amlodipine besylate

Amlodipine belongs to a class of medications called calcium channel blockers (CCBs).

Chest pain or heart pain (angina) occurs because of insufficient oxygen delivered to the heart muscles. Insufficient oxygen may be a result of coronary artery blockage or spasmor because of exertion which increases the need of the heart for oxygen in patients with coronary artery narrowing (coronary artery disease or atherosclerosis). Amlodipine is used for the treatment and prevention of angina resulting from coronary spasms as well as from exertion. Amlodipine also is used in the treatment of high blood pressure.

What are the brand names for amlodipine besylate (Norvasc)?

Norvasc

Is amlodipine besylate (Norvasc) available as a generic drug?

Yes

Do I need a prescription for amlodipine besylate (Norvasc)?

Yes

Side effects of amlodipine are generally mild and reversible. The two most common side effects are:

• headache and
• edema (swelling) of the lower extremities.

Other side effects include:

• dizziness,
• flushing,
• fatigue,
• nauseaand
• palpitations.

More severe side effects include:

• increase in the frequency and severity of angina,
• heart attacksand
• congestive heart failure.

An increase in the frequency and severity of angina or heart attack due to amlodipine happens on rare occasions in patients with severe coronary artery disease when first starting amlodipineor at the time of an increase in dosage. Excessive lowering of blood pressure during initiation of amlodipine treatment can occurespecially in patients already taking other medications that lower blood pressure. In rare instancescongestive heart failure has been associated with amlodipineparticularly in patients already taking a beta-blocker.

The recommended starting dose of amlodipine for children and adults is 2.5 to 5 mg once daily. The maximum dose for adults is 10 mg once daily and the maximum dose for children is 5 mg once daily. Amlodipine can be taken with or without food. Amlodipine is inactivated mainly by the liverand dosages may need to be lowered in patients with liver dysfunction.

• Combining amlodipine with sildenafil (Viagra) and similar drugs used for erectile dysfunction may lead to excessive reductions in blood pressure with complicationsparticularly fainting upon standing (orthostatic hypotension).
• Amlodipine significantly increases blood levels of simvastatin (Zocor). The dose of simvastatin should be limited to 20 mg daily by patients taking amlodipine.
• Ketoconazole (NizoralExtinaXolegelKuric)itraconazole (Sporanox)ritonavir (Norvir)and other drugs that are potent inhibitors of amlodipine inactivation in the liver increase blood levels of amlodipineresulting in excessive blood pressure reduction.

• Generallyamlodipine is avoided in pregnancyand by nursing mothers and children although there are no adequate studies of amlodipine use during pregnancy.
• It is not known whether amlodipine is excreted in breast milk. Generallyamlodipine is avoided in pregnancyand by nursing mothers and children.

• Tablets: 2.55and 10 mg

• Amlodipine should be stored at room temperature in a tightlight-resistant container.

• Calcium channel blocker medications block the transport of calcium into the smooth muscle cells lining the arteries of the heart (coronary arteries) and other arteries of the body. Since the action of calcium is important for muscle contractionblocking calcium transport relaxes arterial muscles and expands (dilates) coronary arteries and other arteries of the body. By dilating coronary arteriesamlodipine increases the flow of blood to the heart and is useful in preventing heart pain (angina) resulting from reduced flow of blood to the heart caused by coronary artery spasms (contraction). Relaxing the muscles lining the arteries in the rest of the body lowers blood pressurewhich reduces the work that the heart must do to pump blood to the body. Reducing the work of the heart also lessens the heart muscle's need for oxygenthereby further helping to prevent angina in patients with coronary artery disease.

• The FDA approved amlodipine in July 1992.