Nicardipine and Metformin: Interaction Details
AI-assisted, pharmacist-reviewed · Source data updated Aug 8, 2026 · Sources: FDA labeling, DDInter 2.0, cited literature
Nicardipine
Metformin
How we grade severity & evidence
Severity levels
- Contraindicated: These should generally not be used together.
- Major: Potentially serious — often needs a change or close monitoring.
- Moderate: Can be significant — usually manageable with monitoring.
- Minor: Usually limited clinical impact.
Evidence grades
- Established: Well documented — supported by controlled studies or strong clinical data.
- Probable: Good supporting evidence, though not definitively proven.
- Suspected: Some evidence suggests this interaction, but it is not well established.
- Possible: Limited or conflicting evidence; the interaction may occur.
- Theoretical: Predicted from the drugs' pharmacology; not yet confirmed in people.
Ratings come from the documented interaction literature and are reviewed by a pharmacist. They describe the documented risk of the combination, not what will necessarily happen to you — your dose, timing, and health picture all matter.
What happens
An increased risk of hyperglycemia and potential loss of glycemic control
Interaction Deep Dive
Calcium channel blockers may tend to produce hyperglycemia and may lead to loss of glycemic control. Observe the patients for loss of blood glucose control when such drugs are administered to a patient receiving metFORMIN. When such drugs are withdrawn from a patient receiving metFORMIN, the patient should be observed closely for hypoglycemia1.
Why it happens (mechanism)
Unknown
Common questions
Can I take Nicardipine and Metformin together?
An increased risk of hyperglycemia and potential loss of glycemic control Always confirm with your pharmacist or prescriber before making any change.
How serious is the Nicardipine and Metformin interaction?
It is rated moderate. Can be significant — usually manageable with monitoring.
How quickly could this interaction happen?
The documented onset is "unspecified". The timing of this interaction is not well characterized.
How strong is the evidence for this interaction?
The evidence is graded "theoretical". Predicted from the drugs' pharmacology; not yet confirmed in people.
From our Q&A
Real reader questions about these medications, each personally answered by our pharmacist:
Questions for your pharmacist
- Does my dose of Nicardipine or Metformin need adjusting while I take them together?
- What symptoms should prompt me to call you or my prescriber right away?
- Does the timing of my doses matter for this combination?
- Is there anything you'd monitor while I'm on both?
References (1)
- Product Information: KAZANO oral tablets, alogliptin, metformin hydrochloride oral tablets. Takeda Pharmaceuticals America Inc (per FDA), Lexington, MA, 2023. DailyMed
Keep reading about Nicardipine
Keep reading about Metformin
These medications also interact with supplements
Prescription drugs aren't the whole picture — herbal and dietary supplements can interact with them too. From the evidence-graded Natural Medicines database:
major · moderate · minor — check everything you take with our drug–supplement interaction checker.
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