Nifedipine Uses

Nifedipine extended-release tablets are used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) as part of a comprehensive cardiovascular risk management strategy. In addition, this medicine is used to control vasospastic angina (angina at rest caused by coronary artery spasm). Nifedipine is also used to control chronic stable angina (effort-associated chest pain). 

There may be other uses of nifedipine—your pharmacist or doctor can give you further drug information.

Nifedipine Mechanism of Action

Nifedipine is a calcium channel blocker (calcium ion influx inhibitor) and peripheral arterial vasodilator. It prevents the influx of calcium ions into the vascular smooth muscle. This causes decreased peripheral vascular resistance and relaxes the blood vessels, resulting in reduced arterial blood pressure. Taking nifedipine regularly helps to control hypertension and has a consistent cardiovascular outcome benefit. Nifedipine also increases blood flow and oxygen supply to the heart, thereby relieving coronary artery spasm-provoked angina and chronic stable angina.

Nifedipine Doses

Nifedipine is available as a 30 mg, 60 mg, and 90 mg extended-release tablet. It is also available as an immediate-release capsule (for angina only).

Your healthcare provider will adjust the dose of nifedipine based on your response. Treatment for both hypertension and angina is usually started with nifedipine 30 mg or 60 mg once daily. The dose may be increased over a period of 7-14 days if needed. However, a more rapid increase in dose may be done if symptoms warrant. The maximum dose of nifedipine for high blood pressure is usually no more than 120 mg daily.

People with angina may take either the immediate-release capsules or the extended-release tablets of nifedipine, alone or in combination with other medications. Most angina patients who are controlled on immediate-release nifedipine can switch to once-daily dosing with the extended-release tablets at an equivalent total daily dose (for example, your doctor may switch you from 30 mg three times a day of the immediate-release capsules to 90 mg once a day of the extended-release tablets). The maximum dose of nifedipine for angina is usually no more than 90 mg daily.