What is the difference between Nisoldipine and Verapamil Hydrochloride?

Nisoldipine and Verapamil Hydrochloride are both Calcium Channel Blockers, so they work through the same broad mechanism. They differ in dosing, half-life, side-effect frequency, and how individual patients tolerate them. See the head-to-head sections below for the specifics.

Is Sular the same as Verapamil Hydrochloride?

No. Sular (Nisoldipine) and Verapamil Hydrochloride (Verapamil Hydrochloride) are distinct medications. They are sometimes confused because of similar branding or because they treat overlapping conditions, but they have different active ingredients and different safety profiles.

Which has fewer side effects, Nisoldipine or Verapamil Hydrochloride?

Side-effect frequency varies by individual. The side-effect comparison section on this page shows FAERS-reported events for each drug side by side. FAERS is voluntary reporting, so it reflects what patients and clinicians chose to report, not absolute population risk.

Can I switch from Nisoldipine to Verapamil Hydrochloride?

Switching medications should always be done under prescriber supervision. The "patient stories" section on this page includes accounts from people who have made the switch and what their transition felt like, but those are individual experiences, not protocols.

Nisoldipine vs Verapamil Hydrochloride

Compare Nisoldipine (Sular) and Verapamil Hydrochloride (Verapamil Hydrochloride), clinical data, side effects, and patient experiences.

Nisoldipine

Sular · Calcium Channel Blocker

How it works

Mechanism of Action Nisoldipine is a member of the dihydropyridine class of calcium channel antagonists (calcium ion antagonists or slow channel blockers) that inhibit the transmem...

Approved for

INDICATIONS AND USAGE SULAR is indicated for the treatment of hypertension. It may be used alone or in combination with other antihypertensive agents.

OralTablet

Verapamil Hydrochloride

Verapamil Hydrochloride · Calcium Channel Blocker

How it works

Other agent

Approved for

Accessory bypass tract ) 2. Prophylaxis of repetitive paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia Essential hypertension: Verapamil is indicated for the treatment of hypertension

to lower blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events

primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions. These benefits have been seen in controlled trials of antihypertensive drugs from a wide variety of pharmacologic classes

including this drug. Control of high blood pressure should be part of comprehensive cardiovascular risk management

OralTablet

Quick Comparison

NisoldipineVerapamil Hydrochloride

Drug Class

Calcium Channel Blocker

Route

Oral

Half-Life

N/A

FDA Approved

N/A

Pregnancy

N/A

Side Effect Frequency Comparison

Estimated frequency (%) based on clinical trial data

Side Effects

Nisoldipine

Nausea

1-10%

Drug Not Working

1-10%

Dizziness

1-10%

Headache

1-10%

Fatigue

1-10%

Shortness of Breath

1-10%

Weakness

1-10%

Diarrhea

1-10%

Verapamil Hydrochloride

Shortness of Breath

1-10%

Nausea

1-10%

Dizziness

1-10%

Low Blood Pressure

1-10%

Fatigue

1-10%

Diarrhea

1-10%

Weakness

1-10%

Drug Not Working

1-10%

FDA Warnings

Nisoldipine

WARNINGS Increased angina and/or myocardial infarction in patients with coronary artery disease: Rarely, patients, particularly those with severe obstructive coronary artery disease, have developed increased frequency, duration and/or severity of angina, or acute myocardial infarction on starting calcium channel blocker therapy or at the time of dosage increase

Verapamil Hydrochloride

WARNINGS Heart failure: Verapamil has a negative inotropic effect, which in most patients is compensated by its afterload reduction (decreased systemic vascular resistance) properties without a net impairment of ventricular performance
Although a risk of this occurring with oral verapamil has not been established, such patients receiving oral verapamil may be at risk and its use in these patients is contraindicated (see CONTRAINDICATIONS )
Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (IHSS): In 120 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (most of them refractory or intolerant to propranolol) who received therapy with verapamil at doses up to 720 mg/day, a variety of serious adverse effects were seen
It must be appreciated that this group of patients had a serious disease with a high mortality rate

Clinical Trial Data

No head-to-head clinical studies found for Nisoldipine vs Verapamil Hydrochloride.

