furosemide vs nicardipine
Side-by-side comparison of furosemide and nicardipine. 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
When therapeutic concentrations of furosemide, propranolol, dipyridamole, warfarin, quinidine or naproxen were added to human plasma (in vitro), the plasma protein binding of nicardipine hydrochloride capsules were not altered.
Recommendation: No dosage changes are usually needed when taking these medications together.
Lasix
Cardene
Furosemide is a water pill (diuretic). It helps your body get rid of extra water and salt.
Nicardipine is a drug that helps to lower blood pressure and treat chest pain. It belongs to a class of drugs called calcium channel blockers.
This medicine treats swelling (edema) from heart failure, liver problems, or kidney disease. It can also treat high blood pressure. Furosemide is helpful when you need a stronger diuretic.
Nicardipine treats chronic stable angina, which is chest pain that happens when you exert yourself. It can be used alone or with beta-blockers to manage this condition. Nicardipine also treats high blood pressure, and it can be used alone or with other blood pressure medications.
Furosemide works in your kidneys. It helps your kidneys remove more salt and water from your blood. This lowers the amount of fluid in your body and lowers blood pressure.
Nicardipine works by blocking calcium from entering certain cells in your heart and blood vessels. This helps to relax and widen your blood vessels, which lowers blood pressure. It also reduces the workload on your heart, which can help to relieve chest pain.
- • Dizziness
- • Headache
- • Blurred vision
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Swelling in your feet or ankles
- • Dizziness
- • Headache
- • Weakness
- • Flushing (redness of the skin)
- Difficulty breathing 29,099
- Tiredness 20,389
- Diarrhea 19,940
- Feeling sick to your stomach 18,682
- Sudden kidney damage 18,530
- Sudden kidney damage 226
- Baby born too early 205
- Unborn baby exposed to the drug during pregnancy 194
- Mother exposed to the drug during pregnancy 180
- The drug is interacting with another drug 167
Furosemide can cause you to lose too much fluid and electrolytes. This can lead to dehydration, low blood pressure, and kidney problems. Your doctor should check your blood regularly while you are taking this medicine.
If you have advanced aortic stenosis, you should not take this medication. Lowering blood pressure in this case could worsen oxygen balance to the heart. Use caution if you have congestive heart failure.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Furosemide may not be safe during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking this medicine while breastfeeding.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. It is not known if nicardipine will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking nicardipine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Also Compare, Nearby Drugs
Compare furosemide with
Compare nicardipine with
How to Read This furosemide vs nicardipine Comparison
furosemide is classified in the Loop Diuretic drug class, while nicardipine 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, furosemide has 106,640 submissions while nicardipine has 972. 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 these drugs do not interfere with how nicardipine attaches to proteins in the blood.. 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 furosemide and nicardipine - 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.