About nicardipine hydrochloride
Dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker
Used for
- Severe high blood pressure when rapid control is needed
- Short-term blood pressure control around surgery
Usual adult dose
Intravenous infusion usually starts at 5 mg/hour; adjust gradually, typically up to 15 mg/hour.
Common side effects
- Headache
- Low blood pressure
- Fast heartbeat
- Nausea
Important warnings
- Requires close blood pressure and heart-rate monitoring
- Use caution with heart failure or aortic stenosis
- Avoid abrupt blood-pressure drops
- May worsen chest pain in some people
Pregnancy
Use only when clearly needed; pregnancy safety information is limited.
Breastfeeding
Information is limited; a clinician should assess whether treatment is appropriate.
Interactions
- Other blood-pressure medicines may increase low blood pressure
- Beta blockers may increase heart-failure risk
- Cimetidine may increase nicardipine levels
- Grapefruit may increase levels with oral forms; relevance to injection is limited
AI-generated from general medical knowledge, not from this product's official leaflet. It may be incomplete or out of date. Not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.