Plendil (Felodipine) - Side Effects and Adverse Reactions

ADVERSE REACTIONS

In controlled studies in the United States and overseas, approximately 3000 patients were treated with felodipine as either the extended-release or the immediate-release formulation.

The most common clinical adverse events reported with PLENDIL 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 PLENDIL, 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 (PLENDIL, 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 PLENDIL 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 PLENDIL is increased at 20 mg once a day, there is a disproportionate increase in adverse events, especially those associated with vasodilatory effects (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION).

Percent of Patients with Adverse Events in Controlled Trials ¹ of PLENDIL (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 (0.0)	2.0 (0.0)	8.8 (2.2)	17.4 (2.5)
Asthenia	3.3 (0.0)	3.9 (0.0)	3.3 (0.0)	2.2 (0.0)
Warm Sensation	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.9 (0.2)	1.5 (0.0)
Cardiovascular
Palpitation	2.4 (0.0)	0.4 (0.0)	1.4 (0.3)	2.5 (0.5)
Digestive
Nausea	1.5 (0.9)	1.2 (0.0)	1.7 (0.3)	1.0 (0.7)
Dyspepsia	1.2 (0.0)	3.9 (0.0)	0.7 (0.0)	0.5 (0.0)
Constipation	0.9 (0.0)	1.2 (0.0)	0.3 (0.0)	1.5 (0.2)
Nervous
Headache	10.2 (0.9)	10.6 (0.4)	11.0 (1.7)	14.7 (2.0)
Dizziness	2.7 (0.3)	2.7 (0.0)	3.6 (0.5)	3.7 (0.5)
Paresthesia	1.5 (0.3)	1.6 (0.0)	1.2 (0.0)	1.2 (0.2)
Respiratory
Upper Respiratory Infection	1.8 (0.0)	3.9 (0.0)	1.9 (0.0)	0.7 (0.0)
Cough	0.3 (0.0)	0.8 (0.0)	1.2 (0.0)	1.7 (0.0)
Rhinorrhea	0.0 (0.0)	1.6 (0.0)	0.2 (0.0)	0.2 (0.0)
Sneezing	0.0 (0.0)	1.6 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)
Skin
Rash	0.9 (0.0)	2.0 (0.0)	0.2 (0.0)	0.2 (0.0)
Flushing	0.9 (0.3)	3.9 (0.0)	5.3 (0.7)	6.9 (1.2)

Adverse events that occurred in 0.5 up to 1.5% of patients who received PLENDIL 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 PLENDIL 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; SpecialSenses: 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. (See PRECAUTIONS, Information for Patients.)

Clinical Laboratory Test Findings

Serum Electrolytes – No significant effects on serum electrolytes were observed during short- and long-term therapy (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Renal/Endocrine Effects).

Serum Glucose – No significant effects on fasting serum glucose were observed in patients treated with PLENDIL in the U.S. controlled study.

Liver Enzymes – 1 of 2 episodes of elevated serum transaminases decreased once drug was discontinued in clinical studies; no follow-up was available for the other patient.

REPORTS OF SUSPECTED PLENDIL SIDE EFFECTS / ADVERSE REACTIONS

Possible Plendil side effects / adverse reactions in 47 year old female

Reported by a consumer/non-health professional from United States on 2011-10-18

Patient: 47 year old female

Reactions: Asthma, Drug Hypersensitivity, Oedema Peripheral, Rash

Suspect drug(s):
Accolate
    Administration route: Oral

Zomig
    Indication: Migraine

Plendil
    Administration route: Oral

Symbicort
    Dosage: 160/4.5 mcg twp puffs twice daily
    Start date: 2010-05-18

Other drugs received by patient: Lopressor; Multi-Vitamin; Lasix; Levaquin; Medrol; Protonix; Lasix; Zovirzx; Lortab; Diovan; Protonix; Zocor; Benadryl; Albuterol; Mylanta; Loratadine; Prilosec; Duoneb; Metolazone

Possible Plendil side effects / adverse reactions in 48 year old female

Reported by a consumer/non-health professional from United States on 2011-10-26

Patient: 48 year old female

Reactions: Mental Impairment, Cerebrovascular Accident, Cerebral Haemorrhage

Adverse event resulted in: hospitalization

Suspect drug(s):
Plendil

Other drugs received by patient: Toprol-XL

Possible Plendil side effects / adverse reactions in 71 year old male

Reported by a physician from Costa Rica on 2011-11-09

Patient: 71 year old male

Reactions: Syncope, Orthostatic Hypotension, Loss of Consciousness

Suspect drug(s):
Atacand
    Administration route: Oral
    Indication: Systolic Hypertension
    Start date: 2009-01-01

Plendil
    Administration route: Oral
    Indication: Systolic Hypertension
    Start date: 2011-04-01
    End date: 2011-10-21