Drug interactions
Nifedipine + Nitroprusside
Severity: Moderate
Nifedipine and Nitroprusside: 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
Nifedipine can enhance the blood pressure lowering effect of nitroprusside, risking excessive hypotension. This matters because nitroprusside is a potent, rapidly acting infusion.
What this interaction means in plain words
Nifedipine and Nitroprusside 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.
Why it happens
Additive arterial vasodilation via calcium channel blockade and nitric oxide release.
What to do
Monitor blood pressure continuously during nitroprusside infusion and titrate the infusion to the lowest effective rate. Expect lower nitroprusside requirements in patients on nifedipine.
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 Nifedipine
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Nifedipine with Nitroprusside?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Nifedipine and Nitroprusside 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 can enhance the blood pressure lowering effect of nitroprusside, risking excessive hypotension. This matters because nitroprusside is a potent, rapidly acting infusion.
How serious is the interaction between Nifedipine and Nitroprusside?
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 continuously during nitroprusside infusion and titrate the infusion to the lowest effective rate. Expect lower nitroprusside requirements in patients on nifedipine.
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.
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