See the DrugPatentWatch profile for Nifedipine
What is nifedipine used for?
Nifedipine is a calcium channel blocker. It’s used mainly to treat cardiovascular conditions such as high blood pressure and certain types of chest pain (angina) [1].
How does nifedipine treat high blood pressure?
Nifedipine relaxes blood vessels, which lowers blood pressure and reduces the workload on the heart [1].
What kinds of angina is nifedipine used for?
Nifedipine is used for angina, including chronic (stable) angina and angina caused by coronary artery spasm (variant/Prinzmetal’s angina) [1].
Is nifedipine used for anything else?
Beyond blood pressure and angina, nifedipine may be used in other conditions where reducing blood vessel spasm or improving blood flow is helpful, but the primary and most common uses are hypertension and angina [1].
What should patients know before taking nifedipine?
Because it lowers blood pressure, nifedipine can cause dizziness, headache, and swelling (edema) in some people. It should be taken exactly as prescribed, since different formulations (like immediate- vs extended-release) have different dosing schedules [1].
Sources
[1] https://www.drugs.com/nifedipine.html