Drug Detail:Felodipine (Felodipine [ fe-loe-di-peen ])
Drug Class: Calcium channel blocking agents
Usual Adult Dose for Hypertension
Initial dose: 5 mg orally once a day
Maintenance dose: 2.5 to 10 mg orally once a day
Comments: If needed, dose adjustments should generally occur at intervals of at least 2 weeks.
Usual Geriatric Dose for Hypertension
Initial dose: 2.5 to 5 mg orally once a day
Maintenance dose: 2.5 to 10 mg orally once a day
Comments: If needed, dose adjustments should generally occur at intervals of at least 2 weeks.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Hypertension
(Not approved by FDA)
NIH and NHLBI recommendations:
1 year or older:
Initial dose: 2.5 mg orally once a day
Maintenance dose: 2.5 to 10 mg orally once a day
Maximum dose: 10 mg/day
Renal Dose Adjustments
No adjustment recommended
Liver Dose Adjustments
Initial dose: 2.5 mg orally once a day
Maintenance dose: 2.5 to 10 mg orally once a day
Precautions
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Hypersensitivity to the active component
Safety and efficacy have not been established in patients younger than 18 years.
Consult WARNINGS section for additional precautions.
Dialysis
Data not available
Other Comments
Administration advice:
- Administer whole. Do not crush or chew.
- Should regularly be taken either without food or with a light meal.
Storage requirements: Protect from light.
Monitoring:
- Cardiovascular: Blood pressure (during dose adjustments in elderly or hepatically impaired patients)
Patient advice: Inform patients that good dental hygiene decreases the incidence and severity of gingival hyperplasia.