Cyclosporine/Calcium Channel Blockers Interactions

This information is generalized and not intended as specific medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional before taking or discontinuing any drug or commencing any course of treatment.

Medical warning:

Moderate. These medicines may cause some risk when taken together. Contact your healthcare professional (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) for more information.

How the interaction occurs:

The cause of the interaction is not known. When these two medicines are taken together, your calcium channel blocker may prevent your body from processing cyclosporine properly.

What might happen:

Your blood levels of cyclosporine may increase and cause toxic effects.

What you should do about this interaction:

Contact your doctor if you experience headache; dizziness; blurred vision; weakness; fatigue; unusual hair growth; swelling of the ankles, feet or hands; irregular or fast heartbeat; muscle pain; nausea; stomach pain; yellowing eyes or skin; dark urine; fever; numbness or tingling of the hands or feet; changes in amount of urine; constipation or diarrhea; or shortness of breath. It may be necessary to adjust your dose of cyclosporine or change you to a different medicine.Your healthcare professionals (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) may already be aware of this interaction and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.

  • 1.Wagner K, Neumayer HH. Prevention of delayed graft function in cadaver kidney transplants by diltiazem. Lancet 1985 Dec 14;2(8468):1355-6.
  • 2.Pochet JM, Pirson Y. Cyclosporin-diltiazem interaction. Lancet 1986 Apr 26;1(8487):979.
  • 3.Grino JM, Sabate I, Castelao AM, Alsina J. Influence of diltiazem on cyclosporin clearance. Lancet 1986 Jun 14;1(8494):1387.
  • 4.Bourbigot B, Guiserix J, Airiau J, Bressollette L, Morin JF, Cledes J. Nicardipine increases cyclosporin blood levels. Lancet 1986 Jun 21; 1(8495):1447.
  • 5.Neumayer HH, Wagner K. Diltiazem and economic use of cyclosporin. Lancet 1986 Aug 30;2(8505):523.
  • 6.Lindholm A, Henricsson S. Verapamil inhibits cyclosporin metabolism. Lancet 1987 May 30;1(8544):1262-3.
  • 7.Cantarovich M, Hiesse C, Lockiec F, Charpentier B, Fries D. Confirmation of the interaction between cyclosporine and the calcium channel blocker nicardipine in renal transplant patients. Clin Nephrol 1987 Oct; 28(4):190-3.
  • 8.Maggio TG, Bartels DW. Increased cyclosporine blood concentrations due to verapamil administration. Drug Intell Clin Pharm 1988 Sep;22(9):705-7.
  • 9.Wagner K, Henkel M, Heinemeyer G, Neumayer HH. Interaction of calcium blockers and cyclosporine. Transplant Proc 1988 Apr;20(2 Suppl 2):561-8.
  • 10.Henricsson S, Lindholm A. Inhibition of cyclosporine metabolism by other drugs in vitro. Transplant Proc 1988 Apr;20(2 Suppl 2):569-71.
  • 11.Kohlhaw K, Wonigeit K, Frei U, Oldhafer K, Neumann K, Pichlmayr R. Effect of the calcium channel blocker diltiazem on cyclosporine A blood levels and dose requirements. Transplant Proc 1988 Apr;20(2 Suppl 2):572-4.
  • 12.Kessler M, Netter P, Renoult E, Jonon B, Mur JM, Trechot P, Dousset B. Influence of nicardipine on renal function and plasma cyclosporin in renal transplant patients. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 1989;36(6):637-8.
  • 13.McNally P, Mistry N, Idle J, Walls J, Feehally J. Calcium channel blockers and cyclosporine metabolism. Transplantation 1989 Dec; 48(6):1071.
  • 14.McFadden JP, Pontin JE, Powles AV, Fry L, Idle JR. Cyclosporin decreases nifedipine metabolism. BMJ 1989 Nov 11;299(6709):1224.
  • 15.Kelly JJ, Walker RG, d'Apice AJ, Kincaid-Smith P. A prospective study of the effect of diltiazem in renal allograft recipients receiving cyclosporine A: preliminary results. Transplant Proc 1990 Oct; 22(5):2127-8.
  • 16.Tortorice KL, Heim-Duthoy KL, Awni WM, Rao KV, Kasiske BL. The effects of calcium channel blockers on cyclosporine and its metabolites in renal transplant recipients. Ther Drug Monit 1990 Jul;12(4):321-8.
  • 17.Bourge RC, Kirklin JK, Naftel DC, Figg WD, White-Williams C, Ketchum C. Diltiazem-cyclosporine interaction in cardiac transplant recipients: impact on cyclosporine dose and medication costs. Am J Med 1991 Mar; 90(3):402-4.
  • 18.Dy GR, Raja RM, Mendez MM. The clinical and biochemical effect of calcium channel blockers in organ transplant recipients on cyclosporine. Transplant Proc 1991 Feb;23(1 Pt 2):1258-9.
  • 19.Tenschert W, Harfmann P, Meyer-Moldenhauer WH, Arndt R, Klosterhalfen H. Kidney protective effect of diltiazem after renal transplantation with long cold ischemia time and triple-drug immunosuppression. Transplant Proc 1991 Feb;23(1 Pt 2):1334-5.
  • 20.Endresen L, Bergan S, Holdaas H, Pran T, Sinding-Larsen B, Berg KJ. Lack of effect of the calcium antagonist isradipine on cyclosporine pharmacokinetics in renal transplant patients. Ther Drug Monit 1991 Nov; 13(6):490-5.
  • 21.Kunzendorf U, Walz G, Brockmoeller J, Neumayer HH, Jochimsen F, Roots I, Offermann G, Strom TB. Effects of diltiazem upon metabolism and immunosuppressive action of cyclosporine in kidney graft recipients. Transplantation 1991 Aug;52(2):280-4.
  • 22.Chagnac A, Zevin D, Ori Y, Korzets A, Hirsh J, Levi J. The effect of high-dose nifedipine on renal hemodynamics of cyclosporine-treated renal allograft recipients. Transplantation 1992 Apr;53(4):766-9.
  • 23.Leibbrandt DM, Day RO. Cyclosporin and calcium channel blockers: an exploitable drug interaction?. Med J Aust 1992 Sep 7;157(5):296-7.
  • 24.Chrysostomou A, Walker RG, Russ GR, d'Apice AJ, Kincaid-Smith P, Mathew TH. Diltiazem in renal allograft recipients receiving cyclosporine. Transplantation 1993 Feb;55(2):300-4.
  • 25.Kuzuya T, Kobayashi T, Moriyama N, Nagasaka T, Yokoyama I, Uchida K, Nakao A, Nabeshima T. Amlodipine, but not MDR1 polymorphisms, alters the pharmacokinetics of cyclosporine A in Japanese kidney transplant recipients. Transplantation 2003 Sep 15;76(5):865-8.
  • 26.Pesavento TE, Jones PA, Julian BA, Curtis JJ. Amlodipine increases cyclosporine levels in hypertensive renal transplant patients: results of a prospective study. J Am Soc Nephrol 1996 Jun;7(6):831-5.
  • 27.Sennesael J, Lamote J, Violet I, Tasse S, Verbeelen D. Comparison of perindopril and amlodipine in cyclosporine-treated renal allograft recipients. Hypertension 1995 Sep;26(3):436-44.
  • 28.Cardizem LA (diltiazem hcl extended release tablets) US prescribing information. Abbott Pharmaceuticals, Inc. November, 2016.
  • 29.Norvasc (amlodipine) US Prescribing Information. Pfizer Labs October, 2017.

Selected from data included with permission and copyrighted by First Databank, Inc. This copyrighted material has been downloaded from a licensed data provider and is not for distribution, except as may be authorized by the applicable terms of use.

CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.