Felodipine is used to treat high blood pressure. It relaxes your blood vessels so your heart does not have to pump as hard.
How should I take Felo?
Felo comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day.
Do not crush, chew, or divide felodipine tablets.
Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand.
Take Felo exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
What other conditions can be treated with Felo?
Felo is also used sometimes to treat Raynaud's syndrome and congestive heart failure. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this drug for your condition.
Precautions
Before taking Felo,
- Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to felodipine or any other drugs.
- Tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially antiseizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin), and phenobarbital; cimetidine (Tagamet); erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, others); itraconazole (Sporanox); ketoconazole (Nizoral); ranitidine (Zantac); and vitamins.
- Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had heart, liver, or kidney disease.
- Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking Felo, call your doctor.
- if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you take felodipine.
What special dietry instructions should I follow?
Avoid drinking grapefruit juice or eating grapefruit 1 hour before or for 2 hours after taking Felo.
Talk to your doctor before using salt substitutes containing potassium. If your doctor prescribes a low-salt or low-sodium diet, follow these directions carefully.
What to do if I forget a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
Side Effects
Although side effects from felodipine are not common, they can occur. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
- headache
- flushing (feeling of warmth)
- dizziness or lightheadedness
- weakness
- fast heartbeat
- heartburn
- constipation
- enlargement of gum tissue around teeth
If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
- swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue, arms, or legs
- difficulty breathing or swallowing
- fainting
- rash
Storage Instructions
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children.
Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).
Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.
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