Get Informed: Procardia
Active Ingredient(s)
Nifedipine
What does it do?
This product is primarily used in the management of angina. It works by dilating the blood vessels of the body, reducing spasms of the vessels.
- Last Text Update:
- 2009-Nov-20 1:12 PM
- Last Data Update:
- 2009-Nov-20 6:52 PM
Other Names
- Nifedipine
- Procardia
- Procardia XL
- Nifedipine ER
- Adalat
- Nifedical
- Nifedipin
- Nifediac
- Nifedical XL
- Nifediac CC
- Nifedipine XL
- Adalat CC
- Afeditab
- Afeditab CR
- Niphedipin
- Nifedipin Genericon
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
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- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category:
- C
- Black Box Warning:
- No
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 31 Dec 1981
- Est US Patients*
- 599,000
- Generic Available
- Yes
- OTC Available
- No
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Procardia or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Recent alerts for Procardia
There have been no alerts regarding Procardia during the past year.
Procardia Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
- Please login or register (it's free) so iGuard can check how Procardia interacts with other drugs and diseases in your profile.
What is Procardia used for?
iGuard.org is currently tracking more than 3,500 patients that use Procardia (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| High Blood Pressure | 65% | 
|
| Angina / Chest Pain | 8% |
|
| Heart Disease Prevention | 6% | 
|
| Heart Valve Problems | 6% |
|
| Heart Failure / Edema | 4% | 
|
| Kidney Protection | 4% |
|
| Reynaud's Disease | 4% |
|
| Muscle Spasms | 2% |
|
| Scleroderma | 2% | 
|
| Other | 14% |
|
How well does Procardia work?
iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 3,500 users taking Procardia (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 89%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Procardia outweigh the bad things.
- 20%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Procardia.
Common Side Effects of Procardia
iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 3,500 users taking Procardia (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
27% of patients experience side-effects on Procardia
2% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Procardia
Most Common Side Effects...
-
Swelling/Edema
-
Headache
-
Fatigue
-
= 10%
Less than 1%: Dizziness, Frequent Urination, Heartburn/Reflux, Hot Flushes, Palpitations, Sexual Problems, Weakness
Global Patient Feedback for Procardia (Nifedipine) ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
Hear of any connection between using this med and cancer increase? I read a health news letter that say so after long tern use.
65 year old Male
Posted: 2009-09-21 17:38:58
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
Conflicting reports exist about the link between cancer and short-acting calcium channel blockers, specifically nifedipine. At this time, the studies have not shown a definite link between taking the calcium channel blockers and cancer. It is best to have routine check-ups and cancer screens with your physician whether or not you are taking a calcium channel blocker.
Posted: 2009-09-27 00:02:57
Question/Comment:
I have been taking this medicine since my son was born for extremely high blood pressure. After about 3 or 4 months of taking this medication, my blood pressure was pretty much under control minus the stress levels. My doctor put me on this particular brand so that if I got pregnant again while having issues with my BP then there wouldn't be any complications. I have only had minor side effects - ie headaches, hot flashes, & the shakes from time to time.
32 year old Female
Posted: 2009-09-02 10:05:19
Question/Comment:
In 1991, I experienced what I thought was stress headaches, because I was working full time, going to school & raising a child, as a single parent. The physician I had at the time noticed my blood pressure was high, but never prescribed anything. Eventually, I had a brain aneurysm, and almost died. After brain surgery, I obtained a new physician, and he informed me I had high blood pressure and high cholesterol. He prescribed Adalat, Ziac and Zocor, which I have faithfully taken every day, since then. I have experienced no side effects from any of these drugs, at all. Each year, I get a physical and blood test, to keep track of my cholesterol & I keep track of my own blood pressure. I have had no side effects at all, from these medications.
59 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-12 01:32:15
Question/Comment:
I take procardia for nutcracker esophagus and for irregular heartbeat. I find that this medicine has lowered the amount of attacks that I have with my heart. I have only been on it for one month, but successfully with no side effects. I was able to go off of my Nexium and Cardizem LA so that I can use one drug that works on two problems that I have. I am a 32 year old female.
32 year old Female
Posted: 2009-07-23 14:02:02
Answer/Reply:
I was given procardia for the pain of Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome) by an orthopedist. I took it for one month as he did not give me any refills. He told me that if this didn't help the pain not to come back to him as he could not help me anymore. It wasn't so much what he said but how he said it. I will discuss this with my Rheumatologist and see what he thinks. I have marked this ortho off my list. I also have Fibromyalgia and Polymyalgia rheumatica. Some days the pain is bad mainly after I have tried to work and I only work four hours at a time about 6 days a month.
58 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-21 01:21:26
Question/Comment:
I have been on Procardia xl for about one year, got off it when I lost 40 lbs., but then gained back 20 lbs. and am back on it along with Benicar for hypertension.Your weight really does contribute to hypertension, even if you do have the hereditary hypertension. My goal is to avoid any extra meds. so I go to gym & take classes in cardio.I am 49 and my dad died at 55 with hypertension & diabetes.Regular exercise & stress reduction REALLY does help, when I stop the gym & get lazy, my BP goes UP.
49 year old Female
Posted: 2009-03-16 11:00:45
Answer/Reply:
You should go online and read the side affects for all of your meds. I've discovered they're battling one another. I am being treated for systoms for which meds side affect are described as. So am I symptomatic or am suffering from the side affects? At times when I don't the meds I feel much better and seem to have more energy. My doctor gets angry because i'm not taking them as I should. She knows because the pharmeceutical company tells her I haven't refilled this or that. They want their money regardless of side affects.
54 year old Female
Posted: 2009-03-24 16:57:51
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26
Patient Comments about
Procardia