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Felodopine 2.5 mgs

Posted , 5 users are following.

jane6
jane6

Was put on Felodopine 2.5 mgs yesterday to take alongside my Losartan 50 mgs, which I've taken for ten years. I had a 24 hr bp monitor which proved categorically once and for all, that my blood pressure is high (170/108 - 149/99) and out of control!! I admitted to smoking to the dr, and have agreed to stop today. Yesterday morning, took my first pill (felodopine) and by the afternoon I was feeling drowsy with a mild headache. Last night my cheeks were flushed and I felt drowsy. In the night my feet felt hot, and I got up to urinate twice - which is unlike me! This morning my BP reading is 145/70!! The bottom figure has never been that low. So this medicine is having immediate effect. I am going to keep a blog going here on the side-effects. I'm going to take a proactive role in exercising, stopping smoking as from today, take magnesium, vitamin d etc. Like most, I'm not best pleased to have to take this drug but not crazy enough to not take this whole BP thing deadly serious. Will return with updates. Meantime, if this is relevant to anyone, I would be grateful for your opinion, thanks

0 likes, 48 replies

48 Replies

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  • jane6
    jane6

    Posted

    My BP reading earlier this morning @ 8.00 am iis 133/85. I have not taken my felidopine and right now I'm off for a swim followed by a power walk. Have suddenly metamorphisised in to Superwoman!! 
    • jane6
      jane6

      Posted

      There's nothing like a "scare with blood pressure" to take charge. After my power walk and swim this morning my BP taken on the return has been 138/95. A little raised from my earlier reading. Therefore have taken half dose again of felidopine. Until I've worked out and implemented a strategy - exercise, diet, supplements - I will continue to take a low dose and watch carefully.
  • jane6
    jane6

    Posted

    Slept really well after yesterday's exercise and my BP reading was 139/85. Off for a long walk after half a tablet, the side effects so far have been slight head and tummy ache.
    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey jane6

      Posted

      Jane, that's a good BP result this morning.  Don't worry about the raised reading yesterday - it can be expected to rise a little immediately following exercise.
    • derek76
      derek76 MrsO-UK_Surrey

      Posted

      No ones BP stays steady all day it it fluctuates with mood, movement etc.

       

  • jane6
    jane6

    Posted

    BP reading this morning is 138/86 after eating porridge for breakfast. I'm going to step up the exercise and lose my midrift - just a little tubby there. Side-effects are gastro for sure, even on 1.25 mgs, but better to take until I've completely given up the weed and its completely dropped. 
  • jane6
    jane6

    Posted

    My blood pressure has been kept stable on 1.25 mgs of felodopine taken late morning. Although I haven't been strictly monitoring my BP in the evening. I just guess it's okay and behaving if I'm relaxing. I had to go to A&E for Eyes today, as I thought my retina was detaching. Was told it was the gell, that sticks the retina, coming away, which was fairly common I was told leaving me seeing a bubble and a thick black floater. Told nothing to do but if symptoms increase to hurry back. Now, looking up side effects of felodopine I see ocular disturbances can be one! I'm going to research more in to it!
    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey jane6

      Posted

      Jane, just a bit of hopeful reassurance for you on the eye problem front.  My friend suffered a detached retina last year and had surgery to repair it.  The London hospital has monitored her well throughout and several weeks ago they did another procedure to remove the oil used as part of the treatment at the first op.  Since then she is experiencing the black floater in the lower part of her vision (remaining blob of oil).  At her latest appointment last week she was advised that, if she wished, they could operate again to try and remove this remaining oil, further advising her to give it three months to decide whether she could cope quite happily without further surgery.  She doesn't take Felodipine or any other BP meds but did have cataract surgery some 18 months ago so possibly a cause for her detached retina, which as you have been advised is "fairly common".  However, if you feel concerned then you should ask for referral to an eye hospital. 
    • jane6
      jane6 MrsO-UK_Surrey

      Posted

      Hi Mrs O, it was a specialised eye hospital I attended yesterday. I have posterior vitreous detachment. Vision in that eye isn't affected but I have a permanent bubble and spiders to contend with. I hope they're right in saying it will dissipate in time and the brain will eventually ignore because it's "bothersome!" Will be patient. No link to felodopine found, which aren't giving side effects now. BP earlier 130/87, which is good by me!
  • jane6
    jane6

    Posted

    I'm not sure if this is imagined but I've been feeling worse since starting Felopidine - half a 2.5 mgs pill. I do suffer chronic fatigue caused probably from a brain haemorrhage years ago, but I'm feeling really quite low and wrecked this past week. Yes I know it's a tiny dose but anything in my system makes an impact. Who's to say if taking losartan could even be causing fatigue! (Note to self; I must check out forum on losartan) I'm going to need to step up my exercise and cut out the weed for good now as I really can't cope on this drug!!!
  • jane6
    jane6

    Posted

    My BP reading while at the doctors three days ago read 144/102, whereas my home readings had on average been 135/85 in the mornings, slightly raised in the evening. I explained to the doctor that I was pill cutting to take a half dose. She wasn't happy and insisted I take a full tablet which I've been doing for the past four days. However, last night experienced sharp chest pains which kept me awake. Have never in my life had them. I have read online in this event to stop taking them which as from today won't ever again. Anyone else experienced the same?
    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey jane6

      Posted

      Hi Jane

      I assume you're talking about the Felodipine and not the Losartan?  Whichever, it is, if it's causing chest pain, then that is never right so as well as just stopping it, you need to go back to the GP to get the reaction recorded in your medical notes, and a different pill prescribed.  You sound an awkward patient like me where these BP pills are concerned!rolleyes

    • jane6
      jane6 MrsO-UK_Surrey

      Posted

      Thank goodness for Boots pharmacists working on a Sunday, and able to advise stopping felodopine and making an appointment to see my gp tomorrow. Apparently, Boots pharmacist informed me that felodopine is completely ineffective when cut in half due to the coating. Strange that my BP seemed to be behaving slightly better on that. ?auto-suggestion! Returned from shopping clutching salt-free butter, beetroot juice and celery - an inspired wishful thought! My gp doesn't believe life-style are enough and that I'll have to take BP meds for life. I'm willing to prove her wrong on that!
    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey jane6

      Posted

      Jane, far be it for me to go against what the pharmacist said about felodopine being completely ineffective when cut in half due to he coating, but I was always lead to believe that the coating on pills is an enteric coating to enable the pill to be absorbed lower down in the stomach therefore avoiding the risk of stomach problems.  I would have therefore thought that what is inside the coating would still be effective.  I'll have to do some research!  Good luck with your efforts to prove your GP wrong.wink
  • jane6
    jane6

    Posted

    An update; a while back I stopped taking my Felodopine after experiencing stabbing chest pains that wouldn't stop and were enough to make me cry out. How rediculous...that a 2.5 mg pill can do that! Re-visited the gp and it was agreed I return to taking 1.25 - cutting the pill in half. I was happy to follow this suggestion. In the last few days however, my left knee, right ankle are painful and stiff but not swollen. One of the side-effects I've gleaned from reading the Board is what others have experienced. I also wonder if its possible for this drug to have effect on the brain causing mild depression? Seems like a long shot...what the hell do they put in these pills????!!!
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