calcium channel blocker?

[expert@preeclampsia.org]

Hello, I am 17 weeks pregnant. The twelve week scan showed a healthy, normal baby. I have chronic hypertension, a condition which I have known I have had since i was a teenager. At the moment I am a little overweight but active and I enjoy a healthy diet. I have never been treated for my blood pressure, however with my pregnancy my OB has decided to start me on Loxen Nicadipine. I had a bad reaction to the first 50mg dose and so I am now on 20mg morning and night with a view to increase the dosage as I can tolerate it. My bp before treatment was up to 170/110 and down to 140/90. With the treatment and stopping work we have seen a very slight decrease in my bp and hope that this continues as I increase the dosage. It is clear that i need medication to help manage my bp, what is your opinion of calcium blockers and namely, Loxen (nicadipine)? There is little information on your site as you mostly refer to antihypertensives and beta blockers.

[expert@preeclampsia.org]

I cannot find anything on this brand name drug (loxen); nicadapine may be nicardapine. If so, it is Preg C. Some animal information of risk, nothing in humans, and risk benefit in my mind would favor usage.