Comprehensive medication guide to Nimodipine including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Estimated Insurance Pricing
$0–$30 copay for generic nimodipine on most commercial and Medicare Part D plans (Tier 1–2). Hospital administration during inpatient SAH treatment is covered under the medical benefit, not pharmacy.
Estimated Cash Pricing
$439–$1,555 retail for generic nimodipine 30 mg capsules; as low as $28–$68 per 30 capsules with GoodRx or SingleCare coupons. Brand-name Nymalize oral solution is currently in FDA shortage.
Medfinder Findability Score
45/100
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Nimodipine is a prescription calcium channel blocker (dihydropyridine class) that is FDA-approved for improving neurological outcomes in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). It is the only FDA-approved oral treatment for preventing vasospasm-related brain damage after a ruptured intracranial aneurysm.
The FDA first approved nimodipine in 1988. It is sold under the brand name Nymalize (an oral solution) and is also available as generic nimodipine 30 mg liquid-filled oral capsules. The standard treatment course is 60 mg taken orally every 4 hours for 21 consecutive days, beginning within 96 hours of the hemorrhage.
Nimodipine carries an FDA boxed warning: it must NEVER be administered intravenously. Deaths have resulted from accidental IV injection of the drug's liquid contents. It must only be taken by mouth or via nasogastric tube.
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Nimodipine blocks L-type voltage-gated calcium channels in the smooth muscle cells of blood vessels. By preventing calcium from entering these cells, nimodipine reduces vascular smooth muscle contraction — allowing blood vessels to relax and widen. This increases blood flow to brain tissue.
What makes nimodipine distinct from other calcium channel blockers is its high lipid solubility, which allows it to cross the blood-brain barrier, and its demonstrated preferential activity on cerebral vasculature compared to peripheral blood vessels. This selectivity reduces the risk of excessive systemic blood pressure drops while still protecting the cerebral circulation from vasospasm.
The precise mechanism by which nimodipine improves neurological outcomes is not fully understood. Clinical trials consistently demonstrate improved outcomes despite the fact that arteriographic evidence of vasospasm reversal is not always seen — suggesting nimodipine may also have direct neuroprotective effects beyond vasodilation, possibly involving effects on neuronal calcium homeostasis and inflammatory pathways.
30 mg — Oral capsule (liquid-filled, generic)
Standard formulation; taken as two 30 mg capsules (60 mg total) every 4 hours for 21 days
60 mg / 10 mL (6 mg/mL) — Oral solution — prefilled syringe (Nymalize)
Brand-name liquid formulation for patients who cannot swallow; currently in FDA shortage as of 2026
Finding nimodipine at a retail pharmacy can be challenging in 2026. The FDA currently lists Nymalize oral solution as in shortage. Generic nimodipine 30 mg capsules are more broadly available, but because subarachnoid hemorrhage is a relatively uncommon indication, many community pharmacies do not routinely stock it.
Patients and caregivers often face difficulty when hospital discharge occurs before the 21-day nimodipine course is complete. The hospital may not provide a full supply for outpatient use, and retail pharmacies may not have it in stock. Hospital outpatient pharmacies and specialty pharmacies are the most reliable sources.
If you're struggling to locate nimodipine, medfinder can help. Enter your medication, dosage, and location — medfinder contacts pharmacies near you to check stock and texts you a list of pharmacies that have nimodipine available.
Because nimodipine is not a controlled substance, any licensed prescriber can write the prescription. However, in practice, it is almost always initiated in a hospital setting by specialists managing aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Prescribers include:
For follow-up prescription management after hospital discharge, telehealth visits with your neurologist or neurosurgeon are often available and appropriate. Primary care providers can also renew an existing prescription if needed. Because nimodipine is used for a specific, time-limited indication (21 days), telehealth initiation is not typically applicable — the underlying SAH always requires emergency in-person hospitalization.
No. Nimodipine is not a DEA-scheduled controlled substance. It does not appear on the federal list of controlled substances and has no special prescribing restrictions. Any licensed prescriber — physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant — can prescribe nimodipine without DEA-specific authorization.
As a non-controlled substance, nimodipine prescriptions can have refills (though a 21-day finite course rarely requires them), can be sent electronically, and do not require the special handling required for Schedule II-IV drugs. Patients do not need to visit an office in person to receive a prescription renewal — a telehealth visit or phone call to their neurology team is typically sufficient.
The most commonly reported side effects in clinical trials include:
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Nicardipine (IV)
Intravenous calcium channel blocker used in hospital settings for blood pressure management in SAH patients; not an oral substitute for outpatient nimodipine
Magnesium Sulfate (IV)
Used as an adjunct to nimodipine in some neurocritical care protocols; not a replacement for oral nimodipine
Clazosentan
Endothelin receptor antagonist showing promise in clinical trials for vasospasm prevention after aSAH; not yet widely available as a standard U.S. treatment as of 2026
Intra-arterial Verapamil
Interventional treatment for symptomatic vasospasm not responsive to oral nimodipine; used during cerebral angiography, not an oral outpatient alternative
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Ketoconazole / Itraconazole (azole antifungals)
majorStrong CYP3A4 inhibitors that significantly increase nimodipine blood levels, raising the risk of severe hypotension. Avoid concurrent use.
Ritonavir / Cobicistat (HIV protease inhibitors)
majorStrong CYP3A4 inhibitors that can dramatically raise nimodipine concentrations. Generally should be avoided with nimodipine.
Phenytoin / Carbamazepine / Phenobarbital
majorStrong CYP3A4 inducers commonly used in neurological patients that can substantially reduce nimodipine efficacy. Monitor closely; dose adjustment may be needed.
Rifampin
majorPowerful CYP3A4 inducer that can significantly reduce nimodipine blood levels and efficacy. Avoid concurrent use when possible.
St. John's Wort
majorHerbal CYP3A4 inducer that reduces nimodipine levels and efficacy. Avoid while taking nimodipine.
Antihypertensive medications (beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, diuretics)
moderateAdditive blood pressure lowering effect. Monitor blood pressure closely; dose adjustment of other antihypertensives may be needed.
Grapefruit / Grapefruit juice
moderateInhibits intestinal CYP3A4, increasing nimodipine blood levels and risk of hypotension. Avoid grapefruit in all forms during treatment.
Clarithromycin / Erythromycin
moderateMacrolide antibiotics that inhibit CYP3A4 and may increase nimodipine levels. Use with caution; monitor blood pressure.
Nimodipine is a critical, life-preserving medication for patients recovering from aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. With 35+ years of FDA approval and Level I clinical trial evidence behind it, nimodipine remains the gold standard for reducing vasospasm-related brain damage after a ruptured brain aneurysm. Completing the full 21-day course as prescribed is essential for optimal neurological recovery.
The two main challenges patients face with nimodipine in 2026 are finding it in stock (particularly the Nymalize oral solution, which is in FDA shortage) and managing the every-4-hour dosing schedule — including nighttime doses — during home recovery. Proactive discharge planning, including verification of pharmacy stock and a GoodRx or insurance plan comparison, can make a significant difference.
If you or a caregiver is struggling to find nimodipine at a pharmacy, medfinder is designed to help. Provide your medication, dosage, and location, and medfinder will contact pharmacies near you to check availability and text you the results — so you can spend your energy on recovery, not phone calls.
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Our medication guides are researched and written to help patients make informed decisions. All content is reviewed for accuracy and updated regularly. Learn more about our standards
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