Nifedipine Side Effects

Nifedipine Drug Information

Serious 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

Difficulty breathing or swallowing.

Rare Adverse Reactions

Rare nifedipine side effects occur in 1 percent of people taking the drug (sometimes less). Because these reactions 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:

Facial swelling
Fever
Decreased sex drive
Migraine headaches
Increased sweating
Hair loss
Weight gain (see Nifedipine and Weight Gain)
Gout
Back pain.

Final Thoughts

You may experience some or none of the side effects listed in this article. Unfortunately, there is no way for your healthcare provider to know beforehand if you will have problems with a medicine that you have never tried.

Therefore, make sure to let your healthcare provider know if you develop any side effects while taking nifedipine. Also, let your healthcare provider know if you develop something that "just does not seem right." While it may not be related to the medication, your healthcare provider will be able to diagnose and treat the problem.

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