NIFEDIPINE

“ADALAT”

1) Therapeutic drug action & mechanism(pharmacology)

• Calcium channel blocker

• Reduce slow inward current of calcium ions across the cell membrane in cardiac muscle and vascular smooth muscle [including arterioles & coronary arteries]

• Antianginal [due to reduction of afterload, coronary vasodilation, reduced contractility, reduced heart rate]

• Antiarrhythmic [reduced cardiac conductivity—however minimal effect]

• Antihypertensive [of all the Calcium channel blockers, nifedipine is the most selective as a vasodilator and has the least cardiac effect]

2) Indications

• Hypertension

• Angina due to coronary artery spasm

• CCF [due to afterload reduction]

3) Effects on organs—side effects

• May be a negative inotrope

4) Toxic effects/ precautions with administration

• Hypotension

• Tachycardia

5) Contraindications

6) Reversal, antagonism or antidote

• IV calcium gluconate & catecholamines

7) Loading dose, maintenance dose, frequency & method of administration

• Capsules 10mg

8) Drug’s metabolism—Drug’s excretion—Half life (pharmacokinetics)

• Absorption: > 90% after oral or sublingual administration

• Onset of action: 5 - 20 min

• Plasma half life: 4 hours

• Is highly bound to plasma proteins