Nifedipine and Heart Palpitations: What Users Say

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• Roc...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 29, 2019

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."

• 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."

• 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 $$$$$."

• Nin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 1, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "I just started taking nifedipine 30 mg for almost a month. It has been the worst experience I have ever had in my life. I experienced headaches, constipation, swollen feet, a burning sensation in my legs (left side worse than the right), heart palpitations, and a sore throat when I swallow. I got a cyst in the back of my knees, there were days when I couldn’t move because it was so painful. My BP was very high. My doctor would just tell me to keep taking it, or else I’ll get a stroke. It got so bad that I went to the ER, and they just told me the same thing: don’t stop taking it. This is a cheap drug, it shouldn’t be on the market! It’s dangerous and opens the door for more complications/more drugs $$$$."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 28, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "I've been on Nifedipine 30 mg ER (CC) for 4 months and could not figure out why I felt terrible all day long with severe dizziness, increased pulse, palpitations, shakiness, and swelling in feet and ankles. I called my doctor, and he told me to stop taking the dosage in the morning because I take a dose in the morning and evening. He also stated Nifedipine stays in your system for 12 hours, no wonder I was severely dizzy. This medication needs to be off the market. The plan is to stop it altogether and try another medication for my high blood pressure."

• jaz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 19, 2014

Nifedipine for Raynaud's Syndrome "I started the nifedipine/Procardia this morning. About 4 hours later, the rare side effects kicked in. Heart palpitations, dizziness, headache, and I was FREEZING. Even at 43, I still call my mommy. She wasn't thrilled I was going to take it anyway since I have perfect blood pressure. But she recommended laying on my left side. That did help, even if it did take a while for me to get warm again. The headache is still lingering."

• Nar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 13, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "This medication is absolutely horrible. It was tolerable at first, then came the lightheadedness, dizziness, palpitations, vertigo, swelling of legs, sore muscles, tingling in limbs, and tingling at the top of my head."

• Nif...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 22, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "I have been on nifedipine for 14 years, since the birth of my last child. I take it with atenolol 50 mg. I began 14 years ago on 60 mg once daily (extended release), then several years later reported instances of rapid heartbeats, so we reduced it to 30 mg, and that worked. It works well for hypertension. But, I began noticing water retention from the mid-calves down to my feet and was able to control it at times with natural remedies. The swelling would resolve overnight, but it started all over in the morning. It also seemed to be worse in humid weather. But, presently, nothing works, and they don’t even completely resolve overnight anymore. It’s calcium channel blockers. Edema gets worse over the years. I’m switching to a diuretic and coming completely off nifedipine. Bye-bye nifedipine, I won’t miss you!"

• Joh...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 10, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "I was taking metoprolol 100 mg and lisinopril with HCTZ 20 12.5 mg for 15 years. My weight was 235 lb, and the metoprolol was causing ED. So I switched to nifedipine. Withdrawing from the metoprolol caused tachycardia for at least 4 months, and now after exercising and weight loss, I have been taking only the nifedipine 30 mg. It has worked well for me, my BP is 120/80, and heart rate is constantly 60 to 80..."

• SSD...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 21, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "I've been on Procardia XL 60 mg once daily for a few weeks and hate the side effects. It started out with simple tingling in hands, hyperactive bowel sounds, and some constipation. Now I'm experiencing a fast heartbeat. Although it helps to stabilize my BP, it's definitely not worth the side effects, especially the palpitations, which get scary at times. I plan on stopping this med and switching to something else asap!"

• 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."