Nifedipine and Shortness Of Breath: What Users Say

• Ter...
• May 6, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Been taking this medicine off and on for close to a year, switching doctors trying to get away from it. It’s like they are pushing this medicine on people or if you have not that good of insurance it’s like you only have a certain group of blood pressure medicine they will let you take. Well, I started on 30 mg nifedipine and told the doctor of breathing problems, severe headaches, back pain, shoulder pain, shortness of breath, and he upped it to 60 mg. What craziness is this? This medication is very wicked, should be taken off the market. I feel this medication is used for mental patients, one minute I’m hot, one minute I’m sweating, one minute I’m cold, one minute I’m shaking and the headaches are out of this world they should look deeper into this medication. The FDA should take it off the market, it's no good. I’m still searching to find a doctor to prescribe some good medication. What happened to all the good medication that was out there a few years ago?"

• Ter...
• May 6, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Been taking this medicine off and on for close to a year, switching doctors trying to get away from it. It’s like they are pushing this medicine on people or if you have not that good of insurance it’s like you only have a certain group of blood pressure medicine they will let you take. Well, I started on 30 mg nifedipine and told the doctor of breathing problems, severe headaches, back pain, shoulder pain, shortness of breath, and he upped it to 60 mg. What craziness is this? This medication is very wicked, should be taken off the market. I feel this medication is used for mental patients, one minute I’m hot, one minute I’m sweating, one minute I’m cold, one minute I’m shaking and the headaches are out of this world they should look deeper into this medication. The FDA should take it off the market, it's no good. I’m still searching to find a doctor to prescribe some good medication. What happened to all the good medication that was out there a few years ago?"

• Jc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 8, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I was put on this because it was thought that Labetalol was causing breathing problems with my pregnancy. Turns out the shortness of breath was due to COVID. This medication really makes me miss Labetalol, which my insurance now won't cover. :( My heart has been racing, the headaches are severe and frightening, my muscles ache, I can barely sleep (whilst also feeling very fatigued) and my mouth is super dry. I can't do this anymore. I already have terrible anxiety. My blood pressure was on average about 130/80 beforehand. So it did lower my blood pressure in the 125s/70s range. I really hope my OBGYN has another medication safe for hypertension during pregnancy I can take. Lisinopril never made me feel so awful. Pray for me, please."

• Jc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 8, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I was put on this because it was thought that Labetalol was causing breathing problems with my pregnancy. Turns out the shortness of breath was due to COVID. This medication really makes me miss Labetalol, which my insurance now won't cover. :( My heart has been racing, the headaches are severe and frightening, my muscles ache, I can barely sleep (whilst also feeling very fatigued) and my mouth is super dry. I can't do this anymore. I already have terrible anxiety. My blood pressure was on average about 130/80 beforehand. So it did lower my blood pressure in the 125s/70s range. I really hope my OBGYN has another medication safe for hypertension during pregnancy I can take. Lisinopril never made me feel so awful. Pray for me, please."

• bta...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 13, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "This drug, nifedipine, is truly awful. I first experienced swollen feet and ankles. Then, sleep problems. After several hours, I wake and can't go back to sleep. Extreme fatigue. Extreme weakness, particularly in arms, shoulders, and upper back. I can't get anything done around the house. And now, finally, breathing problems. It works, but it is not worth the side effects because you aren't really living being on this medicine. I've been on it about 6 weeks. So much for modern medicine... My doctor is going to put me on something else soon."

• Sho...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 11, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "Was taking 3 other beta blockers (losartan, metoprolol, and clonidine) meds for hypertension. I was prescribed nifedipine 60 mg ER to further lower my BP. Nifedipine effectively lowered my BP, but I soon developed a severe cough with mucous and phlegm, and wheezing, which is quite annoying. I took the nifedipine for two and one-half months and stopped without doctor's advice because I couldn't take the coughing and wheezing. Saw the doctor two weeks later, and she said the cough would go away, but it did not. No antihistamine or cough syrup has eliminated this. Seeing the doctor again tomorrow, which is approximately two months later; praying for relief. Has anyone else experienced this?"

• Jan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 9, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Started nifedipine 90 mg ER once a day after giving birth to my son. Immediately I noticed strange symptoms but blew it off, thinking it was my anxiety. Three weeks later, I realized that it was the medicine that was giving me terrible anxiety. I’ve experienced chest burning, pain in my hands, flutters, chest pain, tingling in legs, diarrhea, shortness of breath, and lightheadedness. Just plain awful. If side effects get worse, I’ll be heading to the ER."

