⚡ Quick Answer — What is Nimodip?
Nimodip is een 30 mg nimodipine tablet from a WHO-GMP certified manufacturer — a dihydropyridine CCB with selective cerebrovascular activity calcium-channel blocker (CCB). Introduced 1989 (Bayer as Nimotop) specifically for neurosurgical use. Unlike other DHPs, nimodipine has a high lipophilicity that allows it to cross the blood-brain barrier and act preferentially on cerebral arterial smooth muscle. Plasma half-life 1-2 hours (short) — requires 4-hourly dosing. Nimodipine is NOT a general antihypertensive — it is used specifically to prevent delayed cerebral ischaemia (vasospasm) after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH). Dose: 60 mg orally every 4 hours for 21 days, started within 96 hours of haemorrhage. For hypertension, use amlodipine of nifedipine retard in plaats daarvan.
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What Is Nimodip?
Nimodip is an oral 30 mg nimodipine tablet from a WHO-GMP certified manufacturer, supplied in 30-180 tablets. Introduced 1989 (Bayer as Nimotop) specifically for neurosurgical use. Unlike other DHPs, nimodipine has a high lipophilicity that allows it to cross the blood-brain barrier and act preferentially on cerebral arterial smooth muscle.
Nimodipine belongs to the dihydropyridine calcium-channel blocker subclass, distinguished from the non-dihydropyridines (diltiazem, verapamil) by its selective action on vascular smooth muscle with minimal direct cardiac effect. This selectivity profile is clinically important: DHPs can be combined safely with beta-blockers (the combination is standard in angina), while non-DHPs cannot (additive bradycardia/heart-block risk).
How Nimodipine Works
Calcium-channel blockers bind L-type voltage-gated calcium channels and reduce calcium influx into the cell during depolarisation. In arterial smooth muscle, reduced calcium entry means less actin-myosin interaction and direct arterial vasodilation — lowering systemic vascular resistance and blood pressure.
Dihydropyridines are ~10-fold more potent on vascular smooth muscle than on cardiac muscle — so the dominant clinical effect is vasodilation, with minimal direct suppression of cardiac contractility or conduction. The body’s baroreflex can trigger mild reflex tachycardia after fast-onset vasodilation; nimodipine acts centrally on cerebral arteries so reflex effects are less clinically relevant.
Onset of clinical effect: rapid (15-30 minutes); peak plasma within 1 hour.
Approved and Evidence-Based Uses
- Aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH) — prevention of delayed cerebral ischaemia from cerebral vasospasm. 60 mg every 4 hours for 21 days starting within 96 hours.
- Other forms of cerebral vasospasm — off-label (post-neurosurgery, traumatic SAH)
- Vascular-cognitive impairment / mild dementia — off-label; variable evidence
- Migraine prophylaxis — off-label; not first-line
Pivotal trial evidence: British Aneurysm Nimodipine Trial (1989) and subsequent confirmations — oral nimodipine 60 mg every 4 hours for 21 days after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH) reduces the incidence of delayed cerebral ischaemia (from vasospasm) and improves neurological outcome. This remains the ONLY proven pharmacological intervention for reducing vasospasm-related morbidity in aSAH.
Nimodip Dosage
Primary indication — aSAH vasospasm prevention:
- 60 mg orally every 4 hours for 21 days, starting within 96 hours of subarachnoid haemorrhage diagnosis
- In intubated / unconscious patients: same dose via nasogastric tube
- Reduce to 30 mg q4h in hepatic impairment
- Hold if systolic BP drops <100 mmHg; aggressive volume loading to maintain cerebral perfusion pressure is typical in neurosurgical units
Bijwerkingen
Common (>5%, mostly mild and transient):
- Hypotension (the main concern in acute neurosurgical use)
- Flushing (warm face and upper body)
- Headache (particularly at start of therapy; usually adapts within 2-4 weeks)
- Reflex tachycardia (palpitations) — less common with long-acting formulations
- Dizziness, postural hypotension
- Vermoeidheid
- Mild constipation (less than non-DHPs)
Minder vaak voorkomend:
- Rash, pruritus
- Nausea, abdominal discomfort
- Erectile dysfunction (rare)
- Liver enzyme elevations (usually mild, reversible)
- Rare reports of photosensitivity
Contraindications & Cautions
- Known hypersensitivity to nimodipine or dihydropyridine class
- Cardiogenic shock
- Severe aortic stenosis (can cause critical hypotension)
- Unstable angina or MI within 1 month (DHPs other than amlodipine)
- Obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (reduces outflow gradient dynamically)
- Severe hepatic impairment (all DHPs are hepatically metabolised)
Pregnancy: avoid nimodipine unless absolutely required for aSAH (where the benefit outweighs the risk).
