The pharmacokinetics of extended release felodipine in children

Felodipine ER (extended release), a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker, effectively lowers elevated blood pressure in adults [I] and children [2]. Once a day dosing, reduced fluctuation in plasma concentration, and improved compliance with felodipine ER would be beneficial in the treatment of hypertension in childhood. However, no kinetic data are available in the pediatric age group to guide the dosing regimen. To that end we studied felodipine ER steady state pharmacokinetics in children.