Nifedipine - [Alternative Medicine]

Nifedipine

Alternative Medicine
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Also indexed as:

Adalat, Procardia

Nifedipine is a calcium channel blocker used to treat angina pectoris and high blood pressure.

Herbs

Summary of Interactions for Nifedipine

Depletion or interference	None known
Adverse interaction	Pleurisy root* Tobacco*
Side effect reduction/prevention	None known
Supportive interaction	None known
Reduced drug absorption/bioavailability	None known
Other (see text)	Grapefruit juice Pomegranate juice*

An asterisk (*) next to an item in the summary indicates that the interaction is supported only by weak, fragmentary, and/or contradictory scientific evidence.

Interactions with Herbs

Pleurisy root

As pleurisy root and other plants in the Aesclepius genus contain cardiac glycosides, it is best to avoid use of pleurisy root with heart medications such as calcium channel blockers.¹

Other Interactions

Grapefruit juice

Ingestion of grapefruit juice has been shown to increase the absorption of felodipine (a drug similar in structure and action to that of nifedipine) and to increase the adverse effects of the medication in patients with hypertension. People taking nifedipine or similar drugs should not consume grapefruit juice or grapefruit, unless they have discussed it with their physician.²

Pomegranate juice

Pomegranate juice has been shown to inhibit the same enzyme that is inhibited by grapefruit juice.^3,⁴ The degree of inhibition is about the same for each of these juices. Therefore, it would be reasonable to expect that pomegranate juice might interact with nifedipine in the same way that grapefruit juice does.

Food

Nifedipine may be taken with or without food.⁵ Nifedipine products should be swallowed whole, without crushing or chewing.⁶

Tobacco

In a double-blind study of ten cigarette smokers with angina treated with nifedipine for one week, angina episodes were significantly reduced during the nonsmoking phase compared to the smoking phase.⁷ People with angina taking nifedipine should not smoke tobacco.

References

Newall CA, Anderson LA, Phillipson JD. Herbal Medicines: A Guide for Health-Care Professionals. London: Pharmaceutical Press, 1996, 213-4.
Bailey DG, Malcolm J, Arnold O, Spence JD. Grapefuit Juice-Drug Interactions. Br J Clin Pharmacol 1998;46:101-110.
Sorokin AV, Duncan B, Panetta R, Thompson PD. Rhabdomyolysis associated with pomegranate juice consumption. Am J Cardiol 2006;98:705-6.
Summers KM. Potential drug-food interactions with pomegranate juice. Ann Pharmacother 2006;40:1472-3.
Reitberg DP, Love SJ, Quercia GT, Zinny MA. Effect of food on nifedipine pharmacokinetics. Clin Pharmacol Ther 1987;42:72-5.
Threlkeld DS, ed. Diuretics and Cardiovasculars, Calcium Channel Blocking Agents. In Facts and Comparisons Drug Information. St. Louis, MO: Facts and Comparisons, Mar 1996, 149m-9n.
Deanfield J, Wright C, Krikler S, et al. Cigarette smoking and the treatment of angina with propranolol, atenolol, and nifedipine. N Engl J Med 1984;310:951-4.

Last Review: 09-01-2007

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The information presented in Healthnotes is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires December 2008.

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