What is Exforge?
Exforge can be used by itself or in combination with other medications to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) in adults. Your risk of stroke or heart attack can be reduced by lowering your blood pressure.Exforge is a combination of amlodipine and valsartan. Amlodipine works as a calcium channel blocker.Relaxation therapy relaxes heart muscles and blood vessels.Valsartan is an antagonist of the angiotensin receptor. Valsartan prevents blood vessels from constricting, which reduces blood pressure and improves circulation.
Side effects of Exforge
If you experience any of the following symptoms of an Exforge allergy: hives or difficulty breathing; swelling of your lips, face, tongue, or throat.Rarely, chest pain or a heart attack can occur when you start taking this medication. If you experience symptoms like chest pain, pressure, pain that spreads to your shoulder or jaw, nausea, or sweating, call 911 or your doctor immediately.
Exforge can cause serious side effects. If you experience:
- A feeling of lightheadedness, as if you could pass out.
- Heart problem: rapid weight gain and a feeling of shortness of breath.
- Kidney problems: swelling, urinating more, feeling tired, or short of breath
- High blood potassium: nausea, weakness, and tingling sensations Chest pain, irregular heartbeats, and loss of mobility are all symptoms.
Side effects of Exforge include:
- You may experience swelling in your hands or feet.
- Spinning sensation, dizziness,
- Cold symptoms like a stuffy nose and sneezing.
There may be other side effects. For medical advice on side effects, call your doctor. The FDA can be contacted at 1-800-FDA-1088 to report side effects.
Warnings
Do not use Exforge while pregnant.Exforge should not be used with any medications that contain aliskiren, such as Amturnide or Tekturna.Exforge may cause kidney failure in rare cases. If you experience unexplained weakness, muscle tenderness, or pain, call your doctor immediately, especially if there is a fever, unusual fatigue, or dark urine.If you are taking Exforge, you should not take potassium supplements or sodium substitutes unless you have been told to by your doctor.Avoid standing up quickly from a seated or lying-down position. You may feel dizzy. To avoid a fall, get up slowly.
Before you take this drug
Exforge should not be used if you have an allergy to amlodipine and valsartan.If you are diabetic, avoid taking Exforge with any medications that contain aliskiren.
Tell your doctor about any of the following to ensure that Exforge will be safe for you:
- Heart problems or high blood pressure
- A heart attack;
- An allergic reaction known as angioedema is caused by another blood pressure medication.
- Nausea, or diarrhea.
- Liver disease
- Kidney disease (or dialysis)
If you have kidney problems, it is best to avoid Exforge and aliskiren.Exforge should not be used if you're pregnant. If you are pregnant, stop using the medication and immediately tell your doctor. Amlodipine or valsartan may cause harm or even death to an unborn child if taken during the second or third trimester.Breastfeeding is not recommended.
Similar/related drugs
Amlodipine, lisinopril, metoprolol, losartan, furosemide, and hydrochlorothiazide
How to take Exforge?
Take Exforge as directed by your doctor. Read all the instructions and directions that come with your prescription. Sometimes your doctor will change the dose.Take Exforge once a day.Take Exforge either with food or without.You may also need to have frequent blood tests. Diet, exercise, lifestyle modifications, and other medication may be part of your treatment. Please follow your doctor's advice.During prolonged illness, your blood pressure can drop too low. If you have diarrhea or vomiting, call your doctor.Inform your doctor of any planned surgery.Continue to take this medication even if your symptoms are normal. High blood pressure can often be symptomless.Store away from heat and moisture at room temperature.
Details on dosage
Adult dose of Exforge:
Initial treatment: amlodipine (5 mg) and valsartan (160 mg) orally, once daily.
Add-on/Replacement Therapy: Amlodipine 5–10 mg; Valsartan 160–320 mg orally, once daily
Comments:
After 1 to 2 weeks, you may increase the dose.
If a patient experiences adverse effects that are dose-limiting, he or she may be switched to a drug containing the lower dose of either component combined with the other. If blood pressure is not controlled after 3–4 weeks, you may increase the dose to amlodipine 320 mg and valsartan 10 mg orally.
What happens if I miss the dose?
If you are almost due for your next dose, skip the missed one. Never take two doses of the same medicine at once.
What happens if I overdose?
Call 1-800-222-1222 for poison help or seek immediate medical attention.
Overdose symptoms include a rapid heartbeat, low blood pressure, warmth or redness in the arms or legs, or fainting.
What should be avoided?
You should not use potassium supplements or salt substitutes unless you have been told to by your doctor.You may feel dizzy if you get up too quickly from a seated or lying position. You should avoid driving or engaging in hazardous activities until you are sure how the medicine will affect you. You may be unable to react properly.Alcohol consumption can have side effects when taken with this medication.
Interaction with other drug
It is sometimes not safe to take certain medications at the same time. Some drugs may affect the blood levels of drugs that you are taking, which can increase side effects and make them less effective.Amlodipine, valsartan, and other medicines can damage your kidneys. This is especially true if you are also taking certain medications for cancer, infection, osteoporosis, organ rejection, high blood pressure, pain, arthritis, or even cancer.
Inform your doctor of all the medications you are taking. Amlodipine, valsartan, and other drugs may interact.
- Cyclosporine;
- Sildenafil;
- Rifampin;
- Ritonavir
- A diuretic, or a medication for high blood pressure or heart disease.
This list does not include all possible interactions. Many other drugs can interact with amlodipine or valsartan. These include prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. This list does not include all possible drug interactions.
