Two medicines, side by side
Nicardipine vs tacrolimus
Nicardipine is labeled for high blood pressure and angina; tacrolimus for organ transplant rejection and eczema (atopic dermatitis). Their labels share no use, so they are not alternatives to each other. Drugs@FDA records approvals of nicardipine since 1988 and of tacrolimus since 1994. Pharmacies paid $1.12 per nicardipine 20 mg capsule and $0.970 per gram (Tacrolimus 0.1% ointment) (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 tacrolimus a calcineurin inhibitor immunosuppressant.
Check it at the source: the nicardipine FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 24, 2024); the tacrolimus FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 17, 2026).
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 tacrolimus record
Tacrolimus (Prograf) · label of July 17, 2026
MALIGNANCIES AND SERIOUS INFECTIONS Increased risk for developing serious infections and malignancies with Tacrolimus or other immunosuppressants that may lead to hospitalization or death. ( 5.1 , 5.2 ) WARNING: MALIGNANCIES AND SERIOUS INFECTIONS See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. Increased risk for developing serious infections and malignancies with tacrolimus or other immunosuppressants that may lead to hospitalization or death.
Used for
From the label: indicationsTacrolimus capsules are a calcineurin-inhibitor immunosuppressant indicated for the prophylaxis of organ rejection in adult and pediatric patients receiving allogeneic liver, kidney or heart transplants, in combination with other immunosuppressants. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- April 8, 1994
- Generic labelers
- 33 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.970 per gram
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 9
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Nicardipine label of August 24, 2024, Tacrolimus label of July 17, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do nicardipine and tacrolimus differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, nicardipine is a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker and tacrolimus a calcineurin inhibitor immunosuppressant.
Half-life, in each label's words: Nicardipine, “Following infusion, nicardipine plasma concentrations decline triexponentially, with a rapid early distribution phase …”; Tacrolimus, “Fecal elimination accounted for 92.4±1.0% and the elimination half-life based on radioactivity was 48.1±15.9 hours …”
Only the tacrolimus label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: nicardipine since 1996; tacrolimus since 2009 (Drugs@FDA).
| Nicardipine | Tacrolimus | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure, Angina | Organ transplant rejection, Eczema (atopic dermatitis) |
| Pharmacologic class | Dihydropyridine Calcium Channel Blocker | Calcineurin Inhibitor Immunosuppressant |
| 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 … | Fecal elimination accounted for 92.4±1.0% and the elimination half-life based on radioactivity was 48.1±15.9 hours whereas it was 43.5±11.6 hours based on tacrolimus concentrations. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 21, 1988 | April 8, 1994 |
| First generic approved | July 18, 1996 | August 10, 2009 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 25 labelers | 33 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $1.12 per capsule (Nicardipine 20 mg capsule) | $0.970 per gram (Tacrolimus 0.1% ointment) |
| 12-month price change | -4% | +3% |
| Boxed warning | No | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 10 | 9 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 4,340 | 156,020 |
| 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)
Do their labels mention each other?
Nicardipine label, drug interactionsDRUG INTERACTIONS Cimetidine increases nicardipine plasma levels ( 7.3 ). Nicardipine may increase cyclosporine and tacrolimus plasma levels.
Nicardipine label, drug interactionsOral or intravenous nicardipine may increase cyclosporine and tacrolimus plasma levels.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to nicardipine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions