What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Betaxolol and nifedipine
Betaxolol's FDA label of December 20, 2023 names nifedipine in its drug interactions section; nifedipine's label does not name betaxolol itself but warns about its class (Beta blockers). The betaxolol label: “Hypotension was more likely to occur if the calcium antagonist were a dihydropyridine derivative, eg, nifedipine, while left ventricular failure and AV conduction disturbances, including complete heart block, were more …”
Check it at the source: the betaxolol FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 20, 2023, Epic Pharma LLC); the nifedipine FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 24, 2024, Aurobindo Pharma Limited).
What does the betaxolol label say about nifedipine?
Betaxolol label, drug interactionsHypotension was more likely to occur if the calcium antagonist were a dihydropyridine derivative, eg, nifedipine, while left ventricular failure and AV conduction disturbances, including complete heart block, were more likely to occur with either verapamil or diltiazem.
Source: FDA drug label (Betaxolol), Epic Pharma LLC, effective December 20, 2023 (SPL set bf716efe-0a9f-43b1-9d8a-c69330b82e18), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the nifedipine label say about betaxolol?
Nifedipine's label does not name betaxolol itself; it warns about its class (Beta blockers):
Nifedipine label, warningsSevere hypotension and/or increased fluid volume requirements have been reported in patients who received immediate release capsules together with a beta-blocking agent and who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery using high dose fentanyl anesthesia. The interaction with high dose fentanyl appears to be due to the combination of nifedipine and a beta-blocker, but the possibility that it may occur with nifedipine alone, with low doses of fentanyl, in other surgical procedures, or with other narcotic analgesics …
Nifedipine label, drug interactionsDrug Interactions Beta-adrenergic blocking agents (see INDICATIONS AND USAGE and WARNINGS ) Experience in over 1400 patients with PROCARDIA capsules in a noncomparative clinical trial has shown that concomitant administration of nifedipine and beta-blocking agents is usually well tolerated, but there have been occasional literature reports suggesting that the combination may increase the likelihood of congestive heart failure, severe hypotension, or exacerbation of angina.
Source: FDA drug label (Nifedipine), Aurobindo Pharma Limited, effective December 24, 2024 (SPL set eb70b7ff-f9f0-41d0-901a-f4c04ae9ed46), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
These are the labels' own sentences. PlainMeds does not grade interactions; a pharmacist or prescriber can say what they mean for one person's medicines.
Both medicines on the record
| Betaxolol | Nifedipine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure, Glaucoma | High blood pressure, Angina |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $0.591 per tablet 10 mg tablet | $0.130 per tablet 30 mg tablet |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Check more medicines together
- up to five at once