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Nifedipine

Adalat Crono, Nidicard · ATC code C08CA05

Also known as: Nifedipin · Brand names: Adalat La, Nifedipin Al, Nifedipin Ratiopharm, Nifedipin Retard Denk, Nifedipin Stada, Nifedipin T Retard Al, Nifedipin Uno Stada, Adalat Crono, Nidicard

Key facts
Active substance
Nifedipine
ATC code
C08CA05
Authorisation
authorised nationally; no central EU authorisation
Information as of
2026-10-27

Key facts

Nifedipine is a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker. Per the US label for immediate-release capsules, it is used for vasospastic and chronic stable angina.

What it is used for

  • Vasospastic angina (confirmed, or with a suspected vasospastic component)
  • Chronic stable (effort-associated) angina without vasospasm in patients symptomatic despite, or intolerant of, beta blockers and/or nitrates

Dosing

  • Start with one 10 mg capsule three times daily, swallowed whole
  • Usual effective range 10 to 20 mg three times daily; some patients need 20 to 30 mg three or four times daily
  • More than 180 mg per day is not recommended; a single dose should rarely exceed 30 mg
  • Titration usually over 7 to 14 days with blood pressure monitoring
  • If discontinued, decrease gradually under supervision
  • Avoid grapefruit juice

Contraindications

  • Known hypersensitivity to nifedipine

Important warnings

  • Excessive hypotension, particularly during titration and with beta blockers; capsules should not be used for acute blood pressure reduction
  • Rarely increased angina or acute myocardial infarction on starting or increasing the dose
  • Taper beta blockers if possible rather than stopping abruptly before starting nifedipine
  • Rarely heart failure, usually with beta blockers; greater risk with tight aortic stenosis

Side effects

  • Controlled studies: dizziness/lightheadedness (27%), flushing/heat sensation (25%), headache (23%), weakness (12%), nausea/heartburn (11%)
  • Also: muscle cramps, tremor, peripheral edema, mood changes, palpitation, dyspnea
  • Generally not serious; mostly due to vasodilation

Interactions

  • Beta blockers: usually well tolerated; occasional reports of heart failure, severe hypotension or worsened angina
  • Digoxin: monitor levels when starting, adjusting and stopping nifedipine
  • Cimetidine increases nifedipine levels; titrate cautiously
  • CYP3A4 inducers such as phenytoin lower levels; grapefruit juice approximately doubles AUC
  • Rare reports of increased prothrombin time with coumarin anticoagulants

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

  • Pregnancy: teratogenic and embryotoxic in animals; use only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk
  • Lactation: nifedipine is transferred through breast milk; use only if benefit justifies risk

Summary of the official product information, written with AI (Claude, Anthropic) on 2026-10-28. Every number was checked automatically against the original text. Not reviewed by a physician – the full official text is authoritative.

Full official text →

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For patients

Patient information (US)

This product has no separate US patient information.

Authorisation and brand names by country

Medicines with exactly this active-substance composition, as listed in the national registers – alphabetical and without ranking. Whether a product is currently available is not shown here.

Germany

  • Adalat LaBayer Ag · 1 register entry
  • Nifedipin AlAliud Pharma Gmbh · 1 register entry
  • Nifedipin RatiopharmRatiopharm Gmbh · 1 register entry
  • Nifedipin Retard DenkDenk Pharma Gmbh & Co. Kg · 1 register entry
  • Nifedipin StadaStadapharm Gmbh · 1 register entry
  • Nifedipin T Retard AlAliud Pharma Gmbh · 1 register entry
  • Nifedipin Uno StadaStadapharm Gmbh · 1 register entry

Source: EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), as of 2026-10-28

Turkey

  • Adalat CronoBAYER TÜRK KİMYA SAN. LTD. ŞTİ. · 4 register entries
  • NidicardKOÇAK FARMA İLAÇ VE KİMYA SAN. A.Ş. · 1 register entry

Source: TİTCK – Ruhsatlı Beşeri Tıbbi Ürünler Listesi, as of 2026-10-16

Brand names in 24 more European countries
Belgium
Nifedipine Retard Eg
Bulgaria
Кордафлекс, Коринкер, Коринфар
Croatia
Cordipin Xl
Cyprus
Fenamon, Nifelat
Czechia
Cordipin Xl
Denmark
Adalat Oros, Nifedipin Alternova
Estonia
Corinfar
Finland
Nifedipin Alternova
France
Mapakna Lp, Nifedipine L.P. Arrow, Nifedipine Viatris
Greece
Glopir, Macorel
Hungary
Cordaflex, Corinfar
Iceland
Adalat Oros
Italy
Adalat Crono, Amarkor, Coral, Fenidina, Nifedicor, Nifedipina Doc, Nifedipina Eg, Nifedipina Mylan Generics, Nifedipina Sandoz, Nipin, Niprepar, Salativ
Latvia
Cordipin Xl, Corinfar
Lithuania
Cordipin Xl
Luxembourg
Nifedipine Ratiopharm
Malta
Fenamon, Nifelat
Netherlands
Nifedipine Cf, Nifedipine Retard Cf, Nifedipine Retard Teva, Nifedipine Sandoz, Nifedipine Teva
Norway
Adalat Oros, Nifenova
Portugal
Adalat Cr, Nifedipina Alter, Nifedipina Generis
Romania
Nifedipin Retard Terapia
Slovenia
Adalat Oros, Cordipin Xl, Nifecard
Spain
Adalat Oros, Fempar, Nife-Par
Sweden
Adalat Oros

EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), 2026-10-28

Medelix receives no money from pharmaceutical companies. Brand names are listed alphabetically and without ranking.

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Sources

  1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Nifedipine (Chartwell RX, LLC) – Prescribing Information, 2025-12-17. DailyMed (NLM), 2026-10-27. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/lookup.cfm?setid=5014847e-389d-48c1-8350-b9b24ca8d2a4
  2. EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), 2026-10-28. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory-overview/post-authorisation/data-medicines-iso-idmp-standards-post-authorisation/public-data-article-57-database
  3. TİTCK – Ruhsatlı Beşeri Tıbbi Ürünler Listesi, 2026-10-16. https://www.titck.gov.tr/dinamikmodul/85

Editorial: Medelix editorial team · last updated 2026-10-27 · How these pages are made · Report an error

Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), prescribing information, via DailyMed (NLM); public domain. Not advertising, not a treatment recommendation. For questions about your own treatment, ask your doctor or pharmacist.