about Felodipine class, uses, side effects contraindications
Felodipine
Short Description
Felodipine is a drug that belongs to a group of drugs called calcium channel blockers. Calcium is necessary to constrict blood vessels, blocking the passage of calcium, dilating blood vessels and lowering blood pressure.
This medicine is mainly used to treat patients with high blood pressure, as lowering blood pressure can help reduce the risk of a stroke or heart attack.
It may be used in some cases to treat angina pectoris.
Category
Chemical class: Dihydropyridine derivative
Therapeutic class: Antihypertensive
Pregnancy category: C
Indications
To manage essential hypertension alone or with other antihypertensives
Adults.Initial: 5 mg daily. Dosage adjusted every 2 wk to 2.5 to 10 mg daily based on patient response.
DOSAGE ADJUSTMENT Initial or maintenance dosage reduced, if needed, in patients who are over age 65 or have impaired hepatic function. Route Onset Peak Duration P.O. 2–5 hr Unknown 16–24 hr
Mechanism of Action
May slow the movement of extracellular calcium into myocardial and vascular smooth-muscle cells by deforming calcium channels in cell membranes, inhibiting ioncontrolled gating mechanisms, and interfering with calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. The effect of these actions is a decrease in intracellular calcium ions, which inhibits contraction of smooth-muscle cells and dilates coronary and systemic arteries. As with other calcium channel blockers, felodipine’s actions result in increased oxygen to the myocardium and reduced peripheral resistance, blood pressure, and afterload.
Contraindications
Hypersensitivity to felodipine or its components
Interactions
anesthetics (hydrocarbon inhalation): Possibly hypotension antihypertensives, prazocin: Increased risk of hypotension
beta blockers: Increased adverse effects of beta blockers
cimetidine: Increased felodipine bioavailability digoxin: Transiently increased blood digoxin level and risk of digitalis toxicity estrogens: Possibly increased fluid retention and decreased felodipine effects lithium: Increased risk of neurotoxicity NSAIDs, sympathomimetics: Possibly felodipine 426 decreased therapeutic effect of felodipine procainamide,
quinidine: Increased risk of prolonged Q-T interval tacrolimus: Possibly increased blood tacrolimus level and risk of adverse effects grapefruit juice: Doubled felodipine bioavailability
Side Efect
CNS: Asthenia, dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue, headache, paresthesia, syncope, weakness
CV: Chest pain, hypotension, palpitations, peripheral edema, tachycardia
EENT: Gingival hyperplasia, pharyngitis, rhinitis
GI: Abdominal cramps, constipation, diarrhea, indigestion, nausea
HEME: Agranulocytosis
MS: Back pain
RESP: Cough
SKIN: Flushing, rash
Cautions
Use felodipine cautiously in patients with heart failure or reduced ventricular function. Monitor blood pressure during dosage titration and throughout felodipine therapy, especially in elderly patients. Felodipine bioavailability increases up to twofold when taken with grapefruit juice.
WARNING Felodipine may cause severe hypotension with syncope, which may lead to reflex tachycardia. This can precipitate angina in patients with coronary artery disease or a history of angina. Watch for signs of overdose, such as excessive peripheral vasodilation, marked hypotension and, possibly, bradycardia. If they appear, place patient in supine position with legs elevated and give I.V. fluids, as ordered. Expect to give I.V. atropine for bradycardia. PATIENT SAFTY
Instruct patient to swallow tablets whole and not to crush or chew them. Caution patient not to alter her intake of grapefruit juice during therapy. Advise patient to store felodipine at room temperature and to protect it from light. Instruct patient to monitor her pulse rate and blood pressure. Teach patient how to minimize gingival hyperplasia. Advise patient to notify prescriber immediately if she has palpitations, pronounced dizziness, or swelling of hands or feet.
trad drugs based on Felodipine
| Gen name | Trade name | Catagory name |
| enalapril/felodipine | Lexxel | ACE inhibitors with calcium channel blocking agents |
| felodipine | Plendil | Calcium channel blocking agents |
| Felodipine | PLENDIL 10MG SRTAB | |
| Felodipine | PLENDIL 5MG SR TAB | |
other drugs from same cataogory