If you are battling against hypertension, or high blood pressure problems, you will probably be familiar with Felodipine. This is a drug often prescribed by physicians in cases where others have been less than effective. Your research has probably uncovered some success stories, maybe you even personally know people who have good results with it, but I’m sure the question you are asking yourself is “will it work for me". What we’ll do in this article is to try and unravel some of these issues so that you can make an informed and balanced decision for yourself without all the usual hype surrounding these subjects.



Basic Information about Felodipine

One of the first things about this drug is that it is often known by its brand name, Plendil rather than the generic name of Felodipine. Astra Merck, the company behind this drug, developed it to be used primarily for the treatment of chest pains (or angina) and high blood pressure (hypertension). There is a specific drug group known as calcium channel blockers, this medication belongs to that group. Drugs within this category target the blood vessels thereby opening up the arteries. Generally it is available on prescription in tablet form in sizes of 2.5mg, 5mg and 10mg. It is actually very easy to store in the home; simply make sure it stays inside an airtight container away from excessive heat or moisture. There is no need to keep it inside your refrigerator.

What about adverse reactions with any other drugs?

As with all such treatments, seek out your doctor’s advice prior to mixing Felodipine with other prescription drugs. Taking other beta blockers in combination with this drug is something that should never be done. Why? Simply because these are powerful medications which when blended together can in fact work TOO well. Instead of the blood pressure being reduced to a normal figure you may find levels dropping dangerously close to the other end of the scale, leading to low blood pressure problems. If you are already taking Cimetidine or Digoxin then you should not add Felodipine into this mix. A blend of these drugs together can actually greatly exacerbate any potential side effects, turning them from a minor inconvenience into something more serious.

How about the actual dosage?

It needs to be emphasized that every patient could conceivably show a possible different reaction to Felodipine. Because there are no hard and fast rules any advice here will always be of a non-specific nature. Therefore before you start any treatment, talk with your doctor and follow the instructions given to you. In terms of general advice to all patients, you should never take this drug in conjunction with grapefruit juice. Always swallow the tablets whole, do not be tempted to crush them by hand before taking them, and do not chew them in your mouth. Such actions make the treatment less effective than it should be. On the plus side, there is no need to take your dose after a meal as you will find with some drugs.

To Sum Up

I am sure you were aware that the standing of Felodipine as a weapon in the battle against high blood pressure is high. It has little negative bearing on those with an active schedule because it is easy to take whether on an empty or a full stomach. As with virtually all prescription drugs the usual warnings apply, use your common sense. However, in conclusion, there is no reason that you should not find Felodipine to be a sufficiently helpful solution to your high blood pressure problems.