What is nifedipine drug -free)
Nimodipine is a non-opioid (agonist) antipsychotic (also called "anxiolytic") medication that is prescribed to treat the symptoms of schizophrenia. It has shown to have moderate efficacy and minimal abuse potential in treating people with schizophrenia.
Nimodipine is most often prescribed for the treatment of schizophrenia, but it has also been shown to work well as a treatment for bipolar disorder, as well in acute depression (as an antidepressant).
Side Effects
Nimodipine can have a wide range of side effects, including but not limited to:
nausea
headache
dizziness
tachycardia
depression
mood instability
mood worsening
tremor
mood lowering
numbness and tingling in extremities
nervousness
confusion
unusual aggression
loss of appetite
drowsiness
sleep disorders
anxiety
anxiety coma
If you experience any of the above side effects, contact your physician immediately.
Potential Drug Interactions
Nimodipine has not been tested in combination with any drugs at this time. There are a few exceptions to this:
Nimodipine has been tested in studies with a number of antipsychotic medications. When combining medications with nimodipine at doses of 50 to 200 mg per day, there have been no statistically significant safety issues noted.
Drugs known to increase dopamine D2 receptors may not be effective with nimodipine.
Nimodipine is not strongly metabolized in the human body, leading to potential neurotoxicity with chronic use.
If you are taking any of the following medications, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about whether these medications may interact with nimodipine, and if so, how you should take your medication.
Antidepressants
Antidepressants may have additive, synergistic, or antagonistic effects when taken with nimodipine. This would be of particular concern for people who receive nimodipine as a maintenance or part of their treatment for bipolar disorder (BPD).
Some of the known antidepressants that may interact with nimodipine include:
Anxiolytics
Benzodiazepines (benzodiazepines include Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan, Valium, Temazepam, and others)
D-Epinephrine
Desipramine
Dimenhydrinate
Imipramine
Lithotripsy
Methadone
Norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (NRI-`s, aka MAOI's) – including, but not limited to, Stavzor (Remeron), Remeron XR (Exelon), XL (Flexeril), Methylin (Neo), and Methylisothiazolinone (MI-3).
Pimozide (Pristiq)
Selamet
Topiramate
Valproate
Zopiclone (Sinequan, Zyprexa, and others)
When nimodipine is used with other antidepressants, there generally are not any significant interactions reported.
Antipsychotics
Antipsychotic drugs often reduce the number or size of active synapses in certain areas of the brain, potentially increasing risk of psychosis.
In controlled experiments, both nimodipine and some atypical antipsychotic (such as quetiapine) have been shown to significantly and increase the onset (and severity) of psychotic symptoms when they are administered at dosages exceeding the recommended "maximum dosage levels" as prescribed by your doctor.
Nimodipine at drug stores for sale in canada dosages typically used in the emergency department and for treatment of acute psychosis has also been shown to significantly increase psychotic symptoms when they are administered at dosages typically used in the emergency department and for treatment of