Nifedipine oral

Therapeutic action

Uterine relaxant.

Indications

Threatened premature labour.

Forms and strengths

• 10 mg immediate-release soft capsule or tablet.

Dose and duration

The total duration of treatment is 48 hours.

• 10 mg by oral route, to be repeated every 15 minutes if uterine contractions persist, up to 4 doses or 40 mg total.
• Then 20 mg by oral route every 6 hours.

Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions

• Do not administer to patients with severe cardiac disease such as recent myocardial infarction or unstable angina.
• Do not administer if systolic blood pressure is below 90 mmHg.
• May cause headache, flushing, peripheral oedema, dizziness, hypotension, tachycardia, nausea, gingival hyperplasia, and rash.
• Stop nifedipine if ischaemic chest pain occurs or existing pain increases after starting treatment.
• Do not combine with magnesium sulphate, salbutamol IV, or other calcium channel blockers.
• Monitor combination with cimetidine, phenytoin, rifampicin, itraconazole, and beta-blockers.
• Pregnancy: contraindicated during the first trimester. Never administer sublingually because of the risk of foetal death from placental hypoperfusion.
• Breast-feeding: avoid.