Shop products for Nifedipine 
Also indexed as: Adalat LA®, Adalat Retard®, Adalat®, Adipine® MR, Angiopine LA®, Angiopine MR®, Angiopine®, Apo-Nifed®, Calanif®, Cardilate MR®, Coracten SR®, Coracten XL®, Coracten®, Coroday MR®, Fortipine LA 40®, Gen-Nifedipine®, Hypolar® Retard 20, Nifedipress® MR, Nifedotard 20 MR®, Nifelease®, Nifopress Retard®, Nimodrel MR®, Nivaten® Retard, Novo-Nifedin®, Nu-Nifedipine-PA®, Nu-Nifed®, PMS-Nifedipine®, Procardia®, Slofedipine XL®, Tensipine MR®, Unipine XL®
Combination drugs: Beta-Adalat®, Tenif®
Nifedipine is a calcium channel blocker used to treat angina pectoris and high blood pressure.
Summary of
Interactions with Vitamins, Herbs, and Foods
In some cases, an herb or supplement may appear in more than one category, which may seem
contradictory. For clarification, read the full article for details about the summarized
interactions.
 Avoid: Adverse interaction—Avoid these supplements
when taking this medication because taking them together may cause undesirable or dangerous
results. |
Pleurisy root* Tobacco* |
 Check: Other—Before taking any of these supplements
or eating any of these foods with your medication, read this article in full for details. |
Grapefruit juice |
| Depletion or interference |
None known |
| Side effect reduction/prevention |
None known |
| Supportive interaction |
None known |
| Reduced drug absorption/bioavailability |
None known |
An asterisk (*) next to an item in the summary indicates that the interaction is supported only by weak, fragmentary, and/or contradictory scientific evidence.
Interactions with Herbs
Pleurisy root
As pleurisy root and other plants in the Aesclepius genus contain cardiac glycosides,
it is best to avoid use of pleurisy root with heart medications such as calcium channel
blockers.1
Interactions with Foods and Other Compounds
Grapefruit juice
Ingestion of grapefruit juice has been shown to increase the absorption of felodipine (a drug similar in structure and action to that of
nifedipine) and to increase the adverse effects of the medication in patients with hypertension. People taking nifedipine or similar drugs
should not consume grapefruit juice or grapefruit, unless they have discussed it with their
physician.2
Food
Nifedipine may be taken with or without food.3 Nifedipine products should be
swallowed whole, without crushing or chewing.4
Tobacco
In a double-blind study of ten cigarette smokers with
angina treated with nifedipine for one week, angina episodes were significantly reduced
during the nonsmoking phase compared to the smoking phase.5 People with angina
taking nifedipine should not smoke tobacco.
References
1. Newall CA, Anderson LA, Phillipson JD. Herbal Medicines: A Guide for Health-Care Professionals. London: Pharmaceutical Press, 1996, 213–4.
2. Bailey DG, Malcolm J, Arnold O, Spence JD. Grapefuit Juice-Drug Interactions. Br J Clin Pharmacol 1998;46:101–110.
3. Reitberg DP, Love SJ, Quercia GT, Zinny MA. Effect of food on nifedipine pharmacokinetics. Clin Pharmacol Ther 1987;42:72–5.
4. Threlkeld DS, ed. Diuretics and Cardiovasculars, Calcium Channel Blocking Agents. In Facts and Comparisons Drug Information. St. Louis, MO: Facts and Comparisons, Mar 1996, 149m–9n.
5. Deanfield J, Wright C, Krikler S, et al. Cigarette smoking and the treatment of angina with propranolol, atenolol, and nifedipine. N Engl J Med 1984;310:951–4.
