Note: This document contains side effect information about nifedipine. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Procardia XL.
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]
