Plendil can affect this through 2 different nutrient pathways: Magnesium, Potassium. This medication is commonly used for Hypertension.
Each nutrient below contributes to this impact through a different mechanism.
Impaired renal magnesium reabsorption from low or depleted magnesium levels carries a notable association with worse kidney outcomes, shown by adjusted odds ratios of 1.7–3.0 in affected patients. This contributes to electrolyte imbalances and may worsen overall kidney function over time, with studies reporting hypomagnesemia in nearly a quarter of patients who already have impaired renal function. Monitoring renal function and magnesium status remains crucial for at-risk individuals to avert complications such as acute kidney injury or hospitalization.
Ferrè S, Li X, Adams-Huet B, Maalouf NM, Sakhaee K, Toto RD, Moe OW, Neyra JA. Low serum magnesium is associated with faster decline in kidney function: the Dallas Heart Study experience. J Investig Med. 2019 Aug;67(6):987-994.Steven Van Laecke, Wim Van Biesen, Raymond Vanholder, Hypomagnesaemia, the kidney and the vessels, Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, Volume 27, Issue 11, November 2012, Pages 4003–4010. Sarah Cascaes Alves, Cristiane Damiani Tomasi, Larissa Constantino, Vinícius Giombelli, Roberta Candal, Maria de Lourdes Bristot, Maria Fernanda Topanotti, Emmanuel A. Burdmann, Felipe Dal-Pizzol, Cassiana Mazon Fraga, Cristiane Ritter, Hypomagnesemia as a risk factor for the non-recovery of the renal function in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury, Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, Volume 28, Issue 4, April 2013, Pages 910–916. Liu Z, Wang R, He M, Kang Y. Hypomagnesemia Is Associated with the Acute Kidney Injury in Traumatic Brain Injury Patients: A Pilot Study. Brain Sci. 2023 Mar 31;13(4):593.
When potassium levels run low for a sustained period, potassium deficiency can promote renal dysfunction by triggering structural and functional changes in the kidney, including impaired concentrating ability, increased ammonia production, and tubulointerstitial injury that may quietly progress over time. Experimental and clinical observations link hypokalemia with renal cyst formation, reduced glomerular filtration, and a higher risk of nephropathy, particularly when low potassium coexists with high blood pressure or diabetes. The encouraging finding is that in some cases, correcting potassium deficiency can partially reverse early functional abnormalities and slow kidney damage, underscoring that low potassium is not just a marker of illness but a modifiable contributor to long‑term kidney health.
Yalamanchili HB, Calp-Inal S, Zhou XJ, Choudhury D. Hypokalemic Nephropathy. Kidney Int Rep. 2018 Jul 21;3(6):1482-1488. Bock KD, Cremer W, Werner U. Chronic hypokalemic nephropathy: a clinical study. Klin Wochenschr. 1978;56 Suppl 1:91-6. Carney SL, Morgan TO. Diuretic-induced hypokalemia and altered renal function. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther Toxicol. 1986 Dec;24(12):665-7. PMID: 3546168. Torres VE, Young WF Jr, Offord KP, Hattery RR. Association of hypokalemia, aldosteronism, and renal cysts. N Engl J Med. 1990 Feb 8;322(6):345-51.
Some side effects may be linked to nutrient depletion caused by this medication.
Studies suggest that Felodipine, a type of calcium channel blocker (CCB), may increase the excretion of calcium in the urine. While the long-term effects on bone health are unclear, some healthcare professionals suggest calcium supplementation for patients taking felodipine, especially those at higher risk of osteoporosis.
Research suggests that Felodipine, a type of calcium channel blocker (CCB), may increase the excretion of magnesium in the urine. This can potentially lead to magnesium deficiency. Studies have shown an increase in fractional excretion of magnesium following felodipine treatment, and the drug may also alter how magnesium moves across red blood cell membranes. Therefore supplementation with magnesium should be considered when on this therapy.
An increased excretion of potassium can occur in people taking calcium channel blocker drugs like felodipine. Supplementation may need to be considered if blood levels of potassium are low.