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Felodipine


  • Important: Do not drink any grapefruit juice while you are taking felodipine.
  • Felodipine may cause dizziness. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before driving, operating machinery or doing any other jobs which could be dangerous if you were not fully alert.

About felodipine

Type of medicine Calcium Channel Blocker
Used for Treating high blood pressure
Preventing angina
Also called Cardioplen® XL; Felendil® XL; Felotens® XL; Neofel® XL; Pinefeld® XL; Plendil®; Vascalpha®
Available as Modified release tablets (modified release preparations are released slowly over the day to give a more even effect)

Felodipine is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) and angina (chest pain). Angina occurs when the heart muscles do not receive enough oxygen.

Felodipine works by relaxing and opening up the blood vessels. This allows blood to circulate more freely around the body, lowering blood pressure and allowing the heart to work more efficiently.

Before taking felodipine

Before taking felodipine make sure your doctor or pharmacist knows:

  • If you are pregnant, trying for a baby or breast-feeding.
  • If you suffer from liver problems.
  • If you have suffered from a heart attack within the last month or have any other heart problems.
  • If your angina (chest pain) is getting worse or occurs even when you are resting.

How to take felodipine

  • Take felodipine exactly as directed by your doctor.
  • Felodipine should be swallowed whole, not crushed or chewed, with a glass of water.
  • Try to take felodipine at the same time each day to avoid missing any doses.
  • If you do forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember then continue as normal. If it is nearly time for your next dose, take it on time and leave out the missed dose. Never take two doses at the same time to make up. If in doubt speak with your doctor or pharmacist.
  • Do not stop taking felodipine without speaking to your doctor first.

Getting the most from your treatment

  • Keep your regular appointments with your doctor so your progress can be checked.
  • Important: Do not drink any grapefruit juice while you are taking felodipine.
  • Felodipine may cause dizziness. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before driving, operating machinery or doing any other jobs which could be dangerous if you were not fully alert.
  • When you first start taking felodipine you may experience headaches, hot flushes and swollen ankles. This usually goes away a few days after starting treatment.
  • Felodipine may cause some people's skin to become more sensitive to sunlight than it usually is, avoid bright sunlight and sunbeds and use a sun cream higher than factor 15 until you know how your skin reacts.

Can felodipine cause problems

Along with their useful effects all medicines can cause unwanted side effects, which usually improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine. Speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following side effects continue or become troublesome.

Common side-effects What can I do if I experience this
Headache Ask your pharmacist to recommend a suitable painkiller
Dizziness Stand up slowly from a sitting or lying position. If you feel dizzy do not drive or operate machinery.

Other possible side effects include flushing, being aware of your heartbeat, feeling tired, swollen ankles, rash, itching, needing to pass urine more often, problems with erection, a high temperature, swollen gums, pins and needles, joint pain, muscle aches.

Important: If you experience chest pain and dizziness at the same time, or your chest pains get worse, contact your doctor at once.

How to store felodipine

  • Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.
  • Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct heat and light.

Important information about all medicines


  • Keep all medicines out of the sight and reach of children.
  • Make sure that the person prescribing this medicine knows about any other medicines that you are taking. This includes medicines you buy and herbal and homeopathic medicines.
  • If you buy any medicines check with a pharmacist that they are safe to take with your other medicines.
  • Before taking this medicine tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction after taking any medicine.
  • Never take more than the prescribed dose. If you suspect that you or someone else has taken an overdose of this medicine go to the accident and emergency department of your local hospital at once. Always take the container with you, if possible, even if it is empty.
  • If you are having any treatment like an operation or dental treatment tell the person carrying out the treatment which medicines you are taking.
  • Always read the printed information leaflet that comes with your medicine.
  • This medicine is for you. Never give it to other people even if their condition appears to be the same as yours.
  • Never keep out of date or unwanted medicines. Take them to your local pharmacy which will dispose of them for you.
  • If you have any questions about this medicine ask your pharmacist.

Comprehensive patient resources are available at www.patient.co.uk
© EMIS 2008 DocID:
3482		 DocRef:
dils2728		 Last Updated:
1 Oct 2007		 Date of Next Review:
30 Sep 2009		 Version:
23








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PS - Health and Poverty

Perhaps the biggest cause of ill health in the world is poverty. Help to Make Poverty History. For example, why not lend some of your money to disadvantaged communities to enable them to trade their way out of poverty through schemes such as Shared Interest.

See also MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY North East for details and links to campaigns against poverty.

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