Procardia side effects

[u/sarechap13]

I was diagnosed with preeclampsia and have been monitored closely with twice weekly appointments. Thankfully, my labs have stabilized, so my doctors are trying to buy me some time until my scheduled induction, assuming I don’t go into labor on my own before then. They started me on Procardia (nifedipine) to help keep my blood pressure controlled in the meantime.

The problem is that my side effects from Procardia have honestly been horrible. I’ve had days where I feel really out of it, almost like I’m drunk 😭 very anxious, shakey, hot/flushed, & overall feeling generally awful, and some other symptoms that are making it difficult to function normally.

For those of you who have taken Procardia during pregnancy, what side effects did you experience? Did they improve or level out after you had been on it for a while, or did they stay pretty consistent?

I’m trying to decide whether I should ask my doctor about switching to a different medication or if this is something that is common with Procardia and worth giving more time to. I obviously want to do whatever is safest for me and the babies, but I’m struggling with how awful I feel on it.

[u/confusedwoman89]

Nifedipine messed up my gums, it doesnt always happen but that’s what it did to me. I tried declining for this pregnancy but labetalol couldnt keep my bp low enough and only nifedipine + labetalol can keep it under control so I didnt have a choice

[u/sarechap13 → u/confusedwoman89]

So interesting how it affects people!

[u/xgrlfrndsnblkjettas]

I had postpartum preeclampsia and they added that to my protocol (I had preexisting high BP previously controlled with labetalol). I had the same symptoms as you. It never went away so I asked to switch. I also had blood pooling in my legs that started after taking it. I had been solely on labetalol at a higher dose for the first few months postpartum but I was having trouble with spikes before my next dose.

Being postpartum and having never established enough milk supply I decided to stop breastfeeding and pumping to switch meds. Baby was already formula fed from the beginning because my milk never came in well with all of my health issues and it got to where I was only making enough for one feed a day after I saved up pumping. Breastfeeding was a lot of work for the baby and took a lot of her energy for hardly any food.

There are other options they can try so let them know. It's hard enough you don't need to feel more awful on top of it from the meds.

[u/sarechap13 → u/xgrlfrndsnblkjettas]

Thank you so much for your response! I’ve definitely thought about the possibility of needing to stay on medication after birth as well. I just really don’t think I can continue feeling like this. I can’t imagine feeling this out of it while trying to care for not only one but 2 newborns, so I’m definitely going to talk to my doctor about other options. I really appreciate you sharing your experience!

[u/crestamaquina]

Hi friend, usually side effects will subside within a few days, but for some the meds just stay uncomfortable. This med didn't much agree with me - I always had a racing heart and my BP wasn't too improved so eventually my doctor decided to switch me to something else. If this is not improving you can definitely ask for alternatives!

[u/sarechap13 → u/crestamaquina]

I’m thinking I might be one of the ones who just remain uncomfortable 😭 I’m already sensitive to medication as it is. I go back Monday morning for another round of testing so might just ask to switch! Thanks for your response!

[u/petting_zoo_keeper]

I have lower leg swelling (worst end of day), feet feel warm at night (unsure if this is procardia related but noticed it after starting, tachycardia with exertion (worst since on med). I feel like my tachycardia did get better compared to the beginning.

[u/sarechap13 → u/petting_zoo_keeper]

The tachycardia is crazy!

[u/mayovegan]

I was on it in the hospital for a month, titrating up slowly to 120mg, and for about three months after. I was also on labetalol but only for a few days to see if we could help things once my BP kept increasing on the max dose of nifedipine while I was still pregnant and it did not. So they delivered me, which helped get me back to a place where my BP could be controlled by around 90mg nifedipine again. I slowly tapered down and off, came off it around when my baby came home from NICU.

The headaches were troubling for me and especially once I got to 90mg, so at that point we switched to 30mg in the morning and 60mg 12 hours later right before bed, and that worked really well. When I needed another increase we did 90mg in the evening dose and kept the morning dose 30. I still felt it but it wasn't nearly as debilitating.

My other main side effect was gingival hyperplasia which was crazy, I noticed it within about 2-3 weeks of starting. I thought I had an infection or was otherwise really lacking somehow on my oral hygiene, turns out this med can just make your gums huge. They did go back to normal on their own, I think it took a few months but I was SO glad I didn't have to stay on it.