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|Felodipine

Felodipine

Felodipine is used for:

Treating high blood pressure, alone or with other medications. It may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor, which may not be listed in the professional package insert.

Felodipine is a calcium channel blocker. It works by blocking the normal action of calcium on blood vessels and the heart. This allows the blood vessels to relax, the heart to beat with less force and pump out less blood, and the heart to beat more slowly and regularly.

Do NOT use Felodipine if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Felodipine
• you have a history of low blood pressure

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Felodipine :

Some medical conditions may interact with Felodipine . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have heart problems, breathing problems, or a slow heartbeat

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Felodipine . Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Barbiturates (eg, phenobarbital), carbamazepine, or hydantoins (eg, phenytoin) because the effectiveness of Felodipine may be decreased
• Azole antifungals (eg, ketoconazole), cimetidine, or erythromycin because the actions and side effects of Felodipine may be increased
• Macrolide immunosuppressives (eg, tacrolimus) because the actions and side effects of these medicines may be increased

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Felodipine may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Felodipine :

Use Felodipine as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Felodipine should be regularly taken either without food or with a light meal
• Avoid drinking grapefruit juice while taking Felodipine
• Do not to crush or chew tablets. Swallow them whole
• If you miss a dose of Felodipine , take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Felodipine .

Important safety information:

• Felodipine may cause dizziness or lightheadedness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to Felodipine . Using Felodipine alone, with other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or to perform other potentially dangerous tasks.
• Felodipine may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting. Alcohol, hot weather, exercise, and fever can increase these effects. To prevent them, sit or stand up slowly, especially in the morning. Also, sit or lie down at the first sign of dizziness, lightheadedness, or weakness.
• Patients being treated for high blood pressure often feel tired or run down for a few weeks after beginning treatment. Continue taking your medication even though you may not feel quite "normal." Contact your doctor or pharmacist about any new symptoms.
• While you are using Felodipine , brush and floss your teeth carefully. Also, have regular dental checkups.
• Use Felodipine with extreme caution in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY AND BREAST-FEEDING: If you plan on becoming pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Felodipine during pregnancy. It is unknown if this drug is excreted in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Felodipine .

Possible side effects of Felodipine :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Diarrhea; dizziness; flushing; headache; mild swelling of gums; nausea; weakness.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); breathing problems; chest pain; enlarged breasts in men; fast or irregular heartbeat; heart problems; impotence; lightheadedness and fainting; swelling of the ankles or hands.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm), or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include: confusion; dizziness; drowsiness; nausea; slowed or irregular heartbeat; weakness; slurred speech.

Store Felodipine at room temperature between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C) in a tightly closed container. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Felodipine out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Felodipine , please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Felodipine is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Felodipine . If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.