Felodipine
Indications
Felodipine is used for:
Hypertension, Angina pectoris, Heart Failure
Adult Dose
Oral
Hypertension
Adult: Initially, 5 mg once daily in the morning, adjust according to response. Maintenance: 2.5-10 mg/day. Max: 20 mg/day.
Angina pectoris, Heart Failure
Adult: Initially, 5 mg/day, increased to 10 mg/day if necessary.
Elderly: Initially, 2.5 mg once daily.
Hepatic impairment: Initially, 2.5 mg once daily.
Child Dose
Renal Dose
Administration
May be taken with or without food. Take w/o food or w/ a light meal. Avoid grapefruit juice.
Contra Indications
Unstable angina pectoris, cardiogenic shock, aortic stenosis. Use w/in 1 mth of MI.
Precautions
Patients w/ heart failure, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy w/ outflow tract obstruction. Hepatic impairment. Elderly. Pregnancy and lactation. Monitoring Parameters Monitor BP and heart rate.
Lactation: excretion in milk unknown/not recommended
Pregnancy-Lactation
Pregnancy Category: C
Lactation: excretion in milk unknown/not recommended
Interactions
Plasma levels increased by CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g. cimetidine, azole antifungals, erythromycin, ritonavir) and reduced CYP3A4 by inducers (e.g. phenytoin, carbamazepine, barbiturates). May increase concentration of tacrolimus.
Adverse Effects
Side effects of Felodipine :
>10%
Headache (11-15%)
1-10%
Peripheral edema (2-17%), Flushing (4-7%), Dizziness (1.1-3.4%), Tachycardia (0.4-2.5%)
Frequency Not Defined
Gingival hyperplasia, Rash, Upper respiratory infection
Mechanism of Action
Felodipine relaxes coronary vascular smooth muscles by inhibiting Ca ions from entering the slow channels or select voltage-sensitive areas of vascular smooth muscles and myocardium during depolarisation. It also increases myocardial oxygen delivery in patients w/ vasospastic angina.