Choosing the best drug for a particular patient Whichever approach you use in beginning (or changing) antihypertensive therapy, you should evaluate your patient for characteristics that will predict a favorable or unfavorable response (Table 2). Table 2. Factors To Consider When Choosing An Antihypertensive Agent Dosing Frequency Quality Of Life Cost Possibility Of Pregnancy Age [...]
Uses and Administration Nifedipine is a dihydropyridine calcium-channel blocker. It is a peripheral and coronary vasodilator, but, unlike the rate-limiting calcium-channel blockers verapamil or diltiazem, has little or no effect on cardiac conduction and negative inotropic activity is rarely seen at therapeutic doses. Use of nifedipine results primarily in vasodilatation, with reduced peripheral resistance, blood [...]
Precautions Nifedipine should be used with caution in patients with hypotension, in patients whose cardiac reserve is poor, and in those with heart failure since deterioration of heart failure has been noted. Nifedipine should not be used in cardiogenic shock, in patients who have suffered a myocardial infarction in the previous 2 to 4 weeks, [...]
