Drug interactions
Ergotamine + Nifedipine
Severity: Moderate
Ergotamine and Nifedipine: 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
Drugs that inhibit CYP3A4 can sharply raise ergotamine levels and cause ergotism with severe peripheral vasospasm and ischemia. Nifedipine is only a weak CYP3A4 inhibitor, so the effect is smaller than with macrolides or azole antifungals, but vasospasm is a serious risk.
What this interaction means in plain words
Ergotamine and Nifedipine 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.
Ergotamine belongs to Central Nervous System; Nifedipine belongs to Cardiovascular.
Why it happens
Weak inhibition of CYP3A4 may reduce ergotamine clearance.
What to do
Monitor for numbness, coldness or pain in the extremities and for severe headache or nausea. Avoid adding stronger CYP3A4 inhibitors, and stop ergotamine if ischemic symptoms appear.
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 Ergotamine and Nifedipine, 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 Nifedipine
Other interactions of Ergotamine
- Almotriptan + Ergotamine Contraindicated
- Atazanavir + Ergotamine Contraindicated
- Clarithromycin + Ergotamine Contraindicated
- Cobicistat + Ergotamine Contraindicated
- Darunavir + Ergotamine Contraindicated
- Dihydroergotamine intranasal + Ergotamine Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Ergotamine with Nifedipine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Ergotamine and Nifedipine 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. Drugs that inhibit CYP3A4 can sharply raise ergotamine levels and cause ergotism with severe peripheral vasospasm and ischemia. Nifedipine is only a weak CYP3A4 inhibitor, so the effect is smaller than with macrolides or azole antifungals, but vasospasm is a serious risk.
How serious is the interaction between Ergotamine and Nifedipine?
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 for numbness, coldness or pain in the extremities and for severe headache or nausea. Avoid adding stronger CYP3A4 inhibitors, and stop ergotamine if ischemic symptoms appear.
What other medicines interact with Nifedipine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Nifedipine with, for example, Amifostine, Amlodipine-benazepril, Apalutamide. The full list is on the Nifedipine 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.
