelled with edema, veins were popping up, I was having chest pains, my blood pressure was rising and falling, pressure behind my eyes, I was super close to stroking out or a heart attack I was told. I am still recovering. I have to take something so I started back on losartan. My doctor is no help. I don't know what to do."

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134 Report
  • Mee...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • January 3, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I was prescribed Nifedipine during a visit to the ER with BP 179/104. After taking the first dose, my BP lowered to 130/80. I have been taking Nifedipine for about three months now and this is the only BP med I have been able to tolerate. My BP has been steady at 116/70 - 120/72. Side effects: severe headache when I first started taking the medication. After 3 days, the headache went away. They only return when I miss a dose. Constipation, heart palpitations (frightening), trouble sleeping due to vivid dreams and nightmares, constant urination (I take my pill at night), calf pain that comes and goes; same with swelling in my feet but not as much."

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130 Report
  • Ter...
  • May 6, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Been taking this medicine off and on for close to a year, switching doctors trying to get away from it. It’s like they are pushing this medicine on people or if you have not that good of insurance it’s like you only have a certain group of blood pressure medicine they will let you take. Well, I started on 30 mg nifedipine and told the doctor of breathing problems, severe headaches, back pain, shoulder pain, shortness of breath, and he upped it to 60 mg. What craziness is this? This medication is very wicked, should be taken off the market. I feel this medication is used for mental patients, one minute I’m hot, one minute I’m sweating, one minute I’m cold, one minute I’m shaking and the headaches are out of this world they should look deeper into this medication. The FDA should take it off the market, it's no good. I’m still searching to find a doctor to prescribe some good medication. What happened to all the good medication that was out there a few years ago?"

1 / 10
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134 Report
  • MsL...
  • June 5, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "Worst med I ever taken in my life, no exaggeration. It gave me very bad dizziness, lightheadedness, and chest discomfort. I have never written a review on any medication, but after my experience, I felt quite compelled to do so. It’s awful, I would advise to proceed with extreme caution. I took this for 3 days and I felt horrible and ended up in the hospital. Needless to say, my cardiologist took me off of this."

1 / 10
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85 Report

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  • Aut...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • December 23, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "Been using Nifedipine ER for 2 years. The last three months, I started noticing more side effects. With the process of eliminating all meds except for the Nifedipine ER, the side effects were definitely from the Nifedipine ER. More swelling in my feet & ankles & even my arms. Made me more stuffy, fatigued & tired after only mild exertion, bloating & constipation. The worst of it was the tachycardia I was experiencing. It was coming on anywhere from 30 mins to 4 hours after taking it. I have been diagnosed with Supraventricular Tachycardia a long time ago & it never bothered me until recently. It must be something new they are putting in the Nifedipine ER. IF YOU HAVE TACHYCARDIA, PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICATION. IT WILL MAKE YOUR TACHYCARDIA WORSE. It also didn’t keep my blood pressure steady. Doctor tried adjusting the dosage & it didn’t work & made the side effects worse. BEWARE OF THIS MEDICATION."

1 / 10
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82 Report
  • Bob...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • October 20, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I react poorly to BP meds. I have taken different drugs for many years always combined with strong allergy medicine due to severe hay fever. When I started taking BP meds, the allergy drugs apparently masked side effects the drugs were giving me. After many years, it tore up my entire digestive system. I stopped taking everything. It took months for them to wear off. I never felt better. One day, 2 years after stopping, my BP is 180+/110+. Primary care said it was too high, and we began trying BP meds again. Without allergy medicine, my side effect symptoms were immediate: nausea, headaches, and dizziness. I was sick all day. I stopped all BP meds again and felt great. Then we tried nifedipine XR. Within 1 hour, I had insomnia followed by an extreme, debilitating headache, nausea, dizziness, and my BP soared. I have never been this sick. The effects have lasted now for 5 days. I only took one 30mg dose! For me and many others, this drug causes severe reactions. I don't think it should be on the market."

1 / 10
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73 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • July 23, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "Nifedipine is the worst drug I have ever taken in my life. I have known no peace at all for the past two months since I started taking it. My side effects from the nifedipine are headaches, dizziness, shaking, trembling, and I feel like I'm floating in water, feeling like something is crawling on my body."

1 / 10
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68 Report
  • rav...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • November 8, 2019

For Raynaud's Syndrome "I am a 20-year-old female who has been struggling to manage Raynaud's for years. I thought it was totally normal and that everyone experiences the numbness when it's a little cold. After starting the nifedipine, results were almost immediate. The day after taking my first dose, I was lying in bed when I noticed my feet felt strange. They were warm, for the first time in what felt like forever. I had full sensation and could move my toes around effortlessly, I was absolutely over the moon. The next day, I’m walking around work and notice how soft and cushiony my feet now feel. It didn't hurt to walk. My hands don't get numb and stiff from 65°F weather, and I don't have to sit on my feet at work just to keep the numbness at bay. My life has forever changed for the better now that I can function as a normal person in the cold."

