Also indexed as: Adalat, Procardia
Summary of
Interactions with Vitamins, Herbs, and Foods
In some cases, an herb or supplement may appear in more than one category, which may seem
contradictory. For clarification, read the full article for details about the summarized
interactions.
Avoid: Adverse interaction—Avoid these supplements when taking this
medication because taking them together may cause undesirable or dangerous results. |
Pleurisy root*
Tobacco*
|
Check: Other—Before taking any of these supplements or eating any of
these foods with your medication, read this article in full for details. |
Grapefruit juice
|
| Depletion or interference |
None known
|
| Side effect reduction/prevention |
None known
|
| Supportive interaction |
None known
|
| Reduced drug
absorption/bioavailability |
None known
|
An asterisk (*) next to an item in the summary indicates that the
interaction is supported only by weak, fragmentary, and/or contradictory scientific
evidence.
Interactions with Herbs
Pleurisy
root
As pleurisy root and other plants in the Aesclepius genus contain cardiac glycosides,
it is best to avoid use of pleurisy root with heart medications such as calcium channel
blockers.1
Interactions with Foods and Other Compounds
Grapefruit juice
Ingestion of grapefruit juice has been shown to increase the absorption of felodipine (a drug similar in structure and action to
that of nifedipine) and to increase the adverse effects of the medication in patients with hypertension. People taking nifedipine or similar
drugs should not consume grapefruit juice or grapefruit, unless they have discussed it with
their physician.2
Food
Nifedipine may be taken with or without food.3 Nifedipine products should be
swallowed whole, without crushing or chewing.4
Tobacco
In a double-blind study of ten cigarette smokers with angina treated with nifedipine for one week, angina
episodes were significantly reduced during the nonsmoking phase compared to the smoking
phase.5 People with angina taking nifedipine should not smoke tobacco.
References:1. Newall CA, Anderson LA, Phillipson JD. Herbal Medicines: A Guide
for Health-Care Professionals. London: Pharmaceutical Press, 1996, 213–4.
2. Bailey DG, Malcolm J, Arnold O, Spence JD. Grapefuit Juice-Drug
Interactions. Br J Clin Pharmacol 1998;46:101–110.
3. Reitberg DP, Love SJ, Quercia GT, Zinny MA. Effect of food on
nifedipine pharmacokinetics. Clin Pharmacol Ther 1987;42:72–5.
4. Threlkeld DS, ed. Diuretics and Cardiovasculars, Calcium Channel
Blocking Agents. In Facts and Comparisons Drug Information. St. Louis, MO: Facts and
Comparisons, Mar 1996, 149m–9n.
5. Deanfield J, Wright C, Krikler S, et al. Cigarette smoking and the
treatment of angina with propranolol, atenolol, and nifedipine. N Engl J Med
1984;310:951–4.