Felodipine

Felodipine extended-release tablets are indicated for the treatment of hypertension. Felodipine extended-release tablets may be used alone or concomitantly with other antihypertensive agents.

The recommended starting dose is 5 mg once a day. Depending on the patient's response, the dosage can be decreased to 2.5 mg or increased to 10 mg once a day. These adjustments should occur generally at intervals of not less than 2 weeks. The recommended dosage range is 2.5 mg to 10 mg once daily.

In clinical trials, doses above 10 mg daily showed an increased blood pressure response but a large increase in the rate of peripheral edema and other vasodilatory adverse events . Modification of the recommended dosage is usually not required in patients with renal impairment. Felodipine extended-release tablets should regularly be taken either without food or with a light meal . Felodipine extended-release tablets should be swallowed whole and not crushed or chewed. Geriatric Use Patients over 65 years of age are likely to develop higher plasma concentrations of felodipine . In general, dose selection for an elderly patient should be cautious, usually starting at the low end of the dosing range (2.5 mg daily).

Elderly patients should have their blood pressure closely monitored during any dosage adjustment. Patients with Impaired Liver Function Patients with impaired liver function may have elevated plasma concentrations of felodipine and may respond to lower doses of felodipine extended-release tablets; therefore, patients should have their blood pressure monitored closely during dosage adjustment of felodipine extended-release tablets .

Felodipine extended-release tablets are contraindicated in patients who are hypersensitive to this product.

Pregnancy Pregnancy Category C Teratogenic Effects Studies in pregnant rabbits administered doses of 0.46, 1.2, 2.3 and 4.6 mg/kg/day (from 0.8 to 8 times 1 the maximum recommended human dose on a mg/m 2 basis) showed digital anomalies consisting of reduction in size and degree of ossification of the terminal phalanges in the fetuses. The frequency and severity of the changes appeared dose related and were noted even at the lowest dose. These changes have been shown to occur with other members of the dihydropyridine class and are possibly a result of compromised uterine blood flow.

Similar fetal anomalies were not observed in rats given felodipine. In a teratology study in cynomolgus monkeys, no reduction in the size of the terminal phalanges was observed, but an abnormal position of the distal phalanges was noted in about 40% of the fetuses. Nonteratogenic Effects A prolongation of parturition with difficult labor and an increased frequency of fetal and early postnatal deaths were observed in rats administered doses of 9.6 mg/kg/day (8 times 1 the maximum human dose on a mg/m 2 basis) and above.

Significant enlargement of the mammary glands, in excess of the normal enlargement for pregnant rabbits, was found with doses greater than or equal to 1.2 mg/kg/day (2.1 times the maximum human dose on a mg/m 2 basis). This effect occurred only in pregnant rabbits and regressed during lactation. Similar changes in the mammary glands were not observed in rats or monkeys.

There are no adequate and well controlled studies in pregnant women. If felodipine is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, she should be apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus, possible digital anomalies of the infant, and the potential effects of felodipine on labor and delivery and on the mammary glands of pregnant females. 1 Based on patient weight of 50 kg

Nursing Mothers It is not known whether this drug is secreted in human milk and because of the potential for serious adverse reactions from felodipine in the infant, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or to discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.

In controlled studies in the United States and overseas, approximately 3,000 patients were treated with felodipine as either the extended-release or the immediate-release formulation. The most common clinical adverse events reported with felodipine extended-release administered as monotherapy at the recommended dosage range of 2.5 mg to 10 mg once a day were peripheral edema and headache. Peripheral edema was generally mild, but it was age and dose related and resulted in discontinuation of therapy in about 3% of the enrolled patients. Discontinuation of therapy due to any clinical adverse event occurred in about 6% of the patients receiving felodipine extended-release, principally for peripheral edema, headache, or flushing. Adverse events that occurred with an incidence of 1.5% or greater at any of the recommended doses of 2.5 mg to 10 mg once a day (felodipine extended-release, N = 861; Placebo, N = 334), without regard to causality, are compared to placebo and are listed by dose in the table below. These events are reported from controlled clinical trials with patients who were randomized to a fixed dose of felodipine extended-release tablets or titrated from an initial dose of 2.5 mg or 5 mg once a day. A dose of 20 mg once a day has been evaluated in some clinical studies. Although the antihypertensive effect of felodipine extended-release tablets is increased at 20 mg once a day, there is a disproportionate increase in adverse events, especially those associated with vasodilatory effects . Percent of Patients with Adverse Events in Controlled Trials* of Felodipine Extended-Release (N = 861) as Monotherapy without Regard to Causality (Incidence of discontinuations shown in parentheses) Body System Adverse Events Placebo N = 334 2.5 mg N = 255 5 mg N = 581 10 mg N = 408 Body as a Whole Peripheral Edema 3.3 2 8.8

17.4Asthenia

3.3 3.9 3.3

2.2Warm Sensation

0 0 0.9

1.5Cardiovascular Palpitation

2.4 0.4 1.4

2.5Digestive Nausea

1.5 1.2 1.7 1 Dyspepsia 1.2 3.9 0.7

0.5Constipation

0.9 1.2 0.3

1.5Nervous Headache

10.2 10.6 11

14.7Dizziness

2.7 2.7 3.6

3.7Paresthesia

1.5 1.6 1.2

1.2Respiratory Upper Respiratory Infection

1.8 3.9 1.9

0.7Cough

0.3 0.8 1.2

1.7Rhinorrhea

0 1.6 0.2

0.2Sneezing

0 1.6 0 0 Skin Rash 0.9 2 0.2

0.2Flushing

0.9 3.9 5.3 6.9 * Patients in titration studies may have been exposed to more than one dose level of felodipine extended-release tablets. Adverse events that occurred in 0.5% up to 1.5% of patients who received felodipine extended-release in all controlled clinical trials at the recommended dosage range of 2.5 mg to 10 mg once a day, and serious adverse events that occurred at a lower rate, or events reported during marketing experience (those lower rate events are in italics) are listed below. These events are listed in order of decreasing severity within each category, and the relationship of these events to administration of felodipine extended-release is uncertain: Body as a Whole: Chest pain, facial edema, flu-like illness Cardiovascular: Myocardial infarction , hypotension , syncope , angina pectoris , arrhythmia , tachycardia, premature beats Digestive: Abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, dry mouth, flatulence, acid regurgitation Endocrine: Gynecomastia Hematologic: Anemia Metabolic: ALT (SGPT) increased Musculoskeletal: Arthralgia, back pain, leg pain, foot pain, muscle cramps, myalgia, arm pain, knee pain, hip pain Nervous/Psychiatric: Insomnia, depression, anxiety disorders, irritability, nervousness, somnolence, decreased libido Respiratory: Dyspnea, pharyngitis, bronchitis, influenza, sinusitis, epistaxis, respiratory infection Skin: Angioedema , contusion, erythema, urticaria, leukocytoclastic vasculitis Special Senses: Visual disturbances Urogenital: Impotence, urinary frequency, urinary urgency, dysuria, polyuria.

Gingival Hyperplasia: Gingival hyperplasia, usually mild, occurred in < 0.5% of patients in controlled studies. This condition may be avoided or may regress with improved dental hygiene. Clinical Laboratory Test Findings Serum Electrolytes No significant effects on serum electrolytes were observed during short- and long-term therapy . Serum Glucose No significant effects on fasting serum glucose were observed in patients treated with felodipine extended-release in the U.S. controlled study.

Liver Enzymes One of two episodes of elevated serum transaminases decreased once drug was discontinued in clinical studies; no follow-up was available for the other patient.