isradipine vs nicardipine
Side-by-side comparison of isradipine and nicardipine Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
DynaCirc
Cardene
Isradipine is a drug that helps lower high blood pressure. It belongs to a class of drugs called calcium channel blockers.
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.
Isradipine capsules are used to treat high blood pressure. You can take it alone or with a thiazide diuretic (water pill). It may take 2 to 4 weeks to see the full effect.
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.
Isradipine blocks calcium from entering certain cells. This action relaxes blood vessels, which lowers blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems.
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.
- • Headache
- • Dizziness
- • Swelling in ankles or feet
- • Feeling your heart beat rapidly or irregularly
- • Fatigue
- • Swelling in your feet or ankles
- • Dizziness
- • Headache
- • Weakness
- • Flushing (redness of the skin)
- The medicine is not working 35
- The medicine is interacting with another medicine 31
- Difficulty breathing 31
- High blood pressure 29
- Using the medicine for something it is not approved for 28
- Sudden kidney damage 226
- Baby born too early 205
- Using the drug for a condition it's not approved for 196
- Unborn baby exposed to the drug during pregnancy 194
- The drug is not working 188
If you are taking cimetidine, your doctor should watch you closely for side effects when you start isradipine. If you are taking rifampicin, isradipine may not work as well.
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. It is not known if isradipine will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking isradipine 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.
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How to Read This isradipine vs nicardipine Comparison
isradipine is classified in the Calcium Channel Blocker drug class, while nicardipine 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, isradipine has 154 submissions while nicardipine has 1,009. 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 isradipine 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.