It is used in the treatment of primary (essential) hypertension to decrease blood pressure and can reduce the cardiotoxicity of cocaine.

[3] Following hepatic metabolism, 80% of the 20 mg dose can be recovered in the first 96 hours as inactive polar metabolites.

[3] The reported side effects include: headache, flushing, edema and palpitations.

It binds more effectively with L-type calcium channels in smooth muscle cells because of its lower resting membrane potential.

Nitrendipine has additionally been found to act as an antagonist of the mineralocorticoid receptor, or as an antimineralocorticoid.