1. Nifedipine oral tablet is available as both a generic drug and brand-name ride. Brand names: Adalat CC, Afeditab CR, and Procardia XL.
  2. Nifedipine tablets are an extended-release form of the drug. Nifedipine is also available in immediate-release oral capsules. The capsules are available as the brand-name drug Procardia. They are also available in a generic drug.
  3. Nifedipine is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure). It’s also used to treat two types of angina (chest pain): vasospastic angina and chronic stable angina.

Nifedipine oral tablet is a prescription drug that’s available as the brand-name drugs Adalat CC, Afeditab CR, and Procardia XL. These are all extended-release tablets. An extended-release drug is slowly released into your bloodstream over time. Nifedipine immediate-release capsules are available as the brand-name drug Procardia. The capsules are used to treat angina (chest pain). The tablets are used to treat either high blood pressure or angina.
Both the nifedipine immediate-release capsules and extended-release tablets are also available as generic drugs. Generic drugs usually cost less. In some cases, they may not be available in every strength or form as the brand-name version.

Why it's used

Nifedipine is used to lower blood pressure in people with hypertension. It’s also used to treat vasospastic angina (chest pain due to a spasm in arteries around the heart) or chronic stable angina (chest pain that occurs with activity or stress). The drug form used depends on the condition it is treating. Talk to your doctor about which form is right for you.
Nifedipine may be used as part of a combination therapy. This means you may need to take it with other medications. If you are using it to treat high blood pressure, you may take it with other drugs that lower blood pressure. If you are using it to treat angina, you may take it with nitrates (nitroglycerin products) or beta-blockers.

How it works

Nifedipine belongs to a class of drugs called calcium channel blockers. A class of drugs is a group of medications that work in a similar way. These drugs are often used to treat similar conditions.
Calcium channel blockers help lower blood pressure by relaxing the blood vessels throughout your body. As a result, less pressure is built up and your heart does not have to work as hard to pump blood.
Calcium channel blockers help to prevent angina in two ways. First, they lower pressure in the coronary arteries (the arteries that supply blood to your heart). As a result, your heart receives more blood and oxygen. Second, they help prevent spasm of the coronary arteries. (A spasm is a temporary, sudden narrowing of these arteries.)

Nifedipine oral tablet doesn’t cause drowsiness. However, it may cause other side effects.

More common side effects

The more common side effects that can occur with nifedipine include:
  • headache
  • nausea
  • dizziness or lightheadedness
  • flushing (reddening of the skin)
  • heartburn
  • muscle cramps
  • constipation
  • cough
  • decreased sexual ability or desire
  • edema (swelling in the legs or feet)
  • weakness
If these effects are mild, they may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If they’re more severe or don’t go away, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life-threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency. Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following:
  • Edema (fluid retention). Symptoms can include:
    • swelling in the arms, hands, lower legs, feet, or ankles
  • Allergic reaction. Symptoms can include:
    • trouble breathing
    • trouble swallowing
    • rash or hives
    • swelling of the face, eyes, lips, or tongue
  • Low blood pressure or low heart rate. Symptoms can include:
    • lightheadedness
    • fainting
  • Liver damage. Symptoms can include:
    • yellowing of the skin
    • yellowing of the whites of the eyes
  • Chest pain (angina) that is worse or occurs more often
Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible side effects. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always discuss possible side effects with a healthcare provider who knows your medical history.


Nifedipine oral tablet can interact with other medications, vitamins, or herbs you may be taking. An interaction is when a substance changes the way a drug works. This can be harmful or prevent the drug from working well.
To help avoid interactions, your doctor should manage all of your medications carefully. Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, or herbs you’re taking. To find out how this drug might interact with something else you’re taking, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Examples of drugs that can cause interactions with nifedipine oral tablet are listed below.

Antibiotics

Taking certain antibiotics with nifedipine can cause higher levels of nifedipine in your body. This can increase your risk of side effects from nifedipine. These drugs include:
  • clarithromycin
  • erythromycin
  • quinupristin/dalfopristin
Taking the antibiotic rifampin can decrease the levels of nifedipine in your body. This could make nifedipine less effective. You shouldn’t take rifampin and nifedipine together.

Antifungal drugs

Taking certain antifungal drugs with nifedipine can cause higher levels of nifedipine in your body. This can increase your risk of side effects from nifedipine. These drugs include:
  • fluconazole
  • itraconazole
  • ketoconazole

Antiviral drugs

Taking certain antiviral drugs with nifedipine can cause higher levels of nifedipine in your body. This can increase your risk of side effects from nifedipine. These drugs include:
  • atazanavir
  • delavirdine
  • fosamprenavir
  • indinavir
  • nelfinavir
  • ritonavir

Antiseizure drugs

Taking certain antiseizure drugs with nifedipine can cause lower levels of nifedipine in your body. This can make it less effective. These drugs include:
  • phenytoin
  • carbamazepine
Taking other antiseizure drugs with nifedipine can cause higher levels of nifedipine in your body. This raises your risk of side effects from nifedipine. These drugs include:
  • valproic acid

Heart drugs

Digoxin is used to treat heart rhythm problems. Using digoxin with nifedipine can increase or decrease the amount of digoxin in your body. If you take these drugs together, your doctor should monitor the level of digoxin in your body.

