erythromycin vs nifedipine

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Side-by-side comparison of erythromycin 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

CYP3A inhibitors such as fluconazole, itraconazole, clarithromycin, erythromycin, nefazodone, fluoxetine, saquinavir, indinavir, and nelfinavir may result in increased exposure to nifedipine when co-administered.

Drug Class
erythromycin Macrolide Antibiotic
nifedipine Calcium Channel Blocker
Type
erythromycin Prescription
nifedipine Prescription
Summary
erythromycin

Erythromycin Topical Solution is a medicine that you put on your skin to treat acne. It contains an antibiotic to help clear up your skin.

nifedipine

Nifedipine is a calcium channel blocker. It helps to relax blood vessels, which can lower blood pressure and reduce chest pain.

What It Treats
erythromycin

Erythromycin Topical Solution treats acne vulgaris. This medicine helps to reduce acne on your face, neck, shoulders, chest, and back. It works by fighting the bacteria that cause acne.

nifedipine

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.

How It Works
erythromycin

Erythromycin is a macrolide antibiotic. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. This helps to reduce inflammation and clear up acne.

nifedipine

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.

Common Side Effects
erythromycin
  • Peeling
  • Dryness
  • Itching
  • Redness
  • Oily skin
nifedipine
  • Swelling, especially in the legs or ankles
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
  • Dizziness
  • Constipation
FAERS Reports
erythromycin
  • Drug Hypersensitivity 4,088
  • Nausea 1,271
  • Vomiting 1,121
  • Diarrhoea 1,069
  • Dyspnoea 1,023
nifedipine
  • Dyspnoea 2,429
  • Fatigue 2,304
  • Diarrhoea 2,264
  • Nausea 2,220
  • Headache 1,997
Serious Warnings
erythromycin

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to any of its ingredients.

nifedipine

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.

Pregnancy
erythromycin

It is not known if erythromycin topical solution can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

nifedipine

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.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This erythromycin vs nifedipine Comparison

erythromycin is classified in the Macrolide Antibiotic 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, erythromycin has 8,572 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 erythromycin slows down how your body breaks down nifedipine, which can lead to higher levels of the drug in your blood.. 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 erythromycin or nifedipine.

Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.