Nifedipine and Anxiety: What Users Say

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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!"

• Jay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 8, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "My doctor changed my medication to nifedipine, and the first night I took it, it was horrible. I'm writing this review while being treated in the emergency room. I was awakened from my sleep because my heart was racing, which triggered my anxiety. My heart rate went up to 150, and I have never had that happen to me before. My husband had to call an ambulance to get me to the ER. It's the scariest experience ever."

• Sca...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 11, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "Nifedipine XL 30 mg: Worst feeling on this medication! On it because I want to fall pregnant, very few hypertensives on the market that are safe. - This medication increased my HR by 20 bpm on the first day. - The second day was similar, and my BP only remained down in the morning, not evening (which is typical for me anyway without meds). - Third day contemplated stopping due to the BPM increasing, and I should have. I called a paramedic because my resting HR got to 120-130 BPM, triggered anxiety, felt chest fluttering, and flushed feeling and funny sensation as if my heart would give out or pass out. Upon checking my BP: 180/120!!! How can a medication trigger anxiety-type effects and not control BP? This was all provoked by the medication, it was only at the 11-12h mark did I start to feel better. My usual BPM is 65-75. I will not continue this medication. An effect like that is very harmful for myself, I cannot imagine what it could do to the child if I had conceived on this med!"

• Tom...
• August 7, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "I took nifedipine 30 mg ER for 3 weeks. It did lower my blood pressure down to almost normal the first day I took it. After a couple of weeks, I began to have a high level of anxiety, as well as fluttering in my chest. I had trouble concentrating and felt dizzy, like I had a couple of alcoholic drinks, along with headaches and a general feeling of ill health. I talked to my doctor and stopped taking the medicine."

• Ril...
• February 4, 2021

For Hypertensive Emergency "I had a left basal ganglia stroke due to hypertension. My B/P was 220/125. I was 49 at the time. Upon discharge from the hospital and God’s hand, I was able to go home with minimal effects. I began taking Procardia ER following the stroke and had multiple trips to the ER with severe symptoms of heart palpitations, extreme dizziness, excessive weight gain and swelling, shooting electrical-like pains in my arms, joint pain, severe anxiety, random confusion, and a fuzzy feeling in the back of my head. I was told by the ER, just a headache... need to wait and see what the full effects of your stroke will be... I waited and lived like this, never knowing which day would be a horrible day of symptoms. Finally realized the first hour of getting up in the morning before I took the med, I felt normal, with symptoms starting about 45 minutes after taking it. I know I have no choice but to take some type of medication, but this medication has horrible side effects. I still have issues with B/P and even this med."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 12, 2025

For High Blood Pressure "I’m on 60 mg ER in the morning added to my 5 mg Bystolic. Was helping a bit but a few days shortly after I was getting terrible flushing, facial and head sweating, rapid pounding HR, interrupted sleep waking at 2-3 am, anxiety which caused higher scary blood pressure 193/81 HR 93. Drove to ER for HR and pounding because I am alone here and got nervous. They gave me labetalol drip which brought down BP and HR. Was advised to tell my doctor to change meds. So far have to stay on this until I see my doctor next month. This is a frequent every other day event. Now after reading others' reviews I really believe it’s the nifedipine causing this. It can’t be good for me. Hopefully, I’ll get a different med that I can tolerate. I want to feel better, not worse!"

• Ash...
• May 17, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "I started taking nifedipine 30 mg, and it keeps my blood pressure good, but it makes me very sick. Bad pressure headaches feel like a zombie, and shaky. My anxiety is way worse."