Felodipine is a medication used to treat high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. It belongs to a group of medications called calcium channel blockers, or calcium antagonists, which work to lower your blood pressure by helping your blood vessels dilate (get wider). This makes it easier to pump blood around your body to lower your blood pressure.

What is felodipine used for?

Felodipine is used to treat high blood pressure. It can also be used to prevent chest and heart pain, caused by a condition called angina.

Felodipine tablets work as they contain the active ingredient felodipine, which is a calcium channel blocker. Calcium makes the heart and blood vessels squeeze together. Felodipine can reduce the amount of calcium getting into your heart and blood vessels, which helps your blood vessels to relax and open. This makes it easier for your heart to pump blood around your body, which lowers your blood pressure.

How long does it take felodipine to lower blood pressure?

Felodipine will start to lower your blood pressure on the first day you take it, but it can take a few weeks to take its full effect. Your doctor will check your blood pressure, or ask you to check it at home if you can, to make sure felodipine is working.

How long does felodipine stay in your system?

All medications have a half-life. This is how long it takes for half of the medicine to exit your body. Felodipine has a half-life of 25 hours and can take around 5 days to fully exit your body through your pee (urine) or poo. It is safe to take for a long time.

Is felodipine an ace inhibitor?

No, felodipine is a calcium channel blocker, which works differently to ACE inhibitors. You may be prescribed an ACE inhibitor along with felodipine.

Is felodipine a beta blocker?

Felodipine is not a beta blocker, as it works differently to lower blood pressure. You may be prescribed a beta blocker if felodipine is not working for you.

Felodipine should always be taken in the morning, to give the best effect during the day. You should swallow the tablet whole, with some water. You can take it without food, or with a light meal. You should not take felodipine tablets with a meal containing a lot of fat or carbohydrates.

What is the best time to take felodipine?

The best time to take felodipine is in the morning. Taking it at the same time every morning can help you remember to take it each day.

What should I do if I miss a tablet?

If you forget to take your tablet, leave your forgotten dose and take the next tablet at the right time. Never take 2 tablets at once to make up for a missed dose.

Felodipine comes in 3 different doses which are 2.5mg, 5mg, and 10mg. To treat high blood pressure, felodipine 5mg tablets are usually prescribed, once a day. If needed, your doctor can increase your dose to 10mg tablets, once a day. If you are elderly, you will usually start on the lowest dose, which is 2.5mg tablets, once a day, but this can be increased if required.

Felodipine 2.5mg

Felodipine 2.5mg tablets are usually used for elderly patients who have high blood pressure. This dose is prescribed until your body gets used to the medication. It can then be increased as needed, by your doctor.

Felodipine 5mg

This is the usual starting dose for high blood pressure. Felodipine 5mg tablets are prescribed once a day. Your doctor can then increase the dose, keep it the same, or prescribe another high blood pressure medication if you need it.

Felodipine 10mg

You will never be prescribed felodipine 10mg tablets if you have never had it before. This dose is prescribed once your body is used to 5mg tablets and if your doctor thinks you need a higher dose.

Felodipine cannot be bought over the counter, as it needs a prescription. You can get felodipine tablets through the NHS, either under their generic name, or under a branded name. Felodipine is available online through Superdrug Online Doctor and can be prescribed to you by one of our doctors.

Can I buy felodipine online?

Yes, you can buy felodipine online with Superdrug Online Doctor. Simply complete a short, online questionnaire for one of our doctors to review. You will then be prescribed felodipine if it is suitable for you. It can be ordered through our online service, which can be collected at a Superdrug pharmacy or delivered directly to your home.

How much does felodipine cost?

You can get a 3 month supply (84 tablets) of felodipine with Superdrug Online Doctor from £20, and a six month supply (168 tablets) from £35.

Can I get felodipine on the NHS?

Yes, felodipine is a prescription medication for high blood pressure which is available on the NHS. You may find felodipine under a different brand name, such as Vascalpha or Plendil.

Can I get felodipine over the counter?

