Nifedipine Side Effects (Cont.)

Serious Nifedipine Side Effects

Some side effects with nifedipine, while occurring infrequently, are potentially serious and should be reported immediately to your healthcare provider. These include but are not limited to:
 
  • Chest pain
  • Heart attack
  • Signs of very low blood pressure, such as dizziness or lightheadedness, especially when accompanied by fainting
  • Severe swelling, water retention, or difficulty breathing, which may be signs of congestive heart failure
  • Depression (see Nifedipine and Depression)
  • Paranoia
  • Breast enlargement in men (gynecomastia)
  • Temporary blindness
  • Signs of an allergic reaction, including unexplained rash, hives, itching, unexplained swelling, wheezing, or difficulty breathing or swallowing.
     

Rare Nifedipine Side Effects

Rare nifedipine side effects occur in 1 percent of people taking the drug (sometimes less). Because these side effects are so uncommon, it is difficult to tell whether they are actually caused by nifedipine or by something else.
 
Some of these rare side effects include but are not limited to:
 

Nifedipine Side Effects: Final Thoughts

You may experience some or none of the nifedipine side effects listed in this article. Unfortunately, there is no way for your healthcare provider to know beforehand if you will have side effects from a medicine that you have never tried. Therefore, make sure to let your healthcare provider know if you develop any side effects while taking the drug. Also, let your healthcare provider know if you develop something that "just does not seem right." While it may not be a side effect of nifedipine, your healthcare provider will be able to diagnose and treat the problem.
 

Pages:

Previous 1 2

Add this article to your Favorites     Email this article     Print
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;