Drug interactions
Dexamethasone + Nicardipine
Severity: Moderate
Dexamethasone and Nicardipine: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Dexamethasone is a CYP3A4 inducer and may lower nicardipine concentrations, weakening its antihypertensive effect. Nicardipine may modestly raise dexamethasone exposure through P-glycoprotein or CYP3A4 inhibition, but this is of limited importance.
What this interaction means in plain words
Dexamethasone and Nicardipine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Dexamethasone belongs to Endocrine; Nicardipine belongs to Cardiovascular.
Why it happens
Dexamethasone induces CYP3A4 metabolism of nicardipine, while nicardipine may weakly inhibit dexamethasone clearance.
What to do
Monitor blood pressure when dexamethasone is started or stopped, and adjust the nicardipine dose accordingly.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Dexamethasone and Nicardipine, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Nicardipine
Other interactions of Dexamethasone
- Bcg vaccine live + Dexamethasone Contraindicated
- Dexamethasone + Mifepristone Contraindicated
- Dexamethasone + Rilpivirine Contraindicated
- Dexamethasone + Smallpox vaccine live Contraindicated
- Dexamethasone + Varicella virus vaccine live Contraindicated
- Dexamethasone + Yellow fever vaccine Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Dexamethasone with Nicardipine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Dexamethasone and Nicardipine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Dexamethasone is a CYP3A4 inducer and may lower nicardipine concentrations, weakening its antihypertensive effect. Nicardipine may modestly raise dexamethasone exposure through P-glycoprotein or CYP3A4 inhibition, but this is of limited importance.
How serious is the interaction between Dexamethasone and Nicardipine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor blood pressure when dexamethasone is started or stopped, and adjust the nicardipine dose accordingly.
What other medicines interact with Nicardipine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Nicardipine with, for example, Amifostine, Amlodipine-olmesartan-hydrochlorothiazide, Betrixaban. The full list is on the Nicardipine page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