No, felodipine cannot be purchased over the counter, as it needs to be prescribed by a doctor.

Felodipine can have some side effects but not everybody will get them. Most of the side effects will go away after a few days of taking the tablets. If you get a side effect, it will usually happen straight away, or after your doctor increases your dose. If your side effects bother you or do not go away, speak to your doctor.

Very common side effects include swelling in your ankles. Common side effects include flushing and headaches.

Uncommon side effects include:

• dizziness
• tiredness
• low blood pressure
• nausea (feeling sick)
• pain in your stomach
• an abnormal, fast heart rate
• heart palpitations
• numbness
• a burning or prickling feeling
• itching
• rash

Rare side effects include:

• pain in your muscles
• erectile dysfunction
• fainting
• vomiting (being sick)
• nettle rash
• pain in your joints

Very rare side effects include:

• swollen gums (gingivitis)
• an increase in enzymes in your liver (shown in a blood test)
• sensitivity to sunlight
• an increased need to pee (urinate)
• swelling in your small blood vessels of the skin
• hypersensitivity or allergic reactions, such as lumps on your skin and swelling in your face

If you get hypersensitivity or an allergic reaction, call 999 or go to A&E. As felodipine lowers your blood pressure, it can sometimes cause your blood pressure to drop too low. If you get frequent dizziness and chest pain, go to A&E straight away.

There are some medications and conditions that may make felodipine tablets not suitable for you. You should not take felodipine if you:

• are allergic to felodipine
• are pregnant
• have a disease of the heart muscle or valve
• have uncompensated heart failure
• have an acute heart attack
• have chest pain or angina that lasts longer than 15 minutes, or is more severe than usual
• are a child
• are breastfeeding

Felodipine is not suitable to be taken with grapefruit juice. You should avoid grapefruit whilst taking this medication, as it can increase the risk of side effects and cause your blood pressure to drop lower. Felodipine also contains lactose, so if you have an intolerance, speak to your doctor.

Some medications can interact with felodipine, so speak to your doctor if you take medication for:

• gastric ulcers, such as cimetidine
• fungal or other infections, such as erythromycin or ketoconazole
• HIV, such as ritonavir
• epilepsy, such as phenytoin
• anxiety, such as barbiturates
• organ transplants, such as tacrolimus

You should also speak to your doctor if you take any herbal remedies that contain St John’s wort. If you are not sure, speak to your doctor about any medication you take.

Felodipine and Viagra

Felodipine has been known to cause erectile dysfunction but this is rare. Viagra can lower blood pressure, as can felodipine. You should not take Viagra with felodipine without speaking to your doctor first. This is because taking both might cause your blood pressure to drop too low.

Felodipine and ibuprofen

Ibuprofen can be safe to take with felodipine, but your dose might need to be changed, or your blood pressure checked more often. If you stop taking ibuprofen, your blood pressure might change. Speak to your doctor before taking ibuprofen.

What painkillers can I take with felodipine?

Felodipine is safe to take with paracetamol. Speak to your doctor before taking other painkillers and felodipine.

Felodipine and alcohol

Alcohol is safe to drink whilst taking this medication. However, felodipine can lower your blood pressure, which can cause dizziness. If you drink alcohol, these side effects can become more common so it’s best to limit the amount of alcohol you drink, or to avoid alcohol, if you get dizzy often.

There are other medications that can be used for high blood pressure if felodipine is not suitable for you. You can also take felodipine with other medications if advised, to help lower your blood pressure. The alternatives to felodipine are:

• other calcium channel blockers, such as amlodipine or lercanidipine
• diuretics, also known as water tablets, such as bendroflumethiazide
• beta blockers, such as atenolol
• ACE inhibitors, such as perindopril
• angiotensin receptor blockers, such as candesartan

What if felodipine doesn't work?

If felodipine does not work, your doctor might increase your dose to 10mg tablets. If it still does not work, you may be switched to another medication. Your doctor will speak with you about the best alternative depending on your age and medical history. You may also be prescribed another medication with felodipine, to see if this works.