Nifedical

Nifedical is part of the drug class:

• Dihydropyridine derivatives

Serious side effects have been reported with nifedipine including:

• congestive heart failure (CHF). Tell your healthcare provider right away if you experience any of the following symptoms of CHF:
  • sudden weight gain
  • worsening shortness of breath
  • increased swelling of your feet, legs, or abdomen
  • needing more pillows or sleeping in a recliner
  • waking from sleep to catch your breath
  • a cough that does not go away
  • new or increasing irregularities in your heart rate
• hypotension. Hypotension, or low blood pressure, may cause you to feel faint or dizzy. Inadequate fluid intake, excessive sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting can lead to an excessive fall in blood pressure, too. Lie down if you feel faint or dizzy. Call your doctor right away.
• chest pain. Use of nifedipine may lead to an increased number or severity of heart attacks, particularly in those with coronary artery disease (when blood vessels to the heart become hardened and narrowed). Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have some or all of the following symptoms of angina:
  • a pressure, squeezing, burning, or tightness in the chest
  • pain in the chest, breastbone area, arms, neck, shoulders, or back
  • nausea
  • fatigue
  • shortness of breath
  • light headedness
  • weakness
• heart attack. Use of nifedipine may lead to an increased number or severity in heart attacks, particularly in those with coronary artery disease (when blood vessels to the heart become hardened and narrowed). Tell your healthcare provider right away or call 911 if you experience any of the following symptoms of a heart attack:
  • chest discomfort (pressure, squeezing, or pain)
  • shortness of breath
  • discomfort in the upper body (arms, shoulder, neck, back)
  • nausea, vomiting, dizziness, lightheadedness, sweating
• beta blocker withdrawal. Decreasing the dose of a beta blocker (see the “Drug Interactions” section for examples of beta blockers) while also taking nifedipine may cause chest pain. Your doctor will determine how to lower your beta blocker medication dose. Do not stop use of beta blockers all at once.
• gastrointestinal (refers to the stomach and bowels) blockage. There have been rare reports of this occurrence in patients with gastrointestinal structure abnormalities after taking the extended release form of nifedipine. Small clumps of partially digested or undigested material can get stuck in the GI tract in very rare cases and may require surgery for removal.
• gastrointestinal ulcers. The extended release form of nifedipine may cause ulcers, which are sores in the stomach or small intestines. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you experience any of the following symptoms of a gastrointestinal ulcer:
  • stomach pain
  • blood in the urine
  • dark, tarry stools

Do not take nifedipine if you:

• are allergic to nifedipine or any of this medication’s ingredients
• have a specific form of high blood pressure called “essential hypertension.” The cause of this type of high blood pressure is unknown.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Low levels of nifedipine is known to cross into breastmilk. No negative effects have been reported thus far, so use of this medication may be continued in nursing mothers.