Breastfeeding: small amounts in breast milk; generally considered acceptable with infant monitoring.
Geneesmiddelinteracties
- Grapefruitsap — inhibits CYP3A4 metabolism; can raise plasma levels of amlodipine and particularly nifedipine/nimodipine by 2-3×. Avoid on treatment days, or use consistently if at all.
- Sterke CYP3A4-remmers (ketoconazole, itraconazole, clarithromycin, ritonavir, cobicistat) — raise CCB plasma levels; reduce dose or avoid
- Strong CYP3A4 inducers (rifampicin, phenytoin, carbamazepine, St John’s wort) — reduce CCB plasma levels; may need dose increase
- Simvastatin — amlodipine modestly increases simvastatin exposure; cap simvastatin at 20 mg/day when combined
- Bètablokkers — DHPs combine safely with beta-blockers (the combination is standard in angina — beta-blocker blunts reflex tachycardia, CCB provides vasodilation). Distinct from non-DHP CCBs (diltiazem, verapamil) which should NOT be combined with beta-blockers.
- Other antihypertensives — generally complementary; monitor BP
- Sildenafil / tadalafil (PDE5 inhibitors for erectile dysfunction) — additive hypotension; caution particularly at high CCB doses
Calcium-Channel Blocker Class at a Glance
| CCB | Klasse | Niche |
|---|---|---|
| Amlodipine (Amlode, Amlip) | DHP (3rd gen) | Reference DHP; once-daily HTN + angina; ASCOT evidence |
| Nifedipine (Depin, Nicardia Retard, Cardipin) | DHP (1st gen) | Pregnancy-safe MR; tocolysis; must use ER formulations for chronic HTN |
| Nimodipine (Nimodip) | DHP (cerebrovascular) | Subarachnoid haemorrhage vasospasm prevention — NOT for routine HTN |
| Diltiazem (Dilzem, Dilzem CD) | Non-DHP (benzothiazepine) | HTN + rate control + angina; moderate cardiac effect |
| Verapamil (Calaptin 40, Calaptin SR) | Non-DHP (phenylalkylamine) | Strongest cardiac effect; SVT, AF rate, cluster headache |
DHP vs non-DHP — why it matters: DHPs (amlodipine, nifedipine) act selectively on arterial smooth muscle with minimal cardiac effect — safe to combine with beta-blockers. Non-DHPs (diltiazem, verapamil) slow AV nodal conduction and reduce cardiac contractility — do NOT combine with beta-blockers (additive bradycardia, heart block, acute heart failure risk). If your patient is already on a beta-blocker, use a DHP.
Opslag
Store Nimodip below 25°C. Protect from light. Keep out of reach of children.
Veelgestelde vragen
Can I eat grapefruit on Nimodip?
Grapefruit (juice and fresh fruit) inhibits CYP3A4 metabolism and can raise nimodipine plasma levels by 2-3×, increasing the risk of hypotension, dizziness, and oedema. Best practice: avoid grapefruit/juice while on CCBs, or consume consistently (your dose is titrated to BP response; sporadic grapefruit disrupts that).
Is Nimodip safe in pregnancy?
Nimodipine is avoided in pregnancy except for life-threatening aSAH where the neurological benefit outweighs the fetal exposure risk.
Can I combine Nimodip with my other BP medications?
Yes — DHP CCBs combine well with ACE-remmers (ramipril, lisinopril), ARBs (losartan, telmisartan, olmesartan), beta-blockers (bisoprolol, metoprolol), and thiazide diuretics (HCTZ). The ACEi/ARB + CCB combination is particularly useful because it eliminates the ankle oedema side effect.
Can I use nimodipine for regular high blood pressure?
No — nimodipine is a specialist neurosurgical CCB, used for 21-day courses to prevent cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid haemorrhage. Its short half-life requires 4-hourly dosing which is impractical for chronic hypertension, and its cerebrovascular selectivity makes it less effective at peripheral BP control than amlodipine or nifedipine MR. Use amlodipine of nifedipine retard for chronic HTN.
Where can I buy Nimodip online?
You can buy Nimodip (nimodipine 30 mg, 30-180 tablets) from MedsBase with discreet packaging and worldwide shipping.
Related Antihypertensives on MedsBase
- Aquazide — Hydrochlorothiazide diuretic
- Calaptin SR — Verapamil SR 120/240 mg
- Cardipin Retard — Nifedipine 20 mg ER
- Dilzem — Diltiazem IR 30/60 mg
- Dilzem CD — Diltiazem CD 120/180 mg
- Nicardia Retard — Nifedipine retard 10/20/30 mg
- Browse all High Blood Pressure Medications
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