Felodipine is used to treat high blood pressure and angina (chest pain). It may help to increase your ability to exercise and decrease how often you get chest pain. Felodipine works by relaxing your blood vessels so blood can flow more easily, and in this way lowers your blood pressure. Felodipine belongs to a group of medicines called calcium-channel blockers. In New Zealand felodipine is available in different strengths of tablets (2.5 mg, 5 mg and 10 mg).
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Felodipine
Sounds like 'feh-LOW-dih-peen'
Key points about felodipine
- Felodipine is used to treat high blood pressure and angina (chest pain).
- Felodipine is also called Plendil ER or Felo ER.
- Find out how to take it safely and possible side effects.
- The usual dose of felodipine is 2.5 mg or 5 mg once daily.
- Depending on your response, your doctor may increase your dose to 10 mg once daily.
- Always take your felodipine exactly as your doctor has told you. The pharmacy label on your medicine will tell you how much felodipine to take, how often to take it, and any special instructions.
- Timing: Take felodipine once a day, at the same time each day. It is best taken in the morning. Swallow the whole tablet with a glass of water. Do not crush or chew the tablet. This will release all the medication at once and increase the risk of getting side effects. You can take felodipine with or without food.
- Limit alcohol while you are taking felodipine. It may increase your chance of side effects such as feeling dizzy.
- Missed dose: If you miss a dose take it as soon as you remember that day. But, if it is nearly time for your next dose, just take the next dose at the right time. Do not take double the dose.
- Do you have problems with your liver?
- Do you have heart problems such as heart failure or have you had a heart attack recently?
- Are you pregnant, trying for a baby or breast-feeding?
- Are you taking any other medicines? This includes any medicines you buy without a prescription, such as herbal and complementary medicines.
If so, it’s important that you tell your doctor or pharmacist before you start felodipine. Sometimes a medicine isn’t suitable for a person with certain conditions, or it can only be used with extra care.
Like all medicines felodipine can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. Often side effects improve as your body gets used to the new medicine.
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Felodipine may interact with some other medications and herbal supplements so check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting felodipine or before starting any new medicines, including those you may buy over the counter.
The following links have more information on felodipine.
Felodipine(external link) (Māori(external link)) New Zealand Formulary Patient Information
Plendil ER(external link) Medsafe Consumer Information Sheet
References
- Felodipine(external link) New Zealand Formulary
- Medical management of stable angina pectoris(external link) BPAC, 2011
- An update on managing patients with atrial fibrillation(external link) BPAC, 2017
Brochures
Medicines and side effects
Healthify He Puna Waiora, NZ, 2024
5 questions to ask about your medications
Health Quality and Safety Commission, NZ, 2019 English, te reo Māori
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Credits: Healthify He Puna Waiora Pharmacists. Healthify is brought to you by Health Navigator Charitable Trust.
Reviewed by: Angela Lambie, Pharmacist, Auckland
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