• Lor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 24, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "This medication, nifedipine ER 30mg for blood pressure, changed my life. I’m now so foggy-headed, heat flushes, headache, shortness of breath, tight bloated stomach, feeling unwell. This is not easy for a person to bear on a regular basis."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 30, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "My blood pressure is very high, and the cardiologist suggested taking Nifedipine, Losartan, and Chlorthalidone. I only took 1 pill of Nifedipine 60 mg, and 3 hours later, I was on my way to the ER. I felt something stuck in my throat and had a hard time breathing. My hands, legs, and feet were completely numb, I felt needles in my hands, as well as weakness and pressure in my lower back. Never ever taking this med again. I do not care if they say it works, but for me, it was killing me."

• Far...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 22, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "I'm in immunotherapy and was given the Avastin drug, which highly elevated my blood pressure (BP). When Losartan 10 mg did not lower the BP readings, Nifedipine 30 mg was added, then increased to 60 mg, still not lowering the BP, it was increased to 90 mg. Three days later, my heart rate accelerated, and shortness of breath became unbearable. The primary doctor added another drug, Hydralazine 50 mg 2x a day, to lower the BP and sent me to a cardiologist for elevated heart rate, who added Carvedilol 12.5 mg 2x a day, which significantly lowered the heart rate and BP. So I'm on 4 BP drugs but continue to feel shortness of breath, and none of the doctors have figured out it is due to the side effects of Nifedipine at 90 mg. Last week, driving to the infusion center was too much for my body to handle the shortness of breath, I had to call the ER. I decided to lower the Nifedipine dosage to 60 mg (in 30 mg increments, as suggested by the ER doctor) and inform the cardiologist of my decision. Nifedipine is not for me."

• Duf...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 7, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Nifedipine did drop my high blood pressure. But I also felt tired, lousy, dizzy, difficulty sleeping, lightheaded, shortness of breath (used Ventolin to get a full breath), and my doctor said to stop it after two weeks now. I hope there are other options. Lisinopril seems to be a favorite among my peers. Wish me luck."

• H3a...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 10, 2020

Nifedipine "Since using Adalat XL for 2 weeks, it first of all lowered the blood pressure significantly. Then, BP was out of control again. Started off with the Cipalat for the first 2 weeks given by the pharmacist, then decided since Adalat was prescribed to get that to see if it would work better. Then, feet started swelling immensely, diuretics helped nothing. Then went on like this for the rest of the month. Started to have shortness of breath, wheezing, pulse rate went up by 10 per minute, then started to have a very uncomfortable stomach, pain in the liver area, constipated and windy all over. Had pain in the groin and genitals, was irritable, sleepless, and depressed. Stopped the stuff, but it has been a week now and my feet are still swollen and still very windy, and my stomach is still blown up. How long will this take to subside?"

• H3a...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 10, 2020

Nifedipine "Since using Adalat XL for 2 weeks, it first of all lowered the blood pressure significantly. Then, BP was out of control again. Started off with the Cipalat for the first 2 weeks given by the pharmacist, then decided since Adalat was prescribed to get that to see if it would work better. Then, feet started swelling immensely, diuretics helped nothing. Then went on like this for the rest of the month. Started to have shortness of breath, wheezing, pulse rate went up by 10 per minute, then started to have a very uncomfortable stomach, pain in the liver area, constipated and windy all over. Had pain in the groin and genitals, was irritable, sleepless, and depressed. Stopped the stuff, but it has been a week now and my feet are still swollen and still very windy, and my stomach is still blown up. How long will this take to subside?"

• Eli...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 25, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "I am a mom who is pregnant with a second child. I have had chronic high BP my whole life due to renal stenosis. I’ve been on lisinopril since I was 10 years old, but unfortunately, I can't take that while pregnant. Off of meds, I run about 190/110. Every BP med that is safe for pregnancy does NOTHING for me. Labetalol, methyldopa, and verapamil do not even lower it in the slightest. Nifedipine lowers mine to around 135/85. I hate the side effects, and my heart rate is through the roof on this med, but I am grateful it works and allows me to bring children into this world safely. Without this medication, I would not be able to have children. The second I give birth, I will immediately stop taking this and switch back to my normal med. The high heart rate and shortness of breath are temporary! I wouldn’t recommend this med for someone taking it long-term, but for a pregnant mama, it definitely works!"