II. Indications

III. Contraindications

  1. Liver Failure
  2. Hypotension

IV. Mechanism

  1. Second Generation Dihydropyridine Calcium Channel Blocker
  2. Inhibits vascular Smooth Muscle contractility

V. Pharmacokinetics

  1. Crosses the blood brain barrier (lipophilic)

VI. Safety

  1. Unknown safety in pregnancy
  2. Present in Breast Milk

VII. Dosing: Adult

  1. Started within 96 hours of event and continued for 21 days
  2. Standard Dose (including in impaired Renal Function)
    1. Nimodipine 60 mg orally or via Nasogastric Tube every 4 hours
  3. Reduced Dose (Cirrhosis)
    1. Nimodipine 30 mg orally or via Nasogastric Tube every 4 hours

VIII. Precautions

  1. Do NOT use Parenterally due to cardiovascular event risk (may be lethal)
  2. Monitor Blood Pressure

XI. References

  1. Spencer and LoVecchio (2021) Crit Dec Emerg Med 35(7): 32
  2. Liu (2011) CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets 10(7):834-44 +PMID: 21999736 [PubMed]

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Related Studies

Cost: Medications

nimodipine (on 12/20/2023 at Medicaid.Gov Survey of pharmacy drug pricing)
NIMODIPINE 30 MG CAPSULE Generic $0.99 each

Ontology: Nimodipine (C0028094)

Definition (NCI_NCI-GLOSS) Belongs to a family of drugs called calcium channel blockers. It is being investigated for use with anticancer drugs to prevent or overcome drug resistance and improve response to chemotherapy.
Definition (NCI) A dihydropyridine derivative and an analogue of the calcium channel blocker nifedipine, with antihypertensive activity. Nimodipine inhibits the transmembrane influx of calcium ions in response to depolarization in smooth muscle cells, thereby inhibiting vascular smooth muscle contraction and inducing vasodilatation. Nimodipine has a greater effect on cerebral arteries than on peripheral smooth muscle cells and myocardial cells, probably because this agent can cross the blood brain barrier due to its lipophilic nature. Furthermore, this agent also inhibits the drug efflux pump P-glycoprotein, which is overexpressed in some multi-drug resistant tumors, and may improve the efficacy of some antineoplastic agents.
Definition (MSH) A calcium channel blockader with preferential cerebrovascular activity. It has marked cerebrovascular dilating effects and lowers blood pressure.
Definition (CSP) 1,4 dihydropyridine; centrally acting calcium channel blocker used in the treatment of a wide range of disorders, including drug withdrawal, AIDS motor/cognitive disorder, and post cardiac surgery recovery.
Definition (PDQ) A dihydropyridine derivative and an analogue of the calcium channel blocker nifedipine, with antihypertensive activity. Nimodipine inhibits the transmembrane influx of calcium ions in response to depolarization in smooth muscle cells, thereby inhibiting vascular smooth muscle contraction and inducing vasodilatation. Nimodipine has a greater effect on cerebral arteries than on peripheral smooth muscle cells and myocardial cells, probably because this agent can cross the blood brain barrier due to its lipophilic nature. Furthermore, this agent also inhibits the drug efflux pump P-glycoprotein, which is overexpressed in some multi-drug resistant tumors, and may improve the efficacy of some antineoplastic agents. Check for "http://www.cancer.gov/Search/ClinicalTrialsLink.aspx?id=41210&idtype=1" active clinical trials or "http://www.cancer.gov/Search/ClinicalTrialsLink.aspx?id=41210&idtype=1&closed=1" closed clinical trials using this agent. ("http://nciterms.nci.nih.gov:80/NCIBrowser/ConceptReport.jsp?dictionary=NCI_Thesaurus&code=C692" NCI Thesaurus)
Concepts Pharmacologic Substance (T121) , Organic Chemical (T109)
MSH D009553
SnomedCT 387502003, 87285001
English Nimodipine, 3,5-Pyridinedicarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-, 2-methoxyethyl 1-methylethyl ester, NIMO, nimodipine, nimodipine (medication), NIMODIPINE, Nimodipine [Chemical/Ingredient], niMODipine, NiMODipine, Nimodipine (product), Nimodipine (substance)
Swedish Nimodipin
Czech nimodipin
Finnish Nimodipiini
Russian NIMODIPIN, НИМОДИПИН
Japanese ニモジピン
Spanish nimodipina, nimodipino, nimodipino (producto), nimodipino (sustancia), nimodipina (producto), nimodipina (sustancia), Nimodipino
Polish Nimodypina
French Nimodipine
German Nimodipin
Italian Nimodipina
Portuguese Nimodipino