Two medicines, side by side
Felodipine vs nicardipine
Felodipine and nicardipine are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of felodipine since 1991 and of nicardipine since 1988. Pharmacies paid $0.123 per felodipine ER 5 mg tablet and $1.12 per nicardipine 20 mg capsule (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like.
Check it at the source: the felodipine FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 11, 2026); the nicardipine FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 24, 2024).
Highlights of the felodipine record
Felodipine (Plendil) · label of August 11, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsFelodipine extended-release tablets, USP are indicated for the treatment of hypertension, to lower blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure lowers the risk of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions. These benefits have been seen in controlled trials of antihypertensive drugs from a wide variety of pharmacologic classes including felodipine. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- July 25, 1991
- Generic labelers
- 14 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.123 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 3
Highlights of the nicardipine record
Nicardipine (Cardene) · label of August 24, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsNicardipine hydrochloride injection, USP is a calcium channel blocker indicated for the short-term treatment of hypertension when oral therapy is not feasible. 1.1 Hypertension Nicardipine hydrochloride injection, USP is indicated for the short-term treatment of hypertension when oral therapy is not feasible or desirable. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 21, 1988
- Generic labelers
- 25 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $1.12 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 10
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Felodipine label of August 11, 2026, Nicardipine label of August 24, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do felodipine and nicardipine differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers.
Generics: felodipine since 2004; nicardipine since 1996 (Drugs@FDA).
| Felodipine | Nicardipine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure | High blood pressure, Angina |
| Pharmacologic class | Dihydropyridine Calcium Channel Blocker | Dihydropyridine Calcium Channel Blocker |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Nicardipine inhibits the transmembrane influx of calcium ions into cardiac muscle and smooth muscle without changing serum calcium concentrations. |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | Following infusion, nicardipine plasma concentrations decline triexponentially, with a rapid early distribution phase (α-half-life of 3 minutes), an intermediate phase (ß-half-life of 45 minutes), and a slow terminal … |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | July 25, 1991 | December 21, 1988 |
| First generic approved | November 2, 2004 | July 18, 1996 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 14 labelers | 25 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.123 per tablet (Felodipine ER 5 mg tablet) | $1.12 per capsule (Nicardipine 20 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -27% | -4% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 3 | 10 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 11,323 | 4,340 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to felodipine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions