Administration of the drug for the treatment of hypertension is well documented for patients of different age groups. It is suited for single drug therapy or for combinations with other antihypertensive agents. When a nifedipine capsule is bitten in two the lowering of the blood pressure is quickly achieved (use for hypertension emergencies!). To date it has not been established, whether calcium antagonists can reduce mortality induced by hypertension.

The vasospastic form of angina pectoris (Prinzmetal's angina) responds better to a nifedipine treatment than chronically stable angina pectoris. For the latter beta-blockers, diltiazem, and verapamil are usually more effective. Nifedipine and isosorbide dinitrate have a comparable effect on chronic angina pectoris; however, nifedipine causes a deterioration of heart failure much more frequently. Numerous studies have demonstrated that nifedipine does not improve the prognosis after a myocardial infarction.

Nifedipine is also considered the drug of choice for Raynaud's disease. It often also has good action on esophageal spasm and achalasia. The drug has been used for many other problems (e.g. for pulmonary hypertension, colics, bronchial asthma); its advantages are not safely established in these cases.

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