DHP
Medical abbreviation · Drug Class
| Stands for | Dihydropyridine |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
DHP stands for Dihydropyridine, a drug class abbreviation.
Subclass of calcium channel blockers, including amlodipine, nifedipine, felodipine and nicardipine, that act mainly on blood vessels rather than heart muscle. They are among the most prescribed blood pressure drugs.
Example: Add DHP CCB (amlodipine 5 mg) as third agent for resistant HTN.
Usage notes
Dose-related ankle swelling is the most common side effect, caused by arteriolar dilation rather than fluid retention, so diuretics help little; adding an ACE inhibitor or ARB reduces it. Short-acting nifedipine capsules are no longer recommended for blood pressure emergencies because sudden drops caused strokes and heart attacks.
Related abbreviations
More drug class abbreviations
- CAI – Carbonic anhydrase inhibitor
- CCB – Calcium channel blocker
- CDK4/6i – Cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor
- CNI – Calcineurin inhibitor
- COC – Combined oral contraceptive
- COX-2 – Cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitor
- DMARD – Disease-modifying antirheumatic drug
- DOAC – Direct oral anticoagulant
- DORA – Dual orexin receptor antagonist
- DPP-4i – Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor
- DRI – Direct renin inhibitor
- DTI – Direct thrombin inhibitor
See all 113 drug class abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.