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Felodipine and Headaches
Clinical studies have shown that up to 14.7 percent of people taking felodipine (Plendil) experienced headaches. The higher the dosage of felodipine, the more likely people were to develop headaches. If you are taking felodipine and headaches occur, talk to your healthcare provider. He or she may lower your felodipine dosage or may recommend another high blood pressure medication.
Felodipine (Plendil®) is a prescription medication known as a calcium channel blocker. It is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). As with any other medicine, there are potential side effects with felodipine. Although headaches are a common complaint in people taking felodipine, they are also a common complaint in the general population.
The safety and effectiveness of felodipine has been extensively studied. In these clinical trials, up to 14.7 percent of people taking felodipine reported experiencing a headache, compared to 10.2 percent of those not taking the medicine. The higher the dose of felodipine, the more likely people were to experience headaches.
People taking felodipine may experience headaches more frequently during the first couple weeks of treatment. In most cases, the headaches are minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated. If you are taking felodipine and develop a headache, try taking acetaminophen (Tylenol®) to relieve the headache symptoms.
If you continue to get a headache while taking felodipine, talk to your healthcare provider. He or she will be able to diagnose and treat the problem. If your healthcare provider believes the headaches are caused by felodipine, he or she may recommend decreasing the felodipine dose or may suggest another medication to treat your condition.
If you are concerned about felodipine and headaches, make sure to talk with your healthcare provider. Together you can decide on a treatment plan that works for your particular situation.
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD