This belongs to the group of medicines known as calcium channel blockers.
Plendil is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) and angina (chest pain). Angina occurs when the heart muscles do not receive enough oxygen.

Plendil works by relaxing and opening up the blood vessels. This allows blood to circulate more freely around the body, lowering blood pressure and allowing the heart to work more efficiently.

Plendil is available in modified release tablet form. Modified release preparations are released slowly over the day to give a more even effect.

It is also sometimes known as: Plendil. You may notice the use of any of these names on the packaging of your medicine.

Why is this drug prescribed?

This drug contains the active ingredient felodipine, which is a type of drug called a calcium channel blocker. This type of drug acts on the heart and blood vessels. Felodipine works by slowing the movement of calcium through the muscle cells that are found in the walls of blood vessels. It acts specifically on the muscle cells in the walls of small arteries. Felodipine slows calcium movement by blocking 'calcium channels' in these muscle cells. Calcium is needed by muscle cells in order for them to contract, so felodipine causes the muscle in the walls of the small arteries to relax. This widens the small arteries in the body, an effect that has two uses. The relaxing and widening of the small arteries in the body decreases the resistance that the heart has to push against in order to pump the blood around the body. This reduces blood pressure. Felodipine can therefore be used to treat high blood pressure. The widening effect on the small arteries also improves the blood and therefore oxygen supply to the heart. This feature means felodipine can be used to treat angina. The chest pain of angina is caused by insufficient oxygen supply to the heart. As felodipine improves this oxygen supply, and also reduces the effort the heart has to make to pump blood, it can be used to prevent angina attacks.

Treatments

* Angina pectoris * High blood pressure

What side effects can this drug cause?

* Worsening of anginal chest pains * Impotence * Fatigue * Awareness of your heart beat * Dizziness * Flushing * Enlargement of the gums * Rash or itching * Headache * Ankle swelling