Nimotop® (nimodipine) 30 mg: Indications, Dosing, and Safety

What Nimotop® Is and How It Works

Nimotop is the brand name for nimodipine, a calcium channel blocker used after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). It helps lower the risk of delayed cerebral ischemia by improving blood flow in cerebral arteries prone to spasm. It is given by mouth as 30 mg tablets or capsules. The standard course is 21 days. If you are comparing Nimotop 30 mg price, Canadian pharmacy sourcing can offer meaningful savings.

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Nimodipine blocks L-type calcium channels in vascular smooth muscle. This reduces calcium influx and promotes arterial relaxation. In aSAH, cerebral vasospasm can cut brain perfusion between days 4 and 14. Nimodipine reduces the chance and severity of these ischemic complications. It is not for treating blood pressure or for intravenous use. Intravenous administration is dangerous and has led to deaths; nimodipine must be given orally or via nasogastric or gastric tube using proper technique.

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Dosage and Usage

• Typical regimen: 60 mg by mouth every 4 hours for 21 consecutive days (two 30 mg units per dose).
• Start as early as possible within 96 hours of the hemorrhage, per prescriber guidance.
• If low blood pressure or intolerance occurs, prescribers may adjust to 30 mg every 2 hours.
• Swallow whole with water. Follow any food instructions from your care team. Avoid grapefruit or grapefruit juice.
• For nasogastric/gastric tube: use the manufacturer’s recommended method to withdraw contents and administer immediately; do not inject.
• Never administer intravenously. Fatal events have occurred when nimodipine was given by IV.
• Missed dose: take as soon as remembered unless it is near the next scheduled dose. Do not double dose.
• Use caution when standing up, especially early in therapy, due to possible dizziness or low blood pressure.

• Storage: store at 15–25 °C (59–77 °F). Protect from light. Keep in the original container until use.
• Keep dry and away from excessive heat and humidity. Do not freeze.
• Travel: carry in your hand luggage with the labeled container. Bring a copy of your prescription.
• Separate from strong-smelling items. Do not store in a hot car or near windows.
• Keep out of reach of children and pets. Use a pill organizer only if protected from light.

Benefits and Savings

Nimotop reduces the risk of poor neurological outcomes from delayed cerebral ischemia after aSAH. It is easy to use in hospital and at home once swallowing is safe, and it has a well-studied 21-day course. Dose timing every 4 hours provides steady vascular effects during the high-risk window for vasospasm.

Buying from Canada can lower out-of-pocket costs. Typical savings are 60–80% compared with many US prices, while keeping access to brand medication reviewed by pharmacists. You can set gentle reorder reminders to avoid gaps for the complete 21-day course. Multi-pack promotions may reduce the per-month equivalent cost when purchasing more than one package for household needs or future therapy under medical guidance.

Side Effects and Safety

• Common: headache, flushing, dizziness or lightheadedness, nausea, stomach discomfort.
• Cardiovascular: low blood pressure, fast or slow heartbeat, peripheral edema.
• Central nervous system: fatigue, sleepiness, nervousness.
• Skin: warmth, mild rash.
• GI: constipation or diarrhea.

Serious reactions are uncommon but can include marked hypotension, fainting, severe bradycardia, or heart block. Do not administer intravenously under any circumstance. Use caution in hepatic impairment; prescribers may lower the dose. Nimodipine is metabolized by CYP3A4. Strong inhibitors (for example, certain macrolide antibiotics, azole antifungals, protease inhibitors, grapefruit) can increase levels. Strong inducers (for example, rifampin, carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital) can reduce effectiveness. Review all medicines with your healthcare team. In pregnancy or breastfeeding, clinicians weigh risks and benefits case by case.

Onset Time

After a dose, nimodipine reaches peak levels within about 1–2 hours. The clinical goal is prevention of delayed ischemia across the vasospasm window. Benefits accrue over days as the course continues. Most protocols start early and continue for 21 days to cover the highest-risk period (roughly days 4–14 post-bleed). Symptom changes are often subtle; the value is seen in fewer neurological deficits and better functional outcomes at discharge and follow-up.

Compare With Alternatives

Generic nimodipine contains the same active ingredient and is used with the same dosing schedule. Many patients use the brand for consistency or based on prescriber preference, while others switch to a trusted generic to lower costs. Discuss any change with your care team, especially mid-course, to maintain adherence and monitoring.

Other calcium channel blockers are not established for preventing delayed cerebral ischemia after aSAH. Intravenous agents such as nicardipine are used for blood pressure management, not as a replacement for nimodipine’s neuroprotective role in this setting.

Hospital care also includes timely aneurysm repair (coiling or clipping), careful fluid and electrolyte management, and neurological monitoring. Nimotop complements these measures but does not replace them.

Combination Therapy

• With antihypertensives: prescribers may adjust doses to avoid excessive blood pressure reduction.
• With analgesics and antiemetics: commonly used to support comfort and adherence.
• With anticonvulsants: used when seizure risk warrants it; monitor for interactions.
• With antiplatelets or anticoagulants: follow specialist guidance based on aneurysm repair status and bleeding risk.
• Tube feeding: coordinate administration timing to support absorption and reduce interaction with enteral nutrition when advised.

Patient Suitability and Cost-Saving Tips

Nimotop is intended for adults with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage to lower the risk of delayed cerebral ischemia. It is not for routine hypertension management. People with very low baseline blood pressure, significant conduction abnormalities, or decompensated heart failure may require alternative plans or close monitoring. Those with moderate to severe liver impairment often need dose adjustments. Always share a full medication list, including over-the-counter products and supplements, to avoid CYP3A4 interactions.

To manage costs, compare brand and generic options and consider Canadian pricing. Using a single pharmacy for the full 21-day supply helps coordination and timely delivery. You can turn on friendly refill reminders for any remaining supply needs. Buying multiple packs at once for household use may lower the per-pack price when promotions apply.

Authoritative Sources

Bayer product information for Nimotop (manufacturer)

Health Canada Drug Product Database: Nimodipine listings

FDA Prescribing Information: Nimotop (nimodipine)

Order Nimotop® from Youdrugstore: add to cart, upload your prescription, and we ship with prompt, express, cold-chain handling.

This content is for educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Always follow your prescriber’s instructions for diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring.