FDA approves first veterinary amlodipine for feline hypertension

The FDA on April 29, 2026 approved Amodip, an amlodipine besylate chewable tablet from Ceva Santé Animale, for the control of systemic hypertension in cats. The agency said it’s the first FDA-approved amlodipine product for veterinary use and the second FDA-approved product overall for feline hypertension, alongside telmisartan oral solution. Amlodipine has long been a mainstay in feline practice, but this approval gives veterinarians a labeled, cat-specific formulation for a condition that commonly accompanies chronic kidney disease and can also occur with hyperthyroidism or without an identifiable cause. The FDA said Amodip is dosed once daily initially, with reassessment after 14 days, and noted that cats under 2.5 kg can’t be accurately dosed with the product. (fda.gov)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the approval formalizes a treatment that consensus guidance already describes as first-line for many hypertensive cats. That could reduce reliance on human-labeled or compounded alternatives, while giving clinics an FDA-reviewed label, manufacturing standards, and monitoring guidance specific to feline patients. The FDA also emphasized regular blood pressure checks and early monitoring of kidney and liver values, with pet parents asked to watch for decreased appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea. (academic.oup.com)

What to watch: Next will be how quickly Amodip reaches clinics, how it’s priced against existing workarounds, and whether uptake changes how practices manage feline hypertension, especially in cats with CKD. (fda.gov)