Drug interactions
Nimodipine + Saquinavir
Severity: Major
Nimodipine and Saquinavir: major 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
Saquinavir, usually given with ritonavir, inhibits CYP3A4 and can raise nimodipine concentrations substantially. This may cause excessive hypotension, flushing, headache and tachycardia or bradycardia.
What this interaction means in plain words
Nimodipine and Saquinavir can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for.
Why it happens
Saquinavir (with ritonavir boosting) inhibits CYP3A4-mediated first-pass and systemic metabolism of nimodipine.
What to do
Monitor blood pressure and heart rate closely and reduce the nimodipine dose or divide dosing if hypotension occurs; consider an alternative if the antiretroviral cannot be changed.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Does the benefit of taking both outweigh the risk in my case?
- Do I need any blood test, ECG or other check while on both?
- What early warning signs should I watch for, and what should I do if they appear?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Nimodipine and Saquinavir, 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 14 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Nimodipine
- Apalutamide + Nimodipine Major
- Carbamazepine + Nimodipine Major
- Ceritinib + Nimodipine Major
- Clarithromycin + Nimodipine Major
- Cobicistat + Nimodipine Major
- Darunavir + Nimodipine Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Nimodipine with Saquinavir?
MediHelp rates the interaction as major. Nimodipine and Saquinavir can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for. Saquinavir, usually given with ritonavir, inhibits CYP3A4 and can raise nimodipine concentrations substantially. This may cause excessive hypotension, flushing, headache and tachycardia or bradycardia.
How serious is the interaction between Nimodipine and Saquinavir?
MediHelp rates it major, 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 closely and reduce the nimodipine dose or divide dosing if hypotension occurs; consider an alternative if the antiretroviral cannot be changed.
What other medicines interact with Nimodipine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Nimodipine with, for example, Apalutamide, Carbamazepine, Ceritinib. The full list is on the Nimodipine 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.
