What is Amlodipine?

Amlodipine is part of a class of medicines known as calcium channel blockers. It lowers blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels so that the heart doesn't have to pump as much.

Amlodipine is utilized to treat certain kinds of angina (chest pain) and other disorders due to coronary arterial diseases (narrowing of blood vessels that carry oxygen to the heart).

Amlodipine reduces chest pain by enhancing the flow of blood into the heart. If it is taken on a regular basis, the medicine can help reduce chest pain, but it doesn't stop the pain after it begins. Your doctor might prescribe an alternative medication if you experience chest pain.

Amlodipine can be taken by itself or in conjunction with other medications in order to manage hypertension in adults and children who are at least six years old. The reduction in blood pressure could reduce your chance of suffering a stroke or heart attack.

Recommendation

Before you take amlodipine, inform your physician if you have congestive liver disease or heart failure.

Drinking alcohol may further lower your blood pressure and increase the adverse effects of amlodipine.

If you're receiving treatment to treat high blood pressure, you should continue taking amlodipine, even if you are feeling well. The condition is often accompanied by no signs. It is possible that you will need blood pressure medications throughout your life.

Amlodipine is just a small part of a comprehensive treatment that could include diet and exercise, weight loss, and various other medications. Be sure to follow your diet, medications, and exercise routines with the utmost care.

Discuss with your doctor all other blood pressure or heart medications you're taking.

Your chest pain could worsen when you first take amlodipine or increase your dosage. Contact your physician if the chest pain you experience is intense or continues to persist.

Before you Take this Drug

It is not recommended to take amlodipine if you are allergic to it.

To ensure this medication is appropriate for you, tell your physician if you have any of the following:

• The severe narrowing of a particular valve inside the coronary artery (aortic stenosis) or other heart-related problems.
• Coronary arterial condition (clogged arteries) or
• Liver disease.

It is not known if amlodipine can harm an unborn baby. But elevated blood pressure during pregnancy can result in medical issues or complications for both the mother and the baby. The benefits of treating hypertension can outweigh the risks to the infant.

How to Take Amlodipine?

Amlodipine should be taken exactly as directed by your physician. Follow the directions on the prescription label, and make sure you read all the instructions or medication guides. Your doctor may alter your dosage.

Amlodipine is typically taken once a day.

Use the medicine every day, either with or without eating.

Shake to mix the oral suspension (liquid). Use the measuring device supplied (not a spoon from the kitchen).

Your blood pressure is likely to be checked regularly.

If you are suffering from hypertension, continue taking amlodipine, even if you feel good. The presence of high blood pressure is often accompanied by no signs.

Don't alter the doses or discontinue taking any medication without consulting your physician.

Your treatment could include exercise, diet control, and blood tests.

Keep amlodipine tablets as well as oral solution (liquid) at room temperature, free of heat, moisture, and light.

Keep amlodipine orally suspended in the fridge. Do not freeze.

Details on Dosage

Usual Adult Dose for Hypertension:

Initial dose: 5 mg taken orally every day.
Maintenance dose: 5–10 mg taken orally, once a day.
Maximum dose: 10 mg/day

Comments Patients who are fragile or small can start with 2.5 mg every day.

Usual Adult Dose for Angina Pectoris:

Maintenance dose: 5–10 mg taken orally, once a day.
Maximum dose: 10 mg/day

Usual Adult Dose for Coronary Artery Disease:

Maintenance dosage: 5–10 mg taken orally, once a day.
Maximum dose: 10 mg/day

Usual Geriatric Dose for Hypertension:

Initial dosage: 2.5 mg orally once per day.
Dosage for maintenance: 2.5 to 10 mg daily, orally
Maximum dose: 10 mg/day.

Usual Geriatric Dose for Angina Pectoris:

Initial dose: 5 mg taken orally every day.
Maintenance dosage: 5–10 mg taken orally, once a day.
Maximum dose: 10 mg/day.

Uses: As a single agent or in combination with other drugs to treat symptomatic chronic stable angina
In combination with other antianginal medications to treat suspected or confirmed vasospastic angina.
To reduce the chance of hospitalization due to angina and to lower the chance of having an intervention to revascularize the coronary vessels in patients with CAD that has been recently confirmed via angiography but is not heart failure or has an ejection fraction less than 40%.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Hypertension:

From 6 to 17 years old:
Dose for maintenance: 2.5 to 5 mg daily, orally
Maximum dose: 5 mg/day

Comment: More than five mg haven't yet been evaluated in children.
The dosage must be adjusted based on the patient's reaction. In general, titration should be performed between 7 and 14 days. If it is clinically justified, the titration process can proceed faster if the patient is regularly assessed.

Use: As a single agent or in combination with any other medications to treat hypertension.

What Happens If I Miss the dose?

You should take the medicine as fast as you are able, but do not take your missed dose if you are more than 12 hours behind on the dose. Don't take two doses at once.

What Happens If I Overdose?

Get medical attention in an emergency or contact the poison help line at 1-800-222-1222.

The signs of an overdose can include rapid heartbeats, swelling or redness in your legs or arms, or fainting.

What Should be Avoided?

Do not get up too quickly from a lying or sitting position. You could get dizzy.

Side Effects of Amlodipine

Contact a medical professional immediately. Get medical attention immediately if you show symptoms warning of an allergy reaction with amlodipine, such as itching or breathing difficulties and swelling of your lips, tongue, throat, or face.

In some rare cases that occur, once you begin using this medication, your chest pain could get worse, or you may be suffering from an attack on your heart. You should seek medical attention in an emergency or consult your physician immediately if you notice any symptoms like chest pressure or pain, swelling of your shoulder or jaw, nausea, or sweating.

Amlodipine could cause severe adverse effects. Consult your physician immediately If you suffer from:

• Worsening chest pain; or
• A feeling of lightheadedness, as if you're about to pass out.

Common side effects of amlodipine include:

• Dizziness, drowsiness;
• Swelling of your ankles and legs;
• An irregular heartbeat;
• Heartbeats that pound or flutter in your chest
• Stiffness in the muscles;
• Uncontrolled muscle movements
• Being tired;
• Stomach pain, nausea, or
• Flushing (sudden heat, redness, or a tingly sensation).

This is not a comprehensive list of all the side effects. Others could happen. Consult your physician to seek medical advice on adverse effects. You can report any side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Interaction with Other Drugs

It is sometimes not safe to take certain medications in conjunction with other medications. Certain drugs may affect the blood levels of other medications you take, which could cause more side effects or make the medication less effective.

Other medications can be incompatible with amlodipine, such as medications that are prescribed and available over the counter, vitamins, and herbal products. Discuss with your doctor all the other medications you are taking.