diltiazem vs nisoldipine
Side-by-side comparison of diltiazem and nisoldipine Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Cardizem, Tiazac
Sular
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.
Nisoldipine is a medicine to treat high blood pressure. 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.
Nisoldipine extended-release tablets are used to treat high blood pressure. You can take them alone or with other blood pressure medicines. Lowering your blood pressure can reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke.
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.
Nisoldipine blocks calcium from entering certain cells. This helps to relax and widen blood vessels. As a result, blood can flow more easily, which lowers blood pressure.
- • Swelling in your ankles or feet
- • Headache
- • Dizziness
- • Slow heart rate
- • Constipation
- • Swelling in your legs or ankles
- • Headache
- • Dizziness
- • Sore throat
- • Flushing
- Shortness of breath 3,200
- Tiredness 2,637
- Feeling sick to your stomach 2,372
- Discomfort 2,364
- Feeling lightheaded 2,089
- Feeling sick to your stomach 88
- The medicine is not working 79
- Feeling lightheaded or unsteady 77
- Pain in your head 76
- Feeling very tired 74
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 are allergic to dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers, you should not take this medicine.
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 nisoldipine will harm your unborn baby or pass into breast milk.
Also Compare — Nearby Drugs
Compare diltiazem with
Compare nisoldipine with
How to Read This diltiazem vs nisoldipine Comparison
diltiazem is classified in the Calcium Channel Blocker drug class, while nisoldipine 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 nisoldipine has 394. 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 nisoldipine — 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.