1,4‐Dihydropyridines (DHPs) belonging to the group of calcium antagonists or calcium channel blockers' are among the most important drugs used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. During the development processes all candidates on the market have to be labeled with isotopes. Since the discovery of 1,4‐dihydropyridines (DHP) as cardiovascular drugs, the published syntheses for the labeling with radioactive isotopes like tritium, carbon‐11, carbon‐14, iodine‐125 and stable isotopes like deuterium and carbon‐13 are reviewed in the present report. The different synthetic routes are depicted and the synthesis details will be discussed with respect to the yields referred to labeled starting materials, specific activities and labeling degrees. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.