Two medicines, side by side
Nicardipine vs amlodipine
Nicardipine and amlodipine are both labeled for high blood pressure and angina. Drugs@FDA records approvals of nicardipine since 1988 and of amlodipine since 1992. Pharmacies paid $1.12 per nicardipine 20 mg capsule and $0.0102 per amlodipine besylate 5 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, nicardipine is a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker and amlodipine a calcium channel blocker.
Check it at the source: the nicardipine FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 24, 2024); the amlodipine FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 15, 2023).
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
Highlights of the amlodipine record
Amlodipine (Norvasc) · label of February 15, 2023
Used for
From the label: indicationsNORVASC is a calcium channel blocker and may be used alone or in combination with other antihypertensive and antianginal agents for the treatment of: • Hypertension ( 1.1 ) o NORVASC is indicated for the treatment of hypertension, to lower blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- July 31, 1992
- Generic labelers
- 42 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0102 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 30
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Nicardipine label of August 24, 2024, Amlodipine label of February 15, 2023); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do nicardipine and amlodipine differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, nicardipine is a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker and amlodipine a calcium channel blocker.
How each works, in its label's words: Nicardipine, “Nicardipine inhibits the transmembrane influx of calcium ions into cardiac muscle and smooth muscle without changing serum calcium concentrations.”; Amlodipine, “Amlodipine is a dihydropyridine calcium antagonist (calcium ion antagonist or slow‑channel blocker) that inhibits the transmembrane influx of calcium ions into vascular smooth muscle and cardiac …”
Generics: nicardipine since 1996; amlodipine since 2005 (Drugs@FDA).
| Nicardipine | Amlodipine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure, Angina | High blood pressure, Angina, Heart attack and coronary artery disease |
| Pharmacologic class | Dihydropyridine Calcium Channel Blocker | Calcium Channel Blocker, Dihydropyridine Calcium Channel Blocker |
| How it works (label) | Nicardipine inhibits the transmembrane influx of calcium ions into cardiac muscle and smooth muscle without changing serum calcium concentrations. | Amlodipine is a dihydropyridine calcium antagonist (calcium ion antagonist or slow‑channel blocker) that inhibits the transmembrane influx of calcium ions into vascular smooth muscle and cardiac muscle. |
| Half-life (label) | 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 … | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 21, 1988 | July 31, 1992 |
| First generic approved | July 18, 1996 | October 3, 2005 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 25 labelers | 42 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $1.12 per capsule (Nicardipine 20 mg capsule) | $0.0102 per tablet (Amlodipine besylate 5 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -4% | -10% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 10 | 30 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 4,340 | 409,186 |
| 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 nicardipine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions