Drug interactions
Nifedipine + Nitroglycerin
Severity: Moderate
Nifedipine and Nitroglycerin: 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
Nitroglycerin and nifedipine both cause vasodilation and together may produce marked hypotension with reflex tachycardia and orthostatic dizziness. Reflex tachycardia may be undesirable in patients with ischemic heart disease.
What this interaction means in plain words
Nifedipine and Nitroglycerin 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.
Nifedipine belongs to Cardiovascular; Nitroglycerin belongs to Cardiovascular.
Why it happens
Additive vasodilation through nitric oxide-mediated venous dilation and dihydropyridine arterial dilation.
What to do
Monitor blood pressure and heart rate after starting or increasing either drug; advise sitting when taking sublingual nitroglycerin and avoid short-acting nifedipine formulations where possible.
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?
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Other interactions of Nitroglycerin
- Avanafil + Nitroglycerin Contraindicated
- Nitroglycerin + Riociguat Contraindicated
- Nitroglycerin + Sildenafil Contraindicated
- Nitroglycerin + Tadalafil Contraindicated
- Nitroglycerin + Vardenafil Contraindicated
- Dihydroergotamine intranasal + Nitroglycerin Major
Other interactions of Nifedipine
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Nifedipine with Nitroglycerin?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Nifedipine and Nitroglycerin 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. Nitroglycerin and nifedipine both cause vasodilation and together may produce marked hypotension with reflex tachycardia and orthostatic dizziness. Reflex tachycardia may be undesirable in patients with ischemic heart disease.
How serious is the interaction between Nifedipine and Nitroglycerin?
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 and heart rate after starting or increasing either drug; advise sitting when taking sublingual nitroglycerin and avoid short-acting nifedipine formulations where possible.
What other medicines interact with Nitroglycerin?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Nitroglycerin with, for example, Avanafil, Riociguat, Sildenafil. The full list is on the Nitroglycerin page.
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