10 / 10
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76 Report
  • Roc...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • July 29, 2019

Afeditab CR (nifedipine) for High Blood Pressure "I have been on Nifedipine ER for a year to treat my B/P, and I take it with Metoprolol & Losartan. The nifedipine has been effective in keeping my B/P stable (the Metoprolol & Losartan by themselves not so much). However, I have to put up with bad side effects - swelling of feet, some heart palpitations, flushing of face (on & off), sleep disturbances, really bad neck & shoulder muscle pain. These side effects will last from 4-6 hours while the nifedipine is working in my body. I’m talking to my doctor about getting a possible substitute to see if it has fewer side effects. I don’t know if these side effects are very common, but this has been my experience."

8 / 10
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78 Report
  • Ner...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • September 4, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I took my very first dose of nifedipine 30 mg ER at 1:30 PM and felt great. At 3:30 PM, I started with the flushing and rapid heartbeat/pulse. Then I panicked, which made it worse. I called the doctor, he said to stop it, and it will take a few days for all the meds to leave your system. Now it is on to the next experiment. I abhor trying new meds, especially for the heart."

1 / 10
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61 Report
  • Jc...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • August 8, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I was put on this because it was thought that Labetalol was causing breathing problems with my pregnancy. Turns out the shortness of breath was due to COVID. This medication really makes me miss Labetalol, which my insurance now won't cover. :( My heart has been racing, the headaches are severe and frightening, my muscles ache, I can barely sleep (whilst also feeling very fatigued) and my mouth is super dry. I can't do this anymore. I already have terrible anxiety. My blood pressure was on average about 130/80 beforehand. So it did lower my blood pressure in the 125s/70s range. I really hope my OBGYN has another medication safe for hypertension during pregnancy I can take. Lisinopril never made me feel so awful. Pray for me, please."

3 / 10
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61 Report
  • Ext...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • June 6, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "I felt I needed to share my experience in case anyone else thinks they are losing their mind while taking this medicine. I have no history of hypertension but got preeclampsia with my last pregnancy that developed chronic hypertension after delivery. While on nifedipine, I experienced severe anxiety, panic attacks, and insomnia. It also did not control my b.p."

1 / 10
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36 Report
  • Kel...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • March 30, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "I’ve been on this medicine for 2.5 years. Let me tell you this, the brand makes a difference!!! I was on Procardia XL for 2 years and it was fine! No issues except a tinge of flushing/water retention. Nothing too noticeable or that needed treatment. Then I moved and my new pharmacy gave me Novast, which is another brand of nifedipine. That was awful!!!!!! I mean awful! Episodes of tachycardia, intense flushing, my body would feel heavy. I just paid $80 for Procardia. Novast is $8 on my insurance. I don’t care!!!! Never going back to that brand. Procardia works great for my BP. I’m on 30mg."

7 / 10
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47 Report
  • Anonymous
  • February 6, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I was prescribed nifedipine 60 mg after a visit to the doctor with a blood pressure of 186/100. I took the medicine and started feeling worse, with horrible headaches for 3 days, and on the 3rd day, I was rushed to the ER and admitted to the hospital because I had a T.I.A. (mini stroke) and a BP of 211/126. Once the medication left my system, my blood pressure stabilized. This medication is not for everyone."

1 / 10
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57 Report
  • ala...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • April 3, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I was switched from Enalapril 10 mg, which was causing hair loss and not controlling my blood pressure very well, to 30 mg Procardia (generic). As soon as my second day on it, I had a headache (unusual for me) and felt extremely tired. My blood pressure was down to 132/88, and I was pleased. On the third day, I started with insomnia, a worse headache, I felt anxious, dizzy, and foggy. In the afternoon, my feet started feeling weird, and my blood pressure was elevated again (154/90). I was also starting to feel very depressed. I called my doctor, and he told me to stop taking the medication. I'd rather lose weight and exercise to control my blood pressure than experience these side effects!"

