Amlodipine
Generic Name: amlodipine (am LOE di peen)
Brand Names: Norvasc
Brand Names: Norvasc
What is amlodipine?
Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker that dilates (widens) blood vessels and improves blood flow.
Amlodipine is used to treat chest pain (angina) and other conditions caused by coronary artery disease.
Amlodipine is also used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Lowering blood pressure may lower your risk of a stroke or heart attack.
Amlodipine is for use in adults and children who are at least 6 years old.
Important information
Before taking amlodipine, tell your doctor if you have congestive heart failure or liver disease.
Drinking alcohol can further lower your blood pressure and may increase certain side effects of amlodipine.
If you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using amlodipine even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medication for the rest of your life.
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Amlodipine is only part of a complete program of treatment that may also include diet, exercise, weight control, and other medications. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely.
Tell your doctor about all other heart or blood pressure medications you are taking.
Your chest pain may become worse when you first start taking amlodipine or when your dose is increased. Call your doctor if your chest pain is severe or ongoing.
Before taking this medicine
You should not take amlodipine if you are allergic to it.
To make sure amlodipine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
liver disease; or
a heart valve problem called aortic stenosis.
It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
Amlodipine can pass into breast milk, but effects on the nursing baby are not known. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding.
Amlodipine is not approved for use by anyone younger than 6 years old.
How should I take amlodipine?
Take amlodipine exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results. Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
You may take amlodipine with or without food. Take the medicine at the same time each day.
Your blood pressure will need to be checked often.
Your chest pain may become worse when you first start taking amlodipine or when your dose is increased. Call your doctor if your chest pain is severe or ongoing.
If you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using amlodipine even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medicine for the rest of your life.
Your hypertension or heart condition may be treated with a combination of drugs. Use all medications as directed by your doctor. Read the medication guide or patient instructions provided with each medication. Do not change your doses or stop taking any of your medications without your doctor's advice. This is especially important if you also take nitroglycerin.
Amlodipine is only part of a complete program of treatment that may also include diet, exercise, weight control, and other medications. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely.
Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
See also: Dosage Information (in more detail)
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If you are more than 12 hours late, skip the missed dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
Overdose symptoms may include rapid heartbeats, redness or warmth in your arms or legs, or fainting.
What should I avoid while taking amlodipine?
Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.
Amlodipine side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to amlodipine: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
In rare cases, when you first start taking amlodipine, your angina may get worse or you could have a heart attack. Seek emergency medical attention or call your doctor right away if you have symptoms such as: chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, nausea, sweating.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest;
worsening chest pain;
swelling in your feet or ankles;
severe drowsiness; or
a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out.
Common amlodipine side effects may include:
dizziness;
feeling tired;
stomach pain, nausea; or
flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling).
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
See also: Side effects (in more detail)
Amlodipine dosing information
Usual Adult Dose of Amlodipine for Hypertension:
Initial dose: 5 mg orally once a day
Maintenance dose: 5 to 10 mg orally once a day
Maximum dose: 10 mg/day
Comments:
-Patients who are small or fragile may be started on 2.5 mg orally once a day.
-The dosage should be adjusted according to patient response. In general, titration should proceed over 7 to 14 days. If clinically warranted, titration may proceed more rapidly, provided the patient is assessed frequently.
Use:
-Alone or in combination with other antihypertensive agents to treat hypertension
Usual Adult Dose of Amlodipine for Angina Pectoris:
Maintenance dose: 5 to 10 mg orally once a day
Maximum dose: 10 mg/day
Comments:
-In clinical studies, most patients with angina or coronary artery disease (CAD) required 10 mg orally once a day.
-The dosage should be adjusted according to patient response. In general, titration should proceed over 7 to 14 days. If clinically warranted, titration may proceed more rapidly, provided the patient is assessed frequently.
Uses:
-Alone or in combination with other antianginal agents for the symptomatic treatment of chronic stable angina
-Alone or in combination with other antianginal agents for the treatment of confirmed/suspected vasospastic angina
-To reduce the risk of hospitalization for angina and to reduce the risk of a coronary revascularization procedure in patients with recently documented CAD by angiography and without heart failure or an ejection fraction less than 40%
Usual Adult Dose of Amlodipine for Coronary Artery Disease:
Maintenance dose: 5 to 10 mg orally once a day
Maximum dose: 10 mg/day
Comments:
-In clinical studies, most patients with angina or coronary artery disease (CAD) required 10 mg orally once a day.
-The dosage should be adjusted according to patient response. In general, titration should proceed over 7 to 14 days. If clinically warranted, titration may proceed more rapidly, provided the patient is assessed frequently.
Uses:
-Alone or in combination with other antianginal agents for the symptomatic treatment of chronic stable angina
-Alone or in combination with other antianginal agents for the treatment of confirmed/suspected vasospastic angina
-To reduce the risk of hospitalization for angina and to reduce the risk of a coronary revascularization procedure in patients with recently documented CAD by angiography and without heart failure or an ejection fraction less than 40%
Usual Geriatric Dose of Amlodipine for Hypertension:
Initial dose: 2.5 mg orally once a day
Maintenance dose: 2.5 to 10 mg orally once a day
Maximum dose: 10 mg/day
Comment:
-The dosage should be adjusted according to patient response. In general, titration should proceed over 7 to 14 days. If clinically warranted, titration may proceed more rapidly, provided the patient is assessed frequently.
Use:
-Alone or in combination with other antihypertensive agents to treat hypertension
Usual Geriatric Dose of Amlodipine for Angina Pectoris:
Initial dose: 5 mg orally once a day
Maintenance dose: 5 to 10 mg orally once a day
Maximum dose: 10 mg/day
Comments:
-In clinical studies, most patients with angina or coronary artery disease (CAD) required 10 mg orally once a day.
-The dosage should be adjusted according to patient response. In general, titration should proceed over 7 to 14 days. If clinically warranted, titration may proceed more rapidly, provided the patient is assessed frequently.
Uses:
-Alone or in combination with other antianginal agents for the symptomatic treatment of chronic stable angina
-Alone or in combination with other antianginal agents for the treatment of confirmed/suspected vasospastic angina
-To reduce the risk of hospitalization for angina and to reduce the risk of a coronary revascularization procedure in patients with recently documented CAD by angiography and without heart failure or an ejection fraction less than 40%
Usual Pediatric Dose of Amlodipine for Hypertension:
6 to 17 years:
-Maintenance dose: 2.5 to 5 mg orally once a day
-Maximum dose: 5 mg/day
Comments:
-Doses higher than 5 mg have not been studied in pediatric patients.
The dosage should be adjusted according to patient response. In general, titration should proceed over 7 to 14 days. If clinically warranted, titration may proceed more rapidly, provided the patient is assessed frequently.
Use:
-Alone or in combination with other antihypertensive agents to treat hypertension
What other drugs will affect amlodipine?
Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially:
nitroglycerin;
simvastatin (Zocor, Simcor, Vytorin); or
any other heart or blood pressure medications.
This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with amlodipine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.
