What is enalapril and felodipine?
Enalapril is in a group of drugs called ACE inhibitors. ACE stands for angiotensin
converting enzyme.
Felodipine is in a group of drugs called calcium channel blockers. It works by relaxing the
muscles of your heart and blood vessels.
The combination of enalapril and felodipine is used to treat high blood pressure
(hypertension). It is usually given after other blood pressure medications have been tried without
successful treatment of hypertension.
Enalapril and felodipine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication
guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking enalapril and felodipine?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to enalapril and felodipine or to any
other ACE inhibitor, such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), fosinopril (Monopril),
lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), moexipril (Univasc), perindopril (Aceon), quinapril (Accupril),
ramipril (Altace), or trandolapril (Mavik).
Before using enalapril and felodipine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if
you have:
-
kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis);
-
liver disease;
-
heart disease or congestive heart failure;
-
low sodium levels in your body (hyponatremia);
-
diabetes; or
-
a history of stroke or heart attack.
If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment
or special tests to safely take this medication.
FDA pregnancy category D.
Do not
use this medication without
telling your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy. Enalapril and felodipine could
cause birth defects in the baby if you take the medication during pregnancy. Use an effective
form of birth control. Stop using this medication and tell your doctor right away if you become
pregnant during treatment.
Enalapril and felodipine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do
not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How should I take enalapril and felodipine?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in
larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on
your prescription label.
Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from
this medication.
Enalapril and felodipine should be taken without food or with a light meal.
Do not crush, chew, or break the extended-release tablet. Swallow the pill whole.
Breaking or crushing the pill may cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.
Vomiting, diarrhea, or heavy sweating can cause you to become dehydrated. This can
lead to very low blood pressure, electrolyte disorders, or kidney failure while you are taking
enalapril and felodipine. Drink plenty of water each while you are taking this medication.
To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood pressure will need to be
checked on a regular basis. Your kidney function may also need to be tested. Do not miss any
scheduled visits to your doctor.
If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are taking
enalapril and felodipine. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.
Keep using this medicine as directed, even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has
no symptoms, so you may not know when your blood pressure is high. You may need to use
blood pressure medication for the rest of your life.
Store enalapril and felodipine at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and
light.
What happens if I miss a dose of enalapril and felodipine?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose,
skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time.
Do not
take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Where can I get more information about enalapril and felodipine?
Your pharmacist has information about enalapril and felodipine written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of enalapril and felodipine?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; severe stomach pain; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips,
tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
-
feeling like you might pass out;
-
chest pain;
-
swelling in your hands or feet;
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fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeats;
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fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms; or
-
nausea, stomach pain, loss of appetite, itching, dark urine,
clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Less serious side effects may include:
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cough;
-
headache;
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dizziness;
-
swelling in your gums;
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feeling tired or weak;
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warmth, redness, or tingling under your skin;
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dry mouth, sore throat; or
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diarrhea, constipation, upset stomach.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell
your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.
What is the most important information I should know about enalapril and felodipine?
Do not
use this medication without telling your doctor if you are
pregnant or planning a pregnancy. Enalapril and felodipine could cause birth defects in the baby
if you take the medication during pregnancy. Use an effective form of birth control. Stop using
this medication and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant during treatment.
Vomiting, diarrhea, or heavy sweating can cause you to become dehydrated. This can
lead to very low blood pressure, electrolyte disorders, or kidney failure while you are taking
enalapril and felodipine. Drink plenty of water each day while you are taking this medication.
What should I avoid while taking enalapril and felodipine?
Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up
slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.
Do not use salt substitutes or potassium supplements while taking enalapril and
felodipine, unless your doctor has told you to.
Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with felodipine and lead to potentially
dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor. Do not increase or
decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.
What other drugs will affect enalapril and felodipine?
Before taking enalapril and felodipine, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the
following drugs:
-
cimetidine (Tagamet);
-
lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith);
-
a diuretic (water pill).
-
aspirin or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), diclofenac (Voltaren), etodolac (Lodine), indomethacin
(Indocin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), and others;
-
HIV/AIDS medicine such as nelfinavir (Viracept) or
ritonavir (Norvir);
-
an antibiotic such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin
(E.E.S., E-Mycin, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin), itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), or
troleandomycin (Tao);
-
seizure medication such as phenytoin (Dilantin),
carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol), or phenobarbital (Solfoton);
-
an "SSRI" antidepressant such as fluoxetine (Prozac),
fluvoxamine (Luvox), or paroxetine (Paxil); or
-
a tricyclic antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil,
Etrafon), amoxapine (Ascendin), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin
(Sinequan), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), or
trimipramine (Surmontil).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact
with enalapril and felodipine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter
medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by
other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of enalapril and felodipine?
