Plendil prescription

Plendil

This page contains drug information on Plendil.
The information provided includes the following:

what is Plendil
the possible side effects of Plendil
what happens if you miss a dose of Plendil
what happens if you overdose with Plendil
the most important information about Plendil
how to use Plendil
other drugs that may affect Plendil
what to avoid while using Plendil

Generic Name: felodipine (fe LOE di peen)
Brand Names: Plendil

What is the most important information I should know about felodipine?

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Do not stop taking felodipine without first talking to your doctor, even if you begin to feel better. If you stop taking the medication, your condition could become worse.

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Brush and floss your teeth regularly as directed by your dentist. Rarely, swelling of the gums may be a side effect from treatment with felodipine. Proper oral hygiene may alleviate these symptoms.

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Do not crush, chew, or break the tablets. Swallow them whole.

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Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with felodipine. The interaction could lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit and grapefruit juice with your doctor. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.

What is felodipine?

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Felodipine is in a class of drugs called calcium channel blockers. Felodipine relaxes (widens) your blood vessels (veins and arteries), which makes it easier for the heart to pump and reduces its workload.

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Felodipine is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure).

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Felodipine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking felodipine?

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Before taking felodipine, tell your doctor if you have

liver disease; or

another disease of the heart or blood vessels such as sick sinus syndrome, aortic stenosis, heart failure, low blood pressure, or coronary artery disease.

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You may not be able to take felodipine, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

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Felodipine is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether felodipine will be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.

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It is not known whether felodipine passes into breast milk. Do not take felodipine without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

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If you are over 65 years of age, you may be more likely to experience side effects from felodipine. Your doctor may prescribe a lower dose of this medication.

How should I take felodipine?

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Take felodipine exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

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Take each dose with a full glass of water.

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Take each dose consistently either without food or with a light meal.

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Do not crush, chew, or break the tablets. Swallow them whole.

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Do not stop taking felodipine without first talking to your doctor, even if you begin to feel better. If you stop taking the medication, your condition could become worse.

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Brush and floss your teeth regularly as directed by your dentist. Rarely, swelling of the gums may be a side effect from treatment with felodipine. Proper oral hygiene may alleviate these symptoms.

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Store felodipine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

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Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

What happens if I overdose?

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Seek emergency medical attention.

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Symptoms of a felodipine overdose include dizziness, weakness, chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, an unusually fast or slow heartbeat, coma, slurred speech, and confusion.

What should I avoid while taking felodipine?

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Follow any recommendations your doctor makes about diet or exercise.

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Use caution when you stand or sit up from a lying position, especially if you wake up during the night. You may become dizzy when changing positions.

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Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may further lower blood pressure and increase drowsiness or dizziness while taking felodipine.

What are the possible side effects of felodipine?

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If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking felodipine and contact your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical treatment:

an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);

unusually fast or slow heartbeat;

chest pain;

severe dizziness or fainting;

abnormal behavior or psychosis;

jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), or

swelling of the legs, ankles, or face.

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Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take felodipine and talk to your doctor if you experience

fatigue or tiredness;

headache;

insomnia or difficulty sleeping;

swelling of your gums;

nausea or diarrhea;

increased or difficult urination;

muscle or joint discomfort; or

flushing (redness).

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Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect felodipine?

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Before taking felodipine, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following drugs:

another heart medication to treat the same or another condition;

erythromycin (E-Mycin, E.E.S., Eryc, Ery-Tab, others);

itraconazole (Sporanox) or ketoconazole (Nizoral);

cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB);

carbamazepine (Tegretol);

phenytoin (Dilantin); or

rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane) or rifabutin (Mycobutin).

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You may not be able to take felodipine, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.

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Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with felodipine or affect your condition. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products.

Where can I get more information?

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Your pharmacist has additional information about felodipine written for health professionals that you may read.

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Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children. Never share your medicines with others and only use this medication for the condition prescribed.

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Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/ or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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