Nisoldipine vs Verapamil Hydrochloride: What You Should Know

Key Differences

Both Nisoldipine and Verapamil Hydrochloride belong to the Calcium Channel Blocker class. While they share a similar mechanism of action, differences in pharmacokinetics, dosing, and side effect profiles may make one more suitable than the other for individual patients.

Safety Considerations

Nisoldipine carries 1 FDA warning. Verapamil Hydrochloride carries 4 FDA warnings. Patients should discuss all warnings and contraindications with their healthcare provider before starting or switching medications..

This comparison is for informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making medication decisions.

Related Comparisons

Felodipine vs Nisoldipine→Nifedipine vs Nisoldipine→Felodipine vs Verapamil Hydrochloride→Nifedipine vs Verapamil Hydrochloride→Diltiazem Hydrochloride vs Nisoldipine→Diltiazem Hydrochloride vs Verapamil Hydrochloride→

Primary sources

Every figure on this comparison links back to its primary source. See data sources and methodology for the full provenance trail.

Nisoldipine: DailyMed label · FAERS adverse events · ClinicalTrials.gov
Verapamil Hydrochloride: DailyMed label · FAERS adverse events · ClinicalTrials.gov

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Nisoldipine vs Verapamil Hydrochloride

Compare Nisoldipine (Sular) and Verapamil Hydrochloride (Verapamil Hydrochloride), clinical data, side effects, and patient experiences.

Nisoldipine

Sular · Calcium Channel Blocker

How it works

Mechanism of Action Nisoldipine is a member of the dihydropyridine class of calcium channel antagonists (calcium ion antagonists or slow channel blockers) that inhibit the transmem...

Approved for

INDICATIONS AND USAGE SULAR is indicated for the treatment of hypertension. It may be used alone or in combination with other antihypertensive agents.

OralTablet

Verapamil Hydrochloride

Verapamil Hydrochloride · Calcium Channel Blocker

How it works

Other agent

Approved for

Accessory bypass tract ) 2. Prophylaxis of repetitive paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia Essential hypertension: Verapamil is indicated for the treatment of hypertension

to lower blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events

primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions. These benefits have been seen in controlled trials of antihypertensive drugs from a wide variety of pharmacologic classes

including this drug. Control of high blood pressure should be part of comprehensive cardiovascular risk management

OralTablet

Quick Comparison

NisoldipineVerapamil Hydrochloride

Drug Class

Calcium Channel Blocker

Route

Oral

Half-Life

N/A

FDA Approved

N/A

Pregnancy

N/A

Side Effect Frequency Comparison

Estimated frequency (%) based on clinical trial data

Side Effects

Nisoldipine

Nausea

1-10%

Drug Not Working

1-10%

Dizziness

1-10%

Headache

1-10%

Fatigue

1-10%

Shortness of Breath

1-10%

Weakness

1-10%

Diarrhea

1-10%

Verapamil Hydrochloride

Shortness of Breath

1-10%

Nausea

1-10%

Dizziness

1-10%

Low Blood Pressure

1-10%

Fatigue

1-10%

Diarrhea

1-10%

Weakness

1-10%

Drug Not Working

1-10%

FDA Warnings

Nisoldipine

WARNINGS Increased angina and/or myocardial infarction in patients with coronary artery disease: Rarely, patients, particularly those with severe obstructive coronary artery disease, have developed increased frequency, duration and/or severity of angina, or acute myocardial infarction on starting calcium channel blocker therapy or at the time of dosage increase

Verapamil Hydrochloride

WARNINGS Heart failure: Verapamil has a negative inotropic effect, which in most patients is compensated by its afterload reduction (decreased systemic vascular resistance) properties without a net impairment of ventricular performance
Although a risk of this occurring with oral verapamil has not been established, such patients receiving oral verapamil may be at risk and its use in these patients is contraindicated (see CONTRAINDICATIONS )
Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (IHSS): In 120 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (most of them refractory or intolerant to propranolol) who received therapy with verapamil at doses up to 720 mg/day, a variety of serious adverse effects were seen
It must be appreciated that this group of patients had a serious disease with a high mortality rate

Clinical Trial Data

No head-to-head clinical studies found for Nisoldipine vs Verapamil Hydrochloride.

Nisoldipine vs Verapamil Hydrochloride: What You Should Know

Key Differences

Safety Considerations

This comparison is for informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making medication decisions.