diltiazem vs nicardipine
Side-by-side comparison of diltiazem and nicardipine Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Cardizem, Tiazac
Cardene
Diltiazem is a medicine that helps lower high blood pressure and prevent chest pain. It belongs to a class of drugs called calcium channel blockers.
Nicardipine is a drug that helps to lower blood pressure and treat chest pain. It belongs to a class of drugs called calcium channel blockers.
Diltiazem is used to treat high blood pressure. It can be used alone or with other blood pressure medicines. Diltiazem also helps manage chronic stable angina (chest pain) and angina caused by spasms in the heart's blood vessels.
Nicardipine treats chronic stable angina, which is chest pain that happens when you exert yourself. It can be used alone or with beta-blockers to manage this condition. Nicardipine also treats high blood pressure, and it can be used alone or with other blood pressure medications.
Diltiazem works by relaxing blood vessels, which lowers blood pressure. It also reduces the heart's workload, which can prevent chest pain. This medicine blocks calcium from entering heart and blood vessel cells.
Nicardipine works by blocking calcium from entering certain cells in your heart and blood vessels. This helps to relax and widen your blood vessels, which lowers blood pressure. It also reduces the workload on your heart, which can help to relieve chest pain.
- • Swelling in your ankles or feet
- • Headache
- • Dizziness
- • Slow heart rate
- • Constipation
- • Swelling in your feet or ankles
- • Dizziness
- • Headache
- • Weakness
- • Flushing (redness of the skin)
- Shortness of breath 3,200
- Tiredness 2,637
- Feeling sick to your stomach 2,372
- Discomfort 2,364
- Feeling lightheaded 2,089
- Sudden kidney damage 226
- Baby born too early 205
- Using the drug for a condition it's not approved for 196
- Unborn baby exposed to the drug during pregnancy 194
- The drug is not working 188
Diltiazem can interact with other heart medications. Tell your doctor if you take beta-blockers or digoxin. Using diltiazem with these drugs can cause heart problems. Your doctor may need to adjust your dosages.
If you have advanced aortic stenosis, you should not take this medication. Lowering blood pressure in this case could worsen oxygen balance to the heart. Use caution if you have congestive heart failure.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. It is not known if diltiazem will harm your unborn baby. Diltiazem passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor about breastfeeding while taking this medicine.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. It is not known if nicardipine will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking nicardipine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
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How to Read This diltiazem vs nicardipine Comparison
diltiazem is classified in the Calcium Channel Blocker drug class, while nicardipine sits within the Calcium Channel Blocker class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, diltiazem has 12,662 submissions while nicardipine has 1,009. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between diltiazem and nicardipine — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.