Nifedipine vs Amlodipine

Nifedipine vs Amlodipine – detailed comparison:

Nifedipine

This medication belongs to a group of drugs called calcium channel blockers.

It is found under the following brand names – Adalat, Procardia, Nifedical, Nifediac CC, and Afeditab CR.

Mechanism of Action

It relaxases blood vessels, making it easier for the heart to pump blood.

Uses

This prescription medication is used to treat angina (chest pain) and hypertension (high blood pressure). Also, it is occasionally used to treat preterm labor and Raynaud’s disease.

Dosage

For angina, the usual initial recommended dose is 30 to 60 mg orally once per day. The dose can be increased gradually every 7 to 14 days. The maximum dose is 90 mg per day.

For hypertension, the usual initial recommended dose is 30 to 60 mg orally once per day. The dose can be increased gradually every 7 to 14 days. The maximum recommended dose is 90 mg per day.

Side Effects and Precautions

Common side effects may include:

• muscle cramps;
• mild dizziness;
• stuffy nose;
• flushing (warmth or tingly feeling);
• sore throat;
• mood changes;
• wheezing;
• headaches;
• a cough;
• tremors;
• nausea;
• heartburn;
• weakness.

Rare side effects may include:

• swelling of your ankles or feet;
• worsening angina;
• jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• a feeling like you might pass out;
• upper stomach pain;
• fluttering in your chest;
• general ill feeling;
• pain spreading to the jaw or shoulder;
• pounding heartbeats.

Contraindications

Before taking this medication, tell your healthcare provider:

• if you take drugs to treat HIV/AIDS or hepatitis C;
• if you have severe COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease);
• if you take heart or blood pressure medicine;
• if you have kidney disease;
• if you take antifungal medicine;
• if you have congestive heart failure.

Alcohol

Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages while taking this medication since alcohol use can substantially increase the risk of severe side effects.

Drug Interactions

It may negatively interact with other medications, especially:

• Doxazosin (Cardura);
• Acarbose (Prandase);
• Erythromycin (Erythrocin);
• anticoagulants (blood thinners), like – warfarin (Coumadin);
• Flecainide (Tambocor);
• silenor;
• antifungals, like – itraconazole (Sporanox), fluconazole (Diflucan), and ketoconazole (Nizoral);
• Nefazodone (Serzone);
• beta blockers, like – metoprolol (Lopressor), atenolol (Tenormin), timolol (Blocadren), and nadolol (Corgard);
• Phenytoin (Dilantin);
• Carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol);
• Cimetidine (Tagamet);
• Rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane);
• Digoxin (Lanoxin);
• Rifapentine (Priftin);
• Diltiazem (Cardizem);
• Verapamil (Calan, Verelan);
• Fentanyl (Actiq, Sublimaze);
• Valproic acid (Depakene);
• HIV protease inhibitors, such as – delavirdine (Rescriptor), amprenavir (Agenerase),  ritonavir (Norvir), and indinavir (Crixivan);
• Tacrolimus (Prograf);
• Metformin (Glucophage);
• dalfopristin (Synercid);
• Quinidine (Quinidex);
• halcion;
• Phenobarbital (Luminal).

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

There are no well-done studies to determine whether this medication is safe to use during pregnancy. Tell your healthcare provider that you are pregnant or plan to fall pregnant before using this medication.

Nifedipine can pass into breast milk and harm a breastfeeding baby. Don’t take this medicine if you are breastfeeding.

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Amlodipine

This medication belongs to a class of drugs called calcium channel blockers. It can be found under the brand name of Norvasc.

Mechanism of Action

It works by relaxing the blood vessels and improving blood flow. This helps lower blood pressure.

Uses

This channel blocker is used to help blood flow more easily to the heart when the arteries in the heart are blocked. In addition, it is used to lower blood pressure.

Dosage

The usual recommended starting dose is 5mg once per day. If the starting dose is not working well enough, the dosage may need to be increased to 10mg per day.

Important note – you can take this channel blocker at any time of day, but try to make sure it is around the same time every day.

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Contraindications

Before taking this medication, tell your healthcare provider if you have:

• a heart valve problem called aortic stenosis;
• liver disease.

Side Effects and Precautions

Common side effects may include:

• tingly feeling;
• feeling tired;
• redness;
• dizziness;
• stomach pain;
• nausea.

Less common side effects may include:

• severe drowsiness;
• worsening chest pain;
• a feeling like you might pass out;
• pounding heartbeats;
• swelling in your feet or ankles;
• fluttering in your chest.

Drug Interactions

It may negatively interact with other drugs, especially:

• ketoconazole (Nizoral);
• simvastatin;
• itraconazole (Sporanox);
• diltiazem (Cardizem);
• ritonavir (Norvir).

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

This channel blocker should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the developing baby.

It is not known precisely if this calcium channel blocker is excreted in human breast milk or if it will harm a nursing baby, hence, tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding a baby.

Alcohol

Drinking alcoholic beverages can further lower your blood pressure and may increase other side effects of the calcium channel blocker.

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Bottom Line – Nifedipine vs Amlodipine

Nifedipine (brand names – Adalat, Procardia, Nifedical, Nifediac CC, and Afeditab CR) is a prescription medication that is used to treat high blood pressure and control chest pain. It works by relaxing your arteries.

Amlodipine (brand name – Norvasc) is a medication that widens blood vessels and improves blood flow. It is used to treat high blood pressure as well as chest pain caused by coronary artery disease.

According to a 1993 study, there was no overall difference in blood pressure between nifedipine and amlodipine treatment.

Regarding their price, the average retail price for 90 capsules of nifedipine 10mg is $45, while the average retail price for 30 tablets of amlodipine 5mg is $7.

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References

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18793108
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22103868