Nicardipine

Systematic (IUPAC) name
2-[benzyl(methyl)amino]ethyl methyl 2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate
Identifiers
CAS number	55985-32-5
ATC code	C08CA04
PubChem	4474
DrugBank	APRD00088
Chemical data
Formula	C26H29N3O6
Mol. mass	479.525 g/mol
Physical data
Melt. point	6 °C (43 °F)
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	?
Protein binding	>95%
Metabolism	?
Half life	8.6 hours
Excretion	?
Therapeutic considerations
Pregnancy cat.	?
Legal status
Routes	?
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Nicardipine hydrochloride (Cardene) is a medication used to treat high blood pressure and angina. It belongs to the class of calcium channel blockers.

Nicardipine is a dihydropyridine calcium-channel blocking agent used for the treatment of vascular disorders such as chronic stable angina, hypertension, and Raynaud's phenomenon. It is available in oral and intravenous formulations. Its mechanism of action and clinical effects closely resemble those of nifedipine and the other dihydropyridines (amlodipine, felodipine), except that nicardipine is more selective for cerebral and coronary blood vessels. Furthermore, nicardipine does not intrinsically decrease myocardial contractility and may be useful in the management of congestive heart failure. Nicardipine also has a longer half-life than nifedipine. Nicardipine was approved by the FDA in December 1988. The patent for both Cardene and Cardene SR expired in October 1995.

It has been used in percutaneous coronary intervention.^[1]

Nicardipine must be used with caution in patients with renal failure because of possible kidney shutdown.

[edit] References

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