nifedipine vs tamsulosin

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Side-by-side comparison of nifedipine and tamsulosin. 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

7.5 Nifedipine, Atenolol, Enalapril Dosage adjustments are not necessary when tamsulosin hydrochloride capsules are administered concomitantly with nifedipine, atenolol, or enalapril [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

Drug Class
nifedipine Calcium Channel Blocker
tamsulosin Alpha-1 Adrenergic Blocker
Type
nifedipine Prescription
tamsulosin Prescription
Summary
nifedipine

Nifedipine is a calcium channel blocker. It helps to relax blood vessels, which can lower blood pressure and reduce chest pain.

tamsulosin

Tamsulosin (Flomax) helps to improve urination in men with enlarged prostate glands. It relaxes the muscles in the prostate and bladder, making it easier to urinate.

What It Treats
nifedipine

This medicine treats chest pain (angina) caused by tight blood vessels. It also treats high blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of strokes and heart attacks.

tamsulosin

This medicine treats the symptoms of an enlarged prostate, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). BPH can cause problems with urination, like difficulty starting or stopping the flow of urine. Tamsulosin helps to relieve these symptoms.

How It Works
nifedipine

Nifedipine blocks calcium from entering heart and blood vessel cells. This relaxes and widens blood vessels. As a result, the heart doesn't have to work as hard, and blood pressure goes down.

tamsulosin

Tamsulosin blocks alpha-1 adrenoceptors in the prostate and bladder. These receptors control muscle tightness. By blocking them, tamsulosin relaxes the muscles, which improves urine flow.

Common Side Effects
nifedipine
  • Swelling, especially in the legs or ankles
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
  • Dizziness
  • Constipation
tamsulosin
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Runny nose
  • Infection
  • Abnormal ejaculation
FAERS Reports
nifedipine
  • Dyspnoea 2,429
  • Fatigue 2,304
  • Diarrhoea 2,264
  • Nausea 2,220
  • Headache 1,997
tamsulosin
  • Fatigue 1,417
  • Dyspnoea 1,332
  • Dizziness 1,131
  • Diarrhoea 1,121
  • Headache 883
Serious Warnings
nifedipine

In rare cases, nifedipine can cause serious gastrointestinal problems, including obstruction. If you experience severe abdominal pain, vomiting, or inability to pass stool, seek immediate medical attention.

tamsulosin

Tamsulosin can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure when you stand up, leading to dizziness or fainting. Avoid situations where you could get hurt if you faint. Tell your eye doctor if you are planning to have cataract or glaucoma surgery, as tamsulosin can cause complications during the procedure. You should be screened for prostate cancer before starting tamsulosin and regularly after.

Pregnancy
nifedipine

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if nifedipine will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking this medicine while pregnant or breastfeeding.

tamsulosin

This medicine is only for men. It is not meant to be used by women. There is no information about the safety of tamsulosin during pregnancy or breastfeeding because it is not used in women.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This nifedipine vs tamsulosin Comparison

nifedipine is classified in the Calcium Channel Blocker drug class, while tamsulosin sits within the Alpha-1 Adrenergic 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, nifedipine has 11,214 submissions while tamsulosin has 5,884. 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 two medications do not significantly change how the other is processed by the body.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for nifedipine or tamsulosin.

Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.