diltiazem vs nifedipine
PlainMeds reviewed this comparison against our methodology in August 2026. It places FDA and CMS record fields side by side, without recommending either medication.
Side-by-side comparison of diltiazem and nifedipine. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
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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.
Nifedipine is a calcium channel blocker. It helps to relax blood vessels, which can lower blood pressure and reduce chest pain.
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.
This medicine treats chest pain (angina) caused by tight blood vessels. It also treats high blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of strokes and heart attacks.
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.
Nifedipine blocks calcium from entering heart and blood vessel cells. This relaxes and widens blood vessels. As a result, the heart doesn't have to work as hard, and blood pressure goes down.
- • Swelling in your ankles or feet
- • Headache
- • Dizziness
- • Slow heart rate
- • Constipation
- • Swelling, especially in the legs or ankles
- • Headache
- • Fatigue
- • Dizziness
- • Constipation
- Dyspnoea 3,202
- Fatigue 2,638
- Nausea 2,372
- Pain 2,365
- Dizziness 2,091
- Dyspnoea 2,429
- Fatigue 2,304
- Diarrhoea 2,264
- Nausea 2,220
- Headache 1,997
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.
In rare cases, nifedipine can cause serious gastrointestinal problems, including obstruction. If you experience severe abdominal pain, vomiting, or inability to pass stool, seek immediate medical attention.
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 or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if nifedipine will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking this medicine while pregnant or breastfeeding.
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How to Read This diltiazem vs nifedipine Comparison
diltiazem is classified in the Calcium Channel Blocker drug class, while nifedipine 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 12,668 submissions while nifedipine has 11,214. 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 represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for diltiazem or nifedipine.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.