Plendil Felodipine Medication for Patients with High Blood Pressure Part 1
Generic Plendil is the trade name for Felodipine, a calcium channel blocker of the dihydropyridine (DHP) family. It is recommended to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) on its own or in combination with other drugs. Medicines in the DHP family also include Nifedipine (Procardia), Amlodipine (Norvasc), Nisoldipine (Sular), and Isradipine (Dynacirc). Formulated by AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, Generic Plendil got the approval of the FDA in 1991.
Drug Mechanism
Calcium plays a vital role in contracting muscle cells. Felodipine acts by inhibiting the typical action of calcium on the heart and blood vessels. This lets the blood vessels to slack up, the heart to pound with less force and drive out less blood, and the heart to pound more gradually and repeatedly. However, Generic Plendil bears little or no impact on the muscles of veins or the heart.