Two medicines, side by side
Nicardipine vs nifedipine
Nicardipine and nifedipine are both labeled for high blood pressure and angina. Drugs@FDA records approvals of nicardipine since 1988 and of nifedipine since 1981. Pharmacies paid $1.12 per nicardipine 20 mg capsule and $0.130 per nifedipine ER 30 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like.
Check it at the source: the nicardipine FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 24, 2024); the nifedipine FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 24, 2024).
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 nifedipine record
Nifedipine (Procardia) · label of December 24, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsNifedipine extended-release tablets are indicated for the treatment of hypertension. It may be used alone or in combination with other antihypertensive agents.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 31, 1981
- Generic labelers
- 32 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.130 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 7
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Nicardipine label of August 24, 2024, Nifedipine label of December 24, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do nicardipine and nifedipine differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers.
Half-life, in each label's words: Nicardipine, “Following infusion, nicardipine plasma concentrations decline triexponentially, with a rapid early distribution phase …”; Nifedipine, “The elimination half-life of nifedipine administered as nifedipine extended-release tablets are approximately 7 hours …”
Generics: nicardipine since 1996; nifedipine since 1989 (Drugs@FDA).
| Nicardipine | Nifedipine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure, Angina | High blood pressure, Angina |
| Pharmacologic class | Dihydropyridine 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. | n/a |
| 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 … | The elimination half-life of nifedipine administered as nifedipine extended-release tablets are approximately 7 hours in contrast to the known 2 hour elimination half-life of nifedipine administered as an immediate … |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 21, 1988 | December 31, 1981 |
| First generic approved | July 18, 1996 | April 28, 1989 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 25 labelers | 32 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $1.12 per capsule (Nicardipine 20 mg capsule) | $0.130 per tablet (Nifedipine ER 30 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -4% | +19% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 10 | 7 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 4,340 | 41,059 |
| 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