Nifedipine Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Oct 28, 2024.

Applies to nifedipine: oral capsule liquid filled, oral tablet extended release.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly and to check for unwanted effects.

You should not use this medicine if you are also taking certain other medications such as carbamazepine (Tegretol®), phenobarbital (Luminal®), phenytoin (Dilantin®), rifabutin (Mycobutin®), rifampin (Rifadin®, Rimactane®), or St. John's Wort. Using these medicines together can cause serious problems. Make sure your doctor knows all of the medications you are taking.

Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting may occur, especially when you get up suddenly from a lying or sitting position. These symptoms are more likely to occur when you begin taking this medicine, or when the dose is increased.

This medicine may cause fluid retention (edema) in some patients. Tell your doctor right away if you have bloating or swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet; tingling of the hands or feet; or unusual weight gain or loss.

Do not Stop taking nifedipine without first checking with your doctor. Your doctor may want you to gradually reduce the amount you are using before stopping completely.

Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. You may need to stop using this medicine several days before having surgery or medical tests. This medicine may affect the results of certain medical tests.

Grapefruits and grapefruit juice may increase the effects of nifedipine by increasing the amount of this medicine in your body. You should not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you taking this medicine.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Serious side effects of nifedipine

Along with its needed effects, nifedipine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking nifedipine:

Other side effects of nifedipine

Some side effects of nifedipine may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to nifedipine: compounding powder, oral capsule, oral tablet extended release.

General adverse events

The most commonly reported side effects included dizziness, giddiness, and lightheadedness.^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Very common (10% or more): Dizziness (up to 27%), giddiness (up to 27%), lightheadedness (up to 27%), headache (up to 23%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Tremor
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Migraine, syncope, vertigo
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Paresthesia, dysesthesia
• Frequency not reported: Ataxia, cerebral ischemia, balance difficulty, hypertonia, hypoesthesia, shakiness, somnolence
• Postmarketing reports: Taste perversion^[Ref]

Syncope typically occurred with initial doses and/or dose titrations.^[Ref]

Other

• Very common (10% or more): Heat sensation (up to 25%), weakness (up to 12%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Asthenia, fatigue, feeling unwell
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Chills, malaise, pain, unspecific pain
• Frequency not reported: Abnormal lab test, fever, inflammation, jitteriness, tinnitus^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Very common (10% or more): Flushing (up to 25%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Congestive heart failure, edema/peripheral edema, myocardial infarction, palpitations, transient hypotension, vasodilation
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Angina pectoris/chest pain (excluding unstable), erythromelalgia, hypotension, postural hypotension, syncope, tachycardia
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Cardiovascular disorder, substernal chest pain
• Frequency not reported: Arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, bradycardia, cardiac arrest, conduction disturbances, extrasystole, hot flashes, increased angina, myocardial ischemia, nonspecific chest pain, phlebitis, ventricular arrhythmias^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Very common (10% or more): Heartburn (up to 11%), nausea (up to 11%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Constipation, cramps, diarrhea, flatulence
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Abdominal/gastrointestinal (GI) pain, dyspepsia, dry mouth, gum hyperplasia
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Gingival hyperplasia
• Frequency not reported: Bezoar, dysphagia, eructation, esophagitis, gastroesophageal reflux, gastroesophageal sphincter insufficiency, GI bleeding, GI disorder, GI hemorrhage, GI irritation, GI obstruction, GI ulceration, gum disorder, gum hemorrhage, melena, tablet adherence to GI wall, vomiting^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Common (1% to 10%): Dyspnea, chest congestion, cough, nasal congestion, shortness of breath, sore throat, wheezing
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Larynx edema, nosebleed
• Frequency not reported: Epistaxis, increased cough, pharyngitis, pulmonary edema, rales, respiratory disorder, rhinitis, rigors, sinusitis, stridor, upper respiratory tract infection^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Common (1% to 10%): Mood changes, nervousness
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Anxiety reactions, insomnia, sleep disorders
• Frequency not reported: Anxiety, confusion, decreased libido, depression, paroniria/paranoid syndrome, sleep disturbances^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Common (1% to 10%): Muscle cramps
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Joint pain
• Frequency not reported: Arthralgia, arthritis with antinuclear antibody positive tests, back pain, joint disorder, joint stiffness, leg cramps, leg pain, myalgia, myasthenia, neck pain, worsening of myasthenia gravis^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dysuria, erectile dysfunction, polyuria
• Frequency not reported: Breast engorgement, breast pain, hematuria, impotence, nocturia, pelvic pain, sexual difficulties, urinary frequency, urogenital disorder^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Allergic reaction, allergic edema, angioedema/oropharyngeal edema
• Frequency not reported: Anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reaction, systemic allergic reactions^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Erythema, face edema
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Pruritus, rash, urticaria
• Frequency not reported: Cellulitis, cutaneous angiectases, dermatitis, exfoliative dermatitis, palpable purpura, pemphigoid reaction, petechial rash, photosensitivity allergic reaction, sweating/increased sweating, telangiectasia, toxic epidermal necrolysis
• Postmarketing reports: Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis, alopecia, bullous skin adverse events, erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Abnormal liver function tests, transient liver enzyme increase
• Frequency not reported: Allergic hepatitis, gamma glutamyltransferase increased, intra-hepatic cholestasis, jaundice^[Ref]

Ocular

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Visual disturbances
• Frequency not reported: Abnormal lacrimation, abnormal vision, amblyopia, blurred vision, conjunctivitis, diplopia, eye disorder, eye hemorrhage, eye pain, periorbital edema, transient blindness (at Cmax), transient unilateral vision loss^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Frequency not reported: Anemia, agranulocytosis, eosinophilia, leukopenia, lymphadenopathy, purpura, thrombocytopenia^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Frequency not reported: Gout, hyperglycemia, weight gain/loss^[Ref]

Renal

• Frequency not reported: Kidney calculus^[Ref]

Endocrine

• Frequency not reported: Gynecomastia^[Ref]

See also:

Further information

Nifedipine side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer