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Plendil (FELODIPINE)
Plendil works by blocking calcium channels in blood vessel walls, causing them to relax and widen, which lowers blood pressure.
Plendil (Felodipine) is a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker developed by AstraZeneca. It targets the voltage-dependent T-type calcium channel subunit alpha-1H, reducing blood pressure in patients with hypertensive disorders. Originally approved in 1991, Plendil is now off-patent with 13 generic manufacturers. Its half-life is 10 hours, and bioavailability is 15%. Key safety considerations include its potential to cause edema and hypotension.
At a glance
| Generic name | FELODIPINE |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | AstraZeneca |
| Drug class | Dihydropyridine Calcium Channel Blocker [EPC] |
| Target | Voltage-dependent T-type calcium channel subunit alpha-1H |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Cardiovascular |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
| First approval | 1991 |
Mechanism of action
Mechanism of Action. Felodipine is member of the dihydropyridine class of calcium channel antagonists (calcium channel blockers). It reversibly competes with nitrendipine and/or other calcium channel blockers for dihydropyridine binding sites, blocks voltage-dependent Ca++ currents in vascular smooth muscle and cultured rabbit atrial cells, and blocks potassium-induced contracture of the rat portal vein.In vitro studies show that the effects of felodipine on contractile processes are selective, with greater effects on vascular smooth muscle than cardiac muscle. Negative inotropic effects can be detected in vitro, but such effects have not been seen in intact animals.The effect of felodipine on blood pressure is principally consequence of dose-related decrease of peripheral vascular resistance in man, with modest reflex increase in heart rate (see Cardiovascular Effects). With the exception of mild diuretic effect seen in several animal species and man, the effects of felodipine are acc
Approved indications
- Hypertensive disorder
Common side effects
- Peripheral Edema
- Headache
- Flushing
- Palpitation
- Warm Sensation
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Paresthesia
- Upper Respiratory Infection
- Cough
- Dyspepsia
- Constipation
Drug interactions
- clarithromycin
- dirithromycin
- fluconazole
- fosphenytoin
- itraconazole
- ketoconazole
- labetalol
- metoprolol
- nadolol
- penbutolol
- phenobarbital
- phenytoin
Key clinical trials
- Association of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Angiotensin Receptor Blockers With Post-Stroke Pneumonia: A Real-World Retrospective Cohort Study
- Impact of Antihypertensive Therapy on Recurrence Risk of Ovarian Cancer for Bevacizumab-associated Hypertension
- Felodipine Controlled Release Tablets and Felodipine Sustained Release Tablets in Healthy Subjects Under Fasting State Comparative Pharmacokinetic Study (PHASE1)
- ACEI or ARB and COVID-19 Severity and Mortality in US Veterans
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) ACEi/ARB Investigation (PHASE4)
- Coffee Interaction With the Antihypertensive Drug Felodipine (PHASE1)
- Efficacy and Safety of the Combination of Valsartan Plus Amlodipine in Hypertensive Patients Not Adequately Responding to the Combination Therapy With Ramipril Plus Felodipine (PHASE3)
- Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) (PHASE3)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| FDA label | Mechanism, indications, dosing, boxed warnings, drug interactions |
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Plendil CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Plendil updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- AstraZeneca portfolio CI