Other drugs

Beta-blockers are used to treat many conditions. These include high blood pressure, migraines, or heart failure. Using these drugs with nifedipine has a low risk of causing heart failure, extremely low blood pressure, or a worsening of chest pain (angina).
If you’re taking a beta-blocker and your doctor has you stop taking it before starting nifedipine, the beta-blocker should be tapered slowly. Stopping it suddenly could cause increased chest pains. Beta-blockers include:
  • atenolol
  • metoprolol
  • nadolol
  • propranolol
  • timolol
Doxazosin is used to treat high blood pressure, as well as benign prostate hyperplasia in men. Using doxazosin with nifedipine can lower the amount of doxazosin in your body. This makes it less effective. Using these drugs together can also cause increased levels of nifedipine in your body. This raises your risk of dangerous side effects.
Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs interact differently in each person, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible interactions. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with your healthcare provider about possible interactions with all prescription drugs, vitamins, herbs and supplements, and over-the-counter drugs that you are taking.

This dosage information is for nifedipine oral tablet. All possible dosages and drug forms may not be included here. Your doctor will tell you what dosage is right for you. Your dose, drug form, and how often you take the drug will depend on:
  • your age
  • the condition being treated
  • how severe your condition is
  • other medical conditions you have
  • how you react to the first dose

Forms and strengths

Generic: nifedipine
  • Form: Oral capsule
  • Strengths: 10 mg, 20 mg
  • Form: Oral extended-release tablet
  • Strengths: 30 mg, 60 mg, 90 mg
Brand: Adalat CC
  • Form: Oral extended-release tablet
  • Strengths: 30 mg, 60 mg, 90 mg
Brand: Afeditab CR
  • Form: Oral extended-release tablet
  • Strengths: 30 mg, 60 mg
Brand: Procardia XL
  • Form: Oral extended-release tablet
  • Strengths: 30 mg, 60 mg, 90 mg
Brand: Procardia
  • Form: Oral capsule
  • Strengths: 10 mg

Dosage for hypertension (high blood pressure)

Adult dosage (ages 18–64 years)
The starting dose is 30 mg or 60 mg by mouth once per day. The dosage can be increased every 7 to 14 days until the maximum dosage of 90–120 mg per day is reached.
Child dosage (ages 0–17 years)
This medication has not been studied in children. It should not be used in people younger than 18 years.
Senior dosage (ages 65 years and older)
The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, more of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This increases your risk of side effects. Your doctor may start you on a lowered dose or a different medication schedule. This can help keep levels of this drug from building up too much in your body.

Dosage for vasospastic angina

Adult dosage (ages 18–64 years)
The starting dose is 30 mg or 60 mg by mouth once per day. The dosage can be increased every 7 to 14 days until the maximum dosage of 180 mg per day is reached.
Child dosage (ages 0–17 years)
This medication has not been studied in children. It should not be used in people younger than 18 years.
Senior dosage (ages 65 years and older)
The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, more of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This increases your risk of side effects. Your doctor may start you on a lowered dose or a different medication schedule. This can help keep levels of this drug from building up too much in your body.

Dosage for chronic stable angina

Adult dosage (ages 18–64 years)
The starting dose is 30 mg or 60 mg by mouth once per day. The dosage can be increased every 7 to 14 days until the maximum dosage of 90–120 mg per day is reached.
Child dosage (ages 0–17 years)
This medication has not been studied in children. It should not be used in people younger than 18 years.
Senior dosage (ages 65 years and older)
The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, more of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This increases your risk of side effects. Your doctor may start you on a lowered dose or a different medication schedule. This can help keep levels of this drug from building up too much in your body.

Special considerations

If you have liver disease, your body may have trouble clearing nifedipine from your blood. This may cause the amount of nifedipine in your blood to be too high. Your doctor may adjust your dose to keep the amount of nifedipine in your body at a safe level.
Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this list includes all possible dosages. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with your doctor or pharmacist about dosages that are right for you.

Nifedipine oral tablet is used for long-term treatment. It comes with serious risks if you don't take it as prescribed.
If you stop taking the drug suddenly or don’t take it at all: If you take this drug to treat high blood pressure, your blood pressure may increase. This can raise your risk of health problems such as heart attack or stroke. If you take this drug to treat angina, your chest pain may get worse.
If you miss doses or don’t take the drug on schedule: Your medication may not work as well or may stop working completely. For this drug to work well, a certain amount needs to be in your body at all times.
If you take too much: You could have dangerous levels of the drug in your body. Symptoms of an overdose of this drug can include:
  • dizziness
  • a fast heartbeat
  • flushing (reddening of the skin)
If you think you’ve taken too much of this drug, call your doctor or local poison control center. If your symptoms are severe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away.
What to do if you miss a dose: Take your dose as soon as you remember. If you remember just a few hours before your next scheduled dose, take only one dose. Never try to catch up by taking two doses at once. This could result in dangerous side effects.
How to tell if the drug is working: If you’re taking this drug to treat high blood pressure, your blood pressure level should go down. Your doctor can check your blood pressure, or you can do it using a home blood pressure monitor. If you’re taking this drug to treat angina, you should have less severe chest pain, less frequent chest pain, or both.


As with all medications, the costs of nifedipine can vary. To find current prices for your area, check out GoodRx.com.


Compare pharmacy prices for
Nifedipine 10mg capsules (30 qty)
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Walgreens 18.13
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