What is nifedipine and what is it for?

What is nifedipine?

Nifedipine is a drug whose active ingredient receives the same name, with a mechanism of action similar to dihydropyridine (molecule that does not allow the passage of calcium L ions to muscle fibers). It is able to block the passage of calcium to the cells of theheart organ, being essential to control blood pressure.

This medicine comes in presentations of boxes withcompressed capsules from 10 mg to 20 mg, with an oral administration and its doses always depend on the patient’s case, but it is estimated that the initial treatment isone capsule of 10 mg for 3 days.

Note: One study mentions the following information: “Nifedipine is avasodilator with antihypertensive and antianginal effects, it acts by blocking the prolonged release after excitation of calcium ions in vascular and cardiac smooth muscle.” (1)

What is nifedipine for?

Treatment with nifedipine isrecommended to treat certain heart disordersand even Raynaud’s syndrome, which are usually very common both acute and chronically, so a prescription forthe appropriate doses is needed. So the best functions of nifedipine are the following:

1. High blood pressure

This drug isrecommended for the chronic stage of increased blood pressure, a case where there is increased release of tension in the blood vessels, forcing the heart to pump faster and can eventually cause a myocardial infarction.

To highlight: In this case, the drug nifedipine is prescribed to relax the blood vessels of the heart and the treatment consists of the use of 10 mg of the drug every 12 hours or 30 mg every 24 hours.

2. Angina pectoris

Angina is a condition of the coronary arteries , whose major risk factor is high blood pressure , and is characterized by low blood flow that causes aching pain or tightness in the chest .

You should know: For the most acute cases of angina, the use of the drug nifedipine is 10 mg initially for 8 hours , other times it can increase from 30 to 120 mg per day, it all depends on the health and disorder of the patient.

Nifedipine Side Effects

Nifedipine has certain adverse reactions , which in case of occurrence it is necessary to discontinue use and see a specialist doctor for recommendations, since the effects are as follows:

• Edema or fluid retention .
• Ringing in the ears, nausea and facial heat.
• Skin reactions such as hives and hives.
• Orthostatic hypotension (sudden drop in blood pressure causing dizziness).

Important: A study mentions that: ” Another type of unwanted effect may occur that usually does not require medical attention, such as headache and transient dizziness .” (two)

Contraindications of nifedipine

The drug nifedipine is contraindicated, like many drugs, in a certain number of patientswith different diseases and conditions that have an unwanted interaction. Therefore, nifedipine is not recommended in cases such as:

• Hypersensitivity to the active principle.
• Arterial hypotension (very low blood pressure).
• Diseases present in the liver or kidney.
• Patients with heart failure or circulation disorders.

To highlight: Several studies agree on the present information: “The administration of nifedipine can only be used during pregnancy if the benefit is justifiedby the risk to the fetus”. (3)

Key Findings

• Nifedipine is one of the calcium inhibitor drugs, used to Treat cardiovascular conditions .
• It is recommended as a treatment for hypertension and angina pectoris .
• Nifedipine Can causeside reactions suchreactions such as edema, skin reactions and nausea.
• Nifedipine is contraindicated for patients with allergies to the active substance and those who suffer from blood circulation problems.