Prescription medication · Calcium Channel Blocker
nicardipine
Also sold as Cardene. Nicardipine treats chronic stable angina, which is chest pain that happens when you exert yourself.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 4,175
- FDA reportsLightly reported
- 14
- InteractionsSeveral interactions
- 3
- Recall records
What the data shows
nicardipine (Cardene) is a prescription Calcium Channel Blocker, among the least-reported drugs the FDA tracks (4,175 FDA reports), with 14 documented drug interactions.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
nicardipine (Cardene) is a prescription Calcium Channel Blocker. Nicardipine treats chronic stable angina, which is chest pain that happens when you exert yourself.
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.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$3.16/unit
Generic Available
Yes (18 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Nicardipine treats chronic stable angina, which is chest pain that happens when you exert yourself.
Common side effects
Swelling in your feet or ankles, Dizziness, Headache
Key warnings
If you have advanced aortic stenosis, you should not take this medication.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from nicardipine's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
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.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 4,175 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for nicardipine, by number of reports
- Acute Kidney Injury
Acute Kidney Injury
226 reports
- Premature Baby
Premature Baby
205 reports
- Foetal Exposure During Pregnancy
Foetal Exposure During Pregnancy
194 reports
- Maternal Exposure During Pregnancy
Maternal Exposure During Pregnancy
180 reports
- Drug Interaction
Drug Interaction
167 reports
- Hypotension
Hypotension
167 reports
- Hypertension
Hypertension
158 reports
- Pyrexia
Pyrexia
122 reports
- Premature Delivery
Premature Delivery
108 reports
- Exposure During Pregnancy
Exposure During Pregnancy
103 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for nicardipine each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where nicardipine sits
nicardipine has more FDA adverse-event reports than 23% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is nicardipine; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 4,175 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2002–2025.
Total Reports
4,175
Reports Mentioning Death
564
13.5% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
2,241
Top Indication
Hypertension
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY | 226 |
| 2 | PREMATURE BABY | 205 |
| 4 | FOETAL EXPOSURE DURING PREGNANCY | 194 |
| 6 | MATERNAL EXPOSURE DURING PREGNANCY | 180 |
| 7 | DRUG INTERACTION | 167 |
| 8 | HYPOTENSION | 167 |
| 9 | HYPERTENSION | 158 |
| 10 | PYREXIA | 122 |
| 11 | PREMATURE DELIVERY | 108 |
| 12 | EXPOSURE DURING PREGNANCY | 103 |
| 13 | VOMITING | 102 |
| 14 | RENAL FAILURE | 101 |
| 15 | ANAEMIA | 100 |
| 16 | DIARRHOEA | 100 |
| 17 | LOW BIRTH WEIGHT BABY | 97 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
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.
Known Drug Interactions
Digoxin Some calcium blockers may increase the concentration of digitalis preparations in the blood. Nicardipine hydrochloride capsules usually do not alter the plasma levels of digoxin; however, serum digoxin levels should be evaluated after concomitant therapy with nicardipine hydrochloride capsules are initiated.
Mechanism: Nicardipine may cause digoxin to build up in your bloodstream by changing how your body handles the drug.
Calcium channel blockers amlodipine, diltiazem, felodipine, nicardipine, nifedipine, verapamil ↑ calcium channel blocker Caution is warranted and clinical monitoring of patients is recommended.
Mechanism: Ritonavir blocks the way your body processes nicardipine, which can cause the blood pressure medicine to reach higher levels than intended.
Mild or Moderate CYP3A Inhibitors: Clotrimazole, antibiotics (e.g., verapamil, diltiazem, nifedipine, nicardipine), amiodarone, danazol, ethinyl estradiol, cimetidine, lansoprazole and omeprazole May increase tacrolimus whole blood trough concentrations and increase the risk of serious adverse reactions (e.g., neurotoxicity, QT prolongation) [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.7 , 5.10 , 5.11 )] .
Mechanism: Nicardipine makes it harder for your body to process tacrolimus, which can cause the drug to stay in your system longer and reach higher levels. This increases the chance of experiencing dangerous side effects.
When therapeutic concentrations of furosemide, propranolol, dipyridamole, warfarin, quinidine or naproxen were added to human plasma (in vitro), the plasma protein binding of nicardipine hydrochloride capsules were not altered.
Mechanism: These drugs do not interfere with how nicardipine attaches to proteins in the blood.
When therapeutic concentrations of furosemide, propranolol, dipyridamole, warfarin, quinidine or naproxen were added to human plasma (in vitro), the plasma protein binding of nicardipine hydrochloride capsules were not altered.
Mechanism: Propranolol does not change the way nicardipine binds to proteins in your bloodstream.
This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
Common Questions
Can I take nicardipine with other medications?
How long does it take for nicardipine to start working?
Can I drink alcohol while taking nicardipine?
What should I do if I experience severe dizziness after taking nicardipine?
Can nicardipine cure my angina or hypertension?
Will nicardipine affect my kidney function?
Can I drive or operate machinery while taking nicardipine?
What if I have liver problems?
Can I take antacids with nicardipine?
Will nicardipine affect my heart rate?
What are the common side effects of nicardipine?
Does nicardipine interact with other medications?
What drug class is nicardipine?
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for nicardipine?
Has nicardipine been recalled?
Active Recalls
Lack of sterility assurance: Product leakage around the vial neck, which could potentially result in a lack of sterility assurance.
American Regent, Inc.
Failed Impurities/Degradation Specifications: Out of specification for organic impurities
Eugia US LLC
Failed Impurities/Degradation Specifications: Out of specification for organic impurities
Eugia US LLC
Related Medications in Calcium Channel Blocker
Other drugs grouped near nicardipine - same-class peers and common alternatives.
acebutolol
Sectral
Acebutolol is a medicine that helps lower blood pressure and control irregular heartbeats.
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aliskiren
Tekturna
Tekturna is a medicine used to treat high blood pressure.
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amiloride
Midamor
Amiloride is a water pill that helps your body hold onto potassium.
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amlodipine
Norvasc
Amlodipine (Norvasc) is a drug that lowers blood pressure and treats chest pain.
Compare with nicardipine →
amlodipine/benazepril
Lotrel
Lotrel is a combination medicine that contains amlodipine and benazepril.
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Compare beyond drug class
Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share
Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for nicardipine: nearest FDA FAERS report volume and nearest death-report share among drugs with at least 1,000 logged reports, excluding same-class neighbors listed above. Counts reflect reporting volume, not proven individual harm.
Similar FAERS report volume
Nearest drugs by total FAERS reports. This record: 4,175.
Similar death-report share
Nearest drugs by FAERS death-report share. This record: 13.51%.
- calcium carbonate Δ 0.02 pts · 64,404 reports · Calcium Supplement / Antacid 13.53%death share
- levofloxacin Δ 0.10 pts · 58,038 reports · Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic 13.61%death share
- minocycline Δ 0.11 pts · 11,257 reports · Tetracycline Antibiotic 13.40%death share
- torsemide Δ 0.20 pts · 31,122 reports · Loop Diuretic 13.70%death share
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for nicardipine
The FDA label for nicardipine (sold under brand names such as Cardene) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Calcium Channel Blocker class. Nicardipine treats chronic stable angina, which is chest pain that happens when you exert yourself. Official labeling lists 8 commonly reported side effects, including Swelling in your feet or ankles, Dizziness, Headache.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 4,175 voluntary reports. The database also lists 14 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $3.16.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history (currently 3 recall records on file), and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.
Last updated: January 7, 2019
PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages