A comparative assessment of amlodipine and felodipine ER: pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic indices.

This study investigated potential therapeutic differences between Amlodipine 5 mg and Felodipine ER 10 mg in 12 normotensive/borderline hypertensive subjects by comparison of the plasma drug concentration-time profiles and the blood pressure and heart rate responses. There was significantly less trough-to-peak variability in plasma drug concentrations with amlodipine with a ratio of 67%, compared to 37% for felodipine. Correspondingly there was less variability with amlodipine in the blood pressure reductions across the dosage interval. Overall, amlodipine displayed a more consistent hypotensive effect across 24 hours and lower blood pressure values at trough, i.e. 24 hours post-dose.