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Cardene® (nicardipine hydrochloride) is a prescription medication used to treat certain types of chest pain (angina) and high blood pressure (hypertension). A long-acting form of the drug is also available (see Cardene SR).
(Click Cardene Uses for more information on what it is used for, including possible off-label uses.)
Cardene is made by Hoffmann-La Roche, Inc. Generic Cardene is made by various manufacturers.
Cardene is part of a class of drugs called calcium channel blockers. It helps to slow down the rate at which calcium moves into the heart and blood vessel walls. This, in turn, helps to relax the vessels, which improves blood flow and makes it easier for the heart to pump blood.
There are two basic types of calcium channel blockers, dihydropyridine and non-dihydropyridine. The most important difference between the two types is that non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers can slow down the heart rate, while dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers do not. Cardene is a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker, which means that it does not usually decrease the heart rate.
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