Felodipine STELLA 2.5 mg retard

Rx

Indications

• Management of hypertension.
• Prophylaxis of stable angina pectoris.

Dosage

• Management of hypertension:
  Initial dosage is 5 mg once daily. The dosage should be adjusted according to the patient’s blood pressure response and tolerance., can be decreased to 2.5 mg daily or increased to 10 mg daily. If necessary another antihypertensive agent may be added.
  Maintenance dosage is 2.5 to 10 mg given once daily in the morning.
• Prophylaxis of stable angina pectoris:
  Treatment should be started with 5 mg once daily and if needed be increased to 10 mg once daily.
• Children: Should not use felodipine.
• In hepatic or renal impairment and in geriatric patients:
  Initial dosage: 2.5 mg daily should be adjusted carefully and blood pressure response should be closely monitored.
  Maximum dose: 5 mg daily.

Usage

• Administered orally before breakfast at least 30 minutes.
• The drug should be swallowed intact with water and should not be chewed or crushed.
• Only use this drug on an empty stomach.

• Pregnancy.
• Known hypersensitivity to felodipine or any of the ingredients.
• Decompensated heart failure.
• Acute myocardial infarction.
• Unstable angina pectoris.
• Haemodynamically significant cardiac valvular obstruction.
• Dynamic cardiac outflow obstruction.

• The most common adverse effects of felodipine are associated with its vasodilator action, include flushing, headache, dizziness. Most of these reactions appear at the start of treatment and diminish with time.
• As with other dihydropyridines, dose-dependent ankle swelling which results from precapillary vasodilatation can occur in patients treated with felodipine

• Due to hypotensive effect of calcium channel blockers, the drug can cause hypotension, syncope or reflex tachycardia leading to activate angina pectoris.
• Felodipine should be used with caution in the elderly and severe hepatic impairment patients, in patients with left ventricular dysfunction because it can cause heart failure, especially when combined
  with a beta-blocker.
• Felodipine should be discontinued if angina pectoris occurs, or existing pain worsens or having cardiogenic shock after initiating treatment.
• This drug should not be used with grapefruit juice.
• This dosage forms are not suitable for use as acute therapy in rapidly reducing blood pressure in patients with severe hypertension.
• Felodipine STELLA 2.5 mg retard contains lactose. Patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, total lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take this medicine.
• Felodipine should not be used during known or suspected pregnancy and lactation.
• Felodipine is not likely to affect the ability to drive and use machines.