1 / 10
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63 Report
  • Kat...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • June 24, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "My doctor switched me to this nifedipine medication since we are TTC. She prescribed 30 mg ER tablets. About an hour after taking my first dose, I get a throbbing headache, nausea, and can't sleep (I take it at night before bed). An hour later, at 1:30 AM, I get up to use the bathroom, and it feels like my heart is going to beat out of my chest. I stand still for a few minutes and try to calm down and let my watch take my heart rate, and it comes back at 139 bpm standing still, and it still feels like my heart is going to pop out of my chest. I wake up my husband (he's an EMT) and have him check my BP and heart rate. BP is 138/88, which isn't bad for me, but still not where it should be, and heart rate while sitting is 95 bpm but still pounding. The next morning, any time I stand up, my heart rate spikes to over 100 bpm, and I had a throbbing headache and nausea most of the day, and it lasted well after the 24 hours that the medication is supposed to last. Will not be taking this medication ever again."

1 / 10
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52 Report
  • ing...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • July 24, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "Please, if you can avoid this medicine, then avoid it. This medicine had me driving around at 2 AM looking for an emergency room. I felt awful, my doctor took me off, and I still feel the side effects. This drug, nifedipine, is from the pits of hell. Beware, try to do some research on any drug before you take it, doctors just prescribe and move on to the next."

1 / 10
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30 Report
  • Bra...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • October 13, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "I took 1 nifedipine at 5 AM, and an hour later my blood pressure was lowered significantly. In fact, too low. For the next 24 hours, my heart was racing, and it felt like my heart was going to burst out of my chest. As I lay in bed trying to get to sleep, I could hear my heart pounding. I could not get to sleep. I called the doctor immediately, and she told me to stop the medicine. It is now almost 3 days later, and my heart rate is still elevated, ranging from 85 to 107. My normal heart rate is between 60 and 80 at rest. Fortunately, my heart is not pounding, just beating faster than normal. I have no idea how long it will take before it goes back to normal, or if it will go back to normal. For me, this drug has been a disaster. I feel like I am on the verge of having a heart attack."

1 / 10
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61 Report
  • Jin...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • May 2, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "STOP TAKING THIS DRUG!!! It’s dangerous, for me, it causes chest pain, swollen feet and legs, tingly feet, burning sensation in the legs, headaches, weight gain, sharp pains in the lower back, heart palpitations, numbness. I took it for one month, I wish I didn’t. The doctor kept telling me to keep taking it or else I would have a stroke. All the doctors care about is $$$$$."

1 / 10
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32 Report
  • Ame...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • May 4, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I have been on nifedipine 30 mg for 7 days. I have the shakes right now, my chest feels tight. It’s 1:25 AM, I can’t sleep. My heart is racing, and my blood pressure is still high this whole time! The first 2 days it was 80 over 60, now it’s kinda high at 154/87. I’ve been having headaches. I’m always tired, this sucks. Tonight will be the last time I take nifedipine."

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48 Report
  • bta...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • September 13, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "This drug, nifedipine, is truly awful. I first experienced swollen feet and ankles. Then, sleep problems. After several hours, I wake and can't go back to sleep. Extreme fatigue. Extreme weakness, particularly in arms, shoulders, and upper back. I can't get anything done around the house. And now, finally, breathing problems. It works, but it is not worth the side effects because you aren't really living being on this medicine. I've been on it about 6 weeks. So much for modern medicine... My doctor is going to put me on something else soon."

8 / 10
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45 Report
  • Sha...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • August 3, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I was initially on HCTZ (25 mg) before pregnancy. BP was perfect throughout my entire pregnancy, but after having DD, my BP increased. I started taking Toprol XL (25 mg), and it increased my pressure to triple digits systolic and diastolic! I was then started on Nifedipine (30 mg 1x/day) a few days ago, and I’ve experienced the worst headaches. I am now swelling in my ankles and having the shakes in my hands. My BP is still in the triple digits, and it’s stressing me out."

1 / 10
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  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • August 21, 2012

Procardia XL (nifedipine) for High Blood Pressure "Works well for me other than the constipation it has caused since I began using it. My blood pressure was 180/90, and when combined with carvedilol, Edarbyclor XL, and Procardia, it is now running 120/60 on average. After 30 years of very high uncontrolled hypertension, it's refreshing to have BP this low. One doctor I was going to gave me a medicine that caused my BP to skyrocket to 200/100."

8 / 10
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93 Report
  • Com...
  • January 25, 2011

Procardia XL (nifedipine) for High Blood Pressure "I've been taking Procardia XL for about 4 years now. My blood pressure stays fairly consistent. The only negative is that my feet and lower legs (knees down) swell a little when I'm standing for a long time. Fluids must accumulate in my lower extremities. I don't urinate as much when I'm standing, then urinate more than usual after I lay horizontal for a while. It does a good job controlling the blood pressure, and I only have to take 1 tablet a day."

8 / 10
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98 Report
Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.