Description
Nimodipine is a cerebral vasodilating calcium antagonist related to nifedipine. It
is indicated for the prophylaxis and treatment of neurological deficits due to
cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Chemical Properties
Crystalline Solid
Originator
Bayer (W. Germany)
Definition
ChEBI: A dihydropyridine that is 1,4-dihydropyridine which is substituted by methyl groups at positions 2 and 6, a (2-methoxyethoxy)carbonyl group at position 3, a m-nitrophenyl group at position 4, and an isopropoxycarbonyl group at position 5. An L
type calcium channel blocker, it acts particularly on cerebral circulation, and is used both orally and intravenously for the prevention and treatment of subarachnoid hemorrhage from ruptured intracranial aneurysm.
Manufacturing Process
After 8 hours boiling of solution of 3.8 g of 3'-nitro-benzylideneacetoacetic
acid isopropylester, 8 grams of acetoacetic acid β-metoxyethyl ester and 6 ml
conc ammonia in 80 ml ethanol under reflux, 2,6-dimethyl-4-(3'-nitrophenyl)-
1,4-dihydropyridine 3-β-methoxyethyl ester 5-isopropyl ester of melting point
125°C (petroleum ether/ acetic ester) was obtained. Yield 49% of theory.
Brand name
Nimotop
(Bayer).
Therapeutic Function
Vasodilator
General Description
Nimodipine, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)- 3,5-pyridinedicarboxylic acid 2-methoxyethyl1-methylethyl ester (Nimotop), is another dihydropyridinecalcium channel blocker but differs in that it dilatesthe cerebral blood vessels more effectively than do the otherdihydropyridine derivatives. This drug is indicated for treatmentof subarachnoid hemorrhage-associated neurologicaldeficits.
Biological Activity
L-type Ca 2+ channel blocker.
Biochem/physiol Actions
Nimodipine enhances the survival of dopaminergic substantia nigra neurons.
Clinical Use
Calcium-channel blocker:
Prevention and treatment of ischaemic neurological
deficits following subarachnoid haemorrhage
Drug interactions
Potentially hazardous interactions with other drugs
Aminophylline: possibly increases aminophylline
concentration.
Anaesthetics: enhanced hypotensive effect.
Antibacterials: metabolism accelerated by rifampicin;
metabolism possibly inhibited by clarithromycin,
erythromycin and telithromycin.
Antidepressants: enhanced hypotensive effect with
MAOIs .
Antiepileptics: effect reduced by carbamazepine,
barbiturates, phenytoin and primidone.
Antifungals: metabolism possibly inhibited by
itraconazole and ketoconazole; negative inotropic
effect possibly increased with itraconazole.
Antihypertensives: enhanced hypotensive effect,
increased risk of first dose hypotensive effect of post synaptic alpha-blockers.
Antivirals: concentration possibly increased by
ritonavir; use telaprevir with caution.
Grapefruit juice: concentration increased - avoid.
Theophylline: possibly increased theophylline
concentration.
Metabolism
Nimodipine is extensively metabolised in the liver via the
cytochrome P450 isoenzyme CYP3A4. It is eliminated
as metabolites, mainly by dehydrogenation of the
dihydropyridine ring and oxidative O-demethylation.
Oxidative ester cleavage, hydroxylation of the 2- and
6-methyl groups, and glucuronidation as a conjugation
reaction are other important metabolic steps. The three
primary metabolites occurring in plasma show no or only
therapeutically negligible residual activity.
The metabolites are excreted about 50% renally and 30%
in faeces via the bile.
storage
Store at -20°C,protect from light
References
1) Cohen and McCarthy (1987),?Nimodipine block of calcium channels in rat anterior pituitary cells; J. Physiol.,?387?195
2) Batuecas?et al.?(1998),?Effects of chronic nimodipine on working memory of old rats in relation to defects in synaptosomal calcium homeostasis; Eur. J. Pharmacol.,?350?141
3) LeVere?et al.?(1989),?Recovery of function after brain damage: facilitation by the calcium entry blocker nimodipine; Behav. Neurosci.,?103?561
4) Herzfeld?et al.?(2014),?Investigation of the neuroprotective impact of nimodipine on Neuro2a cells by means of a surgery-like stress model; Int. J. Mol. Sci.,?15?18453
5) Schampel?et al.?(2017),?Nimodipine fosters remyelination in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis and induces microglia-specific apoptosis; Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA,?114?E3295
6) Allen?et al.?(1983),?Cerebral arterial spasm – a controlled trial of nimodipine in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage; N. England J. Med.,?308?619