dronedarone 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 dronedarone and nifedipine. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
minor Known Drug Interaction
Calcium Channel Blockers Dronedarone increased the exposure of calcium channel blockers (verapamil, diltiazem or nifedipine).
Multaq
Procardia, Adalat
Multaq is a medicine that helps lower the risk of needing to stay in the hospital for atrial fibrillation (AFib). It is for people who have a history of AFib and are currently in normal heart rhythm.
Nifedipine is a calcium channel blocker. It helps to relax blood vessels, which can lower blood pressure and reduce chest pain.
Multaq is used to lower the risk of hospitalization if you have atrial fibrillation (AFib). AFib is an irregular heartbeat. This medicine is for people who used to have AFib, but are now in a normal heart rhythm.
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.
Multaq is an antiarrhythmic drug. It works by changing the electrical signals in the heart. This helps to keep your heart in a normal rhythm and prevent AFib from returning.
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.
- • Diarrhea
- • Nausea
- • Abdominal pain
- • Vomiting
- • Feeling weak or tired
- • Swelling, especially in the legs or ankles
- • Headache
- • Fatigue
- • Dizziness
- • Constipation
- Atrial Fibrillation 1,420
- Dyspnoea 838
- Fatigue 615
- Diarrhoea 477
- Nausea 472
- Dyspnoea 2,429
- Fatigue 2,304
- Diarrhoea 2,264
- Nausea 2,220
- Headache 1,997
Multaq can increase the risk of death, stroke, and heart failure in patients with severe heart failure or permanent AFib. You should not take this medicine if you have severe heart failure that recently required hospitalization or if you have permanent AFib and will not be converted to a normal heart rhythm.
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.
Multaq can harm an unborn baby. If you are a woman who could become pregnant, use effective birth control while taking Multaq. Do not breastfeed while taking Multaq and for 5 days after your last dose.
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 dronedarone vs nifedipine Comparison
dronedarone is classified in the Class III Antiarrhythmic drug class, while nifedipine sits within the Calcium Channel Blocker class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. 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, dronedarone has 3,822 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. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to dronedarone can cause higher levels of nifedipine to stay in your body.. 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 dronedarone or nifedipine.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.