Nifedipine potentiates the toxic effects of cocaine in mice.

The calcium channel blockers (CCBs) have been shown to be effective in attenuating the behavioral effects of cocaine in rodents and subjective effects in cocaine-using volunteers. There have been reports indicating that, in the presence of toxic doses of cocaine, the CCBs could actually potentiate cocaine toxicity in rats. The present study was undertaken to make toxicological assessment of the potentiating effect of CCBs in mice.