[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Pharmacology](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/) › [Calcium channel blockers](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/calcium-channel-blockers/) › Nifedipine

[Pharmacology](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/) · [Calcium channel blockers](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/calcium-channel-blockers/)

# Nifedipine

A dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker that relaxes arteries. The extended-release form is used for high blood pressure and angina.

Updated 2026-11-01

- Class: [Calcium channel blockers](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/calcium-channel-blockers/)
- Ion channel: L-type voltage-gated calcium channel (CaV1.2)
- ATC code: C08CA05
- WHO Model List of Essential Medicines

⇅**L-type voltage-gated calcium channel (CaV1.2)**Nifedipine

ⓘ The figure shows nifedipine bound to the rabbit skeletal-muscle L-type channel CaV1.1, which shares the dihydropyridine site with the vascular channel CaV1.2.

**Target in 3D:** L-type voltage-gated calcium channel (CaV1.2). PDB structure 6JP5 (RCSB PDB, public domain). [View the structure at RCSB PDB](https://www.rcsb.org/structure/6JP5) · Drag to rotate · pinch to zoom

## Mechanism of action

Nifedipine binds the dihydropyridine site of the L-type calcium channel in arteriolar smooth muscle. Less calcium enters, the arterioles relax and peripheral resistance falls. It has little direct effect on the sinus and AV nodes; a fast fall in blood pressure triggers a sympathetic reflex with tachycardia and flushing, which is why the short-acting form is no longer used for hypertension.

- Nifedipine binds the L-type calcium channel of arterioles
- Less calcium enters and the arterioles relax
- Resistance and blood pressure fall; a fast fall triggers reflex tachycardia

## Pharmacokinetics

**Absorption**
Immediate-release forms give a brief peak; extended-release forms smooth it out

**Metabolism**
Liver, by CYP3A4

**Half-life**
About 2 hours, so the extended-release form is used for chronic treatment

## Indications

- High blood pressure (extended-release) [Arterial hypertension →](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/arterial-hypertension/)
- Chronic stable and vasospastic angina [Stable angina →](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/stable-angina/)
- High blood pressure in pregnancy [Preeclampsia →](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/preeclampsia/)

## Adverse effects

### Common

- Ankle oedema
- Headache
- Flushing
- Dizziness
- Palpitations and reflex tachycardia

### Serious (rare, important)

- Worse angina or myocardial infarction, especially when starting or with rapid falls in pressure
- Marked hypotension
- Bowel obstruction with some extended-release tablets in people with narrowed bowel

## Contraindications

- Known hypersensitivity to nifedipine

## Key interactions

**Grapefruit juice**
About doubles nifedipine exposure

**CYP3A4 inducers such as phenytoin or rifampicin**
Much lower nifedipine levels; the combination is avoided

**Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors**
Higher nifedipine levels and hypotension

**Beta blockers**
Useful against reflex tachycardia, but heart failure or hypotension can appear

## What is monitored

- Blood pressure and heart rate
- Oedema
- Chest pain when starting

## Administration and safety

- Extended-release tablets are swallowed whole, not crushed, chewed or split
- Immediate-release and extended-release forms are different products: the form is checked on every order
- Grapefruit is avoided during treatment

## Nursing care

- Check blood pressure and pulse before doses and watch for a sudden drop
- Ask about new chest pain, headache, flushing and ankle swelling
- Explain that an empty tablet shell may appear in the stool and is not a sign that the drug failed

## Pregnancy and breastfeeding

With labetalol and methyldopa it is among the antihypertensives used in pregnancy, with reasonable evidence of safety.

## Memory aid

NIFEDipine is quick like a kNIFE: the short form cuts pressure too fast, so the slow form is used.

## Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

## Why is immediate-release nifedipine avoided for chronic hypertension?

Its brief peak drops blood pressure quickly, triggering reflex tachycardia and possibly angina or infarction.

## Which fruit juice doubles nifedipine exposure?

Grapefruit juice, which inhibits intestinal CYP3A4.

## Does nifedipine slow AV conduction?

Hardly; as a dihydropyridine it acts mainly on arteries, and heart rate may even rise by reflex.

[Add to my cards (3)](https://durgical.app/estudiar/?add=/en/pharmacology/nifedipine/)

## Related drugs

- [Amlodipine](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/amlodipine/)
- [Labetalol](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/labetalol/)
- [Verapamil](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/verapamil/)

## Related conditions

- [Arterial hypertension](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/arterial-hypertension/)
- [Stable angina](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/stable-angina/)
- [Preeclampsia](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/preeclampsia/)

[← Back to the class: Calcium channel blockers](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/calcium-channel-blockers/)

Educational content on how drugs work; not a prescribing guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given.

Sources: [DailyMed - NIFEDIPINE tablet, film coated, extended release](https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=593d8ca3-c303-4512-96a6-d4860e02cd83) (DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine), 2026); [ATCDDD - ATC/DDD Index](https://atcddd.fhi.no/atc_ddd_index/?code=C08CA05) (WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, 2026); [eEML - Electronic Essential Medicines List](https://list.essentialmeds.org/?query=nifedipine) (World Health Organization, 2025); Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 14th ed., ch. 31 (McGraw Hill, 2023).

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Representative model, for educational purposes only.

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License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/nifedipine/