Summary

Commonly reported side effects of nifedipine include: dizziness, peripheral edema, lower extremity edema, flushing, and flushing sensation. Other side effects include: acute myocardial infarction, muscle cramps, tremor, cough, dyspnea, hypotension, and wheezing. Continue reading for a comprehensive list of adverse effects.

Applies to nifedipine: oral capsules, oral extended-release tablets.

Side effects include:

Dizziness, lightheadedness, giddiness, flushing, heat sensation, headache, tremor, nervousness, mood changes, weakness, fatigue, asthenia, muscle cramps, nausea, heartburn, peripheral edema, dyspnea, cough, wheezing, nasal congestion, sore throat.

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to nifedipine: compounding powder, oral capsule, oral tablet extended release.

General

The most commonly reported side effects included dizziness, giddiness, and lightheadedness.^[Ref]

Nervous system

Very common (10% or more): Dizziness (up to 27%), giddiness (up to 27%), lightheadedness (up to 27%), headache (up to 23%)

Common (1% to 10%): Tremor

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Migraine, syncope, vertigo

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Paresthesia, dysesthesia

Frequency not reported: Ataxia, cerebral ischemia, balance difficulty, hypertonia, hypoesthesia, shakiness, somnolence

Postmarketing reports: Taste perversion^[Ref]

Syncope typically occurred with initial doses and/or dose titrations.^[Ref]

Other

Very common (10% or more): Heat sensation (up to 25%), weakness (up to 12%)

Common (1% to 10%): Asthenia, fatigue, feeling unwell

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Chills, malaise, pain, unspecific pain

Frequency not reported: Abnormal lab test, fever, inflammation, jitteriness, tinnitus^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

Very common (10% or more): Flushing (up to 25%)

Common (1% to 10%): Congestive heart failure, edema/peripheral edema, myocardial infarction, palpitations, transient hypotension, vasodilation

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Angina pectoris/chest pain (excluding unstable), erythromelalgia, hypotension, postural hypotension, syncope, tachycardia

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Cardiovascular disorder, substernal chest pain

Frequency not reported: Arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, bradycardia, cardiac arrest, conduction disturbances, extrasystole, hot flashes, increased angina, myocardial ischemia, nonspecific chest pain, phlebitis, ventricular arrhythmias^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Very common (10% or more): Heartburn (up to 11%), nausea (up to 11%)

Common (1% to 10%): Constipation, cramps, diarrhea, flatulence

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Abdominal/gastrointestinal (GI) pain, dyspepsia, dry mouth, gum hyperplasia

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Gingival hyperplasia

Frequency not reported: Bezoar, dysphagia, eructation, esophagitis, gastroesophageal reflux, gastroesophageal sphincter insufficiency, GI bleeding, GI disorder, GI hemorrhage, GI irritation, GI obstruction, GI ulceration, gum disorder, gum hemorrhage, melena, tablet adherence to GI wall, vomiting^[Ref]

Respiratory

Common (1% to 10%): Dyspnea, chest congestion, cough, nasal congestion, shortness of breath, sore throat, wheezing

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Larynx edema, nosebleed

Frequency not reported: Epistaxis, increased cough, pharyngitis, pulmonary edema, rales, respiratory disorder, rhinitis, rigors, sinusitis, stridor, upper respiratory tract infection^[Ref]

Psychiatric

Common (1% to 10%): Mood changes, nervousness

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Anxiety reactions, insomnia, sleep disorders

Frequency not reported: Anxiety, confusion, decreased libido, depression, paroniria/paranoid syndrome, sleep disturbances^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

Common (1% to 10%): Muscle cramps

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Joint pain

Frequency not reported: Arthralgia, arthritis with antinuclear antibody positive tests, back pain, joint disorder, joint stiffness, leg cramps, leg pain, myalgia, myasthenia, neck pain, worsening of myasthenia gravis^[Ref]

Genitourinary

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dysuria, erectile dysfunction, polyuria

Frequency not reported: Breast engorgement, breast pain, hematuria, impotence, nocturia, pelvic pain, sexual difficulties, urinary frequency, urogenital disorder^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Allergic reaction, allergic edema, angioedema/oropharyngeal edema

Frequency not reported: Anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reaction, systemic allergic reactions^[Ref]

Dermatologic

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Erythema, face edema

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Pruritus, rash, urticaria

Frequency not reported: Cellulitis, cutaneous angiectases, dermatitis, exfoliative dermatitis, palpable purpura, pemphigoid reaction, petechial rash, photosensitivity allergic reaction, sweating/increased sweating, telangiectasia, toxic epidermal necrolysis

Postmarketing reports: Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis, alopecia, bullous skin adverse events, erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome^[Ref]

Hepatic

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Abnormal liver function tests, transient liver enzyme increase

Frequency not reported: Allergic hepatitis, gamma glutamyltransferase increased, intra-hepatic cholestasis, jaundice^[Ref]

Ocular

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Visual disturbances

Frequency not reported: Abnormal lacrimation, abnormal vision, amblyopia, blurred vision, conjunctivitis, diplopia, eye disorder, eye hemorrhage, eye pain, periorbital edema, transient blindness (at Cmax), transient unilateral vision loss^[Ref]

Hematologic

Frequency not reported: Anemia, agranulocytosis, eosinophilia, leukopenia, lymphadenopathy, purpura, thrombocytopenia^[Ref]

Metabolic

Frequency not reported: Gout, hyperglycemia, weight gain/loss^[Ref]

Renal

Frequency not reported: Kidney calculus^[Ref]

Endocrine

Frequency not reported: Gynecomastia^[Ref]