Felodipine: What It Is and How It Works

Felodipine is a prescription drug that belongs to the calcium‑channel blocker family. It helps relax the muscles around your blood vessels, which lowers blood pressure and improves blood flow. If your doctor has mentioned felodipine for high blood pressure or certain heart conditions, this guide will walk you through the basics you need to know.

When to Use Felodipine

Most people take felodipine for hypertension (high blood pressure) that isn’t controlled by lifestyle changes alone. It’s also used for angina – the chest pain that happens when the heart isn’t getting enough oxygen. Your doctor may prescribe it if you have a history of heart disease, diabetes, or kidney issues, because keeping blood pressure in check can protect those organs.

Typical starting doses range from 2.5 mg to 5 mg once daily, taken with or without food. Your doctor might adjust the dose based on how well your blood pressure responds and any side effects you experience. Never double up if you miss a dose; just take the next one at your usual time.

Safety Tips & Common Interactions

Felodipine is generally safe, but it can cause a few predictable side effects. The most common are headache, dizziness, flushing, and swelling in the ankles or feet. If you notice a rapid heartbeat, severe swelling, or an allergic rash, call your doctor right away.

Because felodipine changes how blood vessels react, it can interact with other blood‑pressure meds, certain antibiotics, and grapefruit juice. Grapefruit can boost felodipine levels and increase the risk of side effects, so it’s best to avoid it while you’re on the drug.

Alcohol may also make you feel more dizzy, especially when you first start the medication. If you’re planning a surgery or an invasive procedure, let your healthcare team know you’re on felodipine – they may want to pause it temporarily.

Pregnant or breastfeeding women should discuss risks with their doctor. While felodipine isn’t known to cause birth defects, the benefit‑risk balance should be carefully considered.

Finally, keep regular appointments for blood‑pressure checks. Your doctor will track how well felodipine is working and decide if any dose tweaks are needed. If you ever feel unsure about any symptom, a quick call to your pharmacy or provider can clear things up.

At OCNAT.org we aim to give you clear, up‑to‑date information on meds like felodipine so you can make confident health decisions. Bookmark this page for easy reference and feel free to explore our other drug guides for more insights.