Nifedipine Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Oct 26, 2022.

Summary

Commonly reported side effects of nifedipine include: dizziness, peripheral edema, lower extremity edema, flushing, and flushing sensation. Other side effects include: acute myocardial infarction, muscle cramps, tremor, cough, dyspnea, hypotension, and wheezing. Continue reading for a comprehensive list of adverse effects.

Applies to nifedipine: oral capsules, oral extended-release tablets.

Side effects include:

Dizziness, lightheadedness, giddiness, flushing, heat sensation, headache, tremor, nervousness, mood changes, weakness, fatigue, asthenia, muscle cramps, nausea, heartburn, peripheral edema, dyspnea, cough, wheezing, nasal congestion, sore throat.

For Healthcare Professionals

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

General

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]

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.

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