Side Effects of felodipine: A Synthesis of Findings from 26 Studies
- Home
- Side Effects of felodipine
This analysis is based on research papers included in PubMed, but medical research is constantly evolving and may not fully reflect the latest findings. There may also be biases towards certain research areas.
This information is not medical advice and is not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment by a physician. If you have concerns about "Side Effects of felodipine: A Synthesis of Findings from 26 Studies", please consult your doctor.
For NLM copyright information, please see Link to NLM Copyright Page
PubMed data is obtained via Hugging Face Datasets: Link to DatasetPlease check the disclaimer.
Main Research Findings
Felodipine is a calcium channel blocker commonly used to treat hypertension. By blocking calcium channels in vascular smooth muscle, it causes vasodilation and lowers blood pressure.
Felodipine can be used as monotherapy or in combination with other antihypertensive medications. 4 reports that felodipine has a similar blood pressure-lowering effect as nifedipine. 21 reports that felodipine has a similar blood pressure-lowering effect as atenolol and hydrochlorothiazide.
Extended-release formulations of felodipine have been shown to provide effective blood pressure control with once-daily administration. 3 demonstrated that extended-release felodipine maintains blood pressure lowering effects for 24 hours, compared to conventional felodipine tablets.
Felodipine is not recommended for use during pregnancy. 19 suggests that felodipine may affect fetal development.
Reasons for Side Effects
The side effects of felodipine are caused by its vasodilatory action. Vasodilation lowers blood pressure and reduces cardiac workload. However, vasodilation can also cause side effects such as dizziness, headache, and lightheadedness.
Common Side Effects
Dizziness
Some individuals may experience dizziness after taking felodipine. This has been reported in 10 , 4 , 26 , 21 , 25 , 22 . This is thought to be due to a rapid drop in blood pressure caused by vasodilation, leading to reduced blood flow to the brain.
Headache
Headache may occur after taking felodipine. 4 , 26 , 21 , 9 , 22 , 23 . This may be caused by the stretching of blood vessel walls due to vasodilation, leading to pain.
Lightheadedness
Some individuals may experience lightheadedness after taking felodipine. 26 , 22 . This is thought to be due to a drop in blood pressure caused by vasodilation, making individuals susceptible to dizziness when standing up.
Ankle Swelling
Ankle swelling may occur after taking felodipine. 10 , 4 , 26 , 21 , 9 , 22 , 23 . This is thought to be due to fluid retention in blood vessels caused by vasodilation.
Flushing
Some individuals may experience facial flushing after taking felodipine. 10 , 4 , 26 , 21 , 9 , 22 . This is thought to be due to increased blood flow to the face caused by vasodilation.
Palpitations
Some individuals may experience palpitations after taking felodipine. 10 , 4 , 21 , 9 . This is thought to be due to increased heart rate caused by vasodilation.
Indigestion
Some individuals may experience indigestion after taking felodipine. 4 , 21 . This is thought to be due to relaxation of muscles in the gastrointestinal tract caused by felodipine.
Managing Side Effects
Managing Dizziness and Lightheadedness
If you experience dizziness or lightheadedness after taking felodipine, get up slowly from a sitting or lying position and be careful to avoid falls.
Managing Headache
If you experience severe headaches after taking felodipine, consult your doctor.
Managing Ankle Swelling
If you experience ankle swelling after taking felodipine, elevate your legs and rest.
Managing Flushing
If you experience facial flushing after taking felodipine, rest in a cool, air-conditioned room.
Managing Palpitations
If you experience severe palpitations after taking felodipine, consult your doctor.
Managing Indigestion
If you experience indigestion after taking felodipine, eat easily digestible foods.
Comparing Research Findings
Similarities
Many studies have shown that felodipine is effective in lowering blood pressure. Felodipine is also generally recognized as a drug with relatively few side effects.
