Dihydropyridine calcium-channel blocker
Nifedipine
Brand names: Adalat, Coracten, Adipine
Adult dose
Dose: Hypertension MR: 20–60mg BD or 30–90mg OD per brand. Tocolysis (off-label): 20mg PO loading, then 10–20mg every 6–8h
Route: PO
Frequency: OD-BD (MR)
Clinical pearls
- Hypertension (MR), Raynaud's, hypertensive crisis in pregnancy (per NICE NG133), tocolysis (off-label per NICE NG25)
- Brand-specific MR formulations not interchangeable
- Avoid immediate-release for hypertension (rebound tachycardia risk)
Contraindications
- Cardiogenic shock
- Unstable angina
- Recent MI
- Severe aortic stenosis
- Acute porphyria
Side effects
- Ankle oedema
- Headache
- Flushing
- Reflex tachycardia
- Gingival hyperplasia
Interactions
- Grapefruit juice
- Strong CYP3A4 modulators
- β-blockers (negative inotropy in HF)
Monitoring
- BP
- HR
Reference: BNF; NICE NG136/NG133/NG25; https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/nifedipine/. Verify against your local formulary and the latest BNF before prescribing.
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
Calculators
Drugs
Pathways
- Acute Heart Failure · ESC 2021 Heart Failure Guidelines; NICE NG106
- NSTEMI / Unstable Angina · ESC 2020 NSTEMI Guidelines; NICE NG185
- New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation · ESC 2020 AF Guidelines; NICE NG196
- Hypertensive Emergency · ESC/ESH 2018 Hypertension Guidelines; NICE NG136
- Bradycardia Management · Resuscitation Council UK ABCDE; ESC 2021 Pacing Guidelines
- Ventricular Tachycardia / Fibrillation · Resuscitation Council UK ACLS; ESC 2022 Ventricular Arrhythmia Guidelines