Which medication is known to cause gingival hyperplasia?

Nifedipine is known to cause gingival hyperplasia, a condition characterized by the overgrowth of gum tissue. This side effect is particularly associated with calcium channel blockers, a class of medications that includes nifedipine. The mechanism behind this involves the drug's effects on the proliferative activity of gingival fibroblasts, leading to an increase in collagen production and, consequently, gum overgrowth.

In contrast, while medications like aspirin, metformin, and ibuprofen are associated with various side effects, they do not typically lead to gingival hyperplasia. Aspirin is an analgesic and anti-inflammatory, metformin is primarily used to manage diabetes, and ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). These medications may cause other oral or gastrointestinal side effects, but they are not known to cause significant gum overgrowth as seen with nifedipine.