Differences
Side effects of felodipine may vary across studies. This is likely due to differences in study populations and methodologies. For example, 10 showed that taking felodipine with grapefruit juice increases felodipine blood levels, potentially increasing the risk of side effects. Conversely, 4 reported fewer side effects with felodipine compared to nifedipine.
Important Considerations for Real-World Application
While felodipine is an effective treatment for hypertension, it can cause side effects. Always follow your doctor's instructions carefully when taking felodipine, and seek immediate medical advice if you experience any side effects.
Current Research Limitations
Research on felodipine is still ongoing. Specifically, the long-term effects of felodipine use remain unclear.
Future Research Directions
More research is needed to investigate the long-term effects of felodipine use. Additionally, research is needed to investigate drug interactions between felodipine and other medications.
Conclusion
Felodipine is an effective drug for the treatment of hypertension. However, it can cause side effects. Always follow your doctor's instructions carefully when taking felodipine, and seek immediate medical advice if you experience any side effects.
Benefit Keywords
Risk Keywords
Article Type
Author: MadsenJ K, ZachariaeH, PedersenE B
Language : English
Author: MallionJ M, PehrssonN G, Raveau-LandonC, BoutelantS, MénardJ
Language : French
Author: HednerT, ElmfeldtD, DahlöfC, SjögrenE
Language : English
Author: SharmaS M, SethiK K, KaulU A, AroraR, KhalilullahM
Language : English
Author: MallionJ M, DahanR, BoutelantS, BenkritlyA, BaguetJ P, Noir-ClercM
Language : French
Author: NilssonH, BlychertE, JonassonT, LeppertJ, RingqvistI
Language : English
Author: MorganT O, AndersonA
Language : English
Author: OnwubereB J, ObodoJ O, OkeD A, OkeahialamB N, DanbauchiS S, MbakwemA C
Language : English
Author: CarrollJ, ShamissA, ZevinD, LeviJ, RosenthalT
Language : English
Author: BaileyD G, SpenceJ D, MunozC, ArnoldJ M
Language : English
Author: HillemanD E, ReyesA P, WurdemanR L, FaulknerM
Language : English
Author: van ZwietenP A
Language : English
Positive side effects of Ca antagonists for osteoarthritic joints-results of an in vivo pilot study.
Author: DaniilidisKiriakos, GeorgesPhilipp, TibeskuCarsten O, PrehmPeter
Language : English
Author: DunselmanP H, KuntzeC E, van BruggenA, HamerJ P, ScafA H, WesslingH, LieK I
Language : English
Author: MadsenJ K, KornerupH J, PedersenE B
Language : English
Author: Kristensen, Wiinberg, Høegholm, Kornerup, Svendsen, Mølby, Pindborg, Nielsen
Language : English
Author: FurukawaT, YamakawaT, MideraT, SagawaT, MoriY, NukadaT
Language : English
Author: KailasamM T, ParmerR J, CervenkaJ H, WuR A, ZieglerM G, KennedyB P, AdegbileI A, O'ConnorD T
Language : English
Author: StriessnigJörg, OrtnerNadine J, PinggeraAlexandra
Language : English
Author: BunH, DisdierB, AubertC, CatalinJ
Language : English
Author: SaltielE, EllrodtA G, MonkJ P, LangleyM S
Language : English
Author: LearyW P, MaharajB
Language : English
Author: AndrejakM, WitchitzS, MorandP, LesbreJ P, Raveau-LandonC
Language : French
Glucose tolerance in hypertensive patients during treatment with the calcium antagonist, felodipine.
Author: HednerT, ElmfeldtD, Von SchenckH, SjögrenE, SmithU
Language : English
Author: BinettiG, PancaldiS, GiovanelliN, NegroniS, FerrettiR M, BranziA, SpecchiaS, MagnaniB
Language : English
Author: CapewellS, CollierA, MatthewsD, HajduckaC, CollierR, ClarkeB F, MuirA L
Language : English
This site uses cookies. Visit our privacy policy page or click the link in any footer for more information and to change your preferences.