Procardia

Nifedipine

Clinical data
Trade names	Adalat, Procardia, others
AHFS/Drugs.com	Monograph
MedlinePlus	a684028
Pregnancy category	C: (USA)
Routes of administration	by mouth, topical
ATC code	C08CA05 (WHO)
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	45-56%
Protein binding	92-98%
Metabolism	Gastrointestinal, Liver
Biological half-life	2 hours
Excretion	Kidneys: >50%, Biliary: 5-15%
ECHA InfoCard	100.040.529
Identifiers
IUPAC name 3,5-dimethyl 2,6-dimethyl-4-(2-nitrophenyl)-1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate
CAS Number	21829-25-4 Y
PubChem CID	4485
IUPHAR/BPS	2514
DrugBank	DB01115 Y
ChemSpider	4330 Y
UNII	I9ZF7L6G2L
KEGG	D00437 Y
ChEBI	CHEBI:7565 Y
ChEMBL	CHEMBL193 Y
Chemical and physical data
Formula	C17H18N2O6
Molar mass	346.335 g/mol
3D model (Jmol)	Interactive image
Melting point	173 °C (343 °F)
SMILES O=C(OC)\C1=C(\N/C(=C(/C(=O)OC)C1c2ccccc2[N+]([O-])=O)C)C
InChI InChI=1S/C17H18N2O6/c1-9-13(16(20)24-3)15(14(10(2)18-9)17(21)25-4)11-7-5-6-8-12(11)19(22)23/h5-8,15,18H,1-4H3 Y Key:HYIMSNHJOBLJNT-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y

Nifedipine, sold under the brand names Adalat among others, is a medication used to manage angina, high blood pressure, Raynaud's phenomenon, and premature labor. It is one of the treatments of choice for Prinzmetal angina. It may be used to treat severe high blood pressure in pregnancy. Its use in preterm labor may allow more time for steroids to improve the baby's lungs and time to transfer the mother to a well qualified medical facility before delivery. Nifedipine is taken by mouth and comes in fast and slow release formulations.

Common side effects include lightheadedness, headache, feeling tired, leg swelling, cough, and shortness of breath. Serious side effects may include low blood pressure and heart failure. There is tentative evidence that its use in pregnancy is safe; however, it is not recommended during breastfeeding. It is a calcium channel blocker of the dihydropyridine type.

Nifedipine was discovered in 1969 and approved for use in the United States in 1981. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the most effective and safe medicines needed in a health system. It is available as a generic medication. The wholesale price in the developing world for the slow release form is about 1.90 to 3.80 USD per month. In the United States it is about 40 to 60 USD a month depending on the dose.