Amlodipine: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use it

What drug amlodipine?

The function of the drug amlodipine (amlodipine)

Amlodipine, or amlodipine, is a drug to lower high blood pressure that belongs to the group calcium channel blocker. This drug for hypertension works by entering certain arteries and tissues, then flowing to the heart and lowering blood pressure.

This antihypertensive drug can be used in combination with other drugs to treat high blood pressure or used as a single treatment. Apart from lowering high blood pressure, amlodipine also helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems.

Amlodipine is also used to prevent certain types of chest pain (angina). These high blood pressure medications can help increase your ability to exercise and decrease the frequency of angina attacks.

However, this medication for hypertension should not be used to treat chest pain attacks when the condition occurs. Use another medication, such as sublingual nitroglycerin to relieve bouts of chest pain as directed by your doctor.

How do I take amlodipine?

Take this medication to lower high blood pressure with or without food as directed by your doctor. The usual rule for taking amlodipine is once a day. The dose given will depend on your medical condition and how your body responds to treatment. Your doctor may gradually increase your dose. Therefore, follow the doctor's instructions carefully.

Use this antihypertensive drug regularly to get its benefits. To help you remember when to take your medication, make sure to take it at the same time. It is important to continue taking this medication even if you are already feeling well. The reason is, most people with high blood pressure don't feel sick.

If used for angina, this medicine must be taken regularly to be effective. Tell your doctor if your condition does not improve or if it gets worse, for example:

• Your blood pressure reading remains high or increases
• Chest pain persists or gets worse

Follow the rules given by your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment. If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How to store this drug?

Amlodipine is best stored at room temperature, so it should be kept away from direct light and damp places. Do not store in the bathroom or freeze.

Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules. For that, pay attention to the storage instructions on the product packaging or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medicines out of reach of children and pets, so that they are not damaged or eaten by children.

Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed.

Amlodipine dosage

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the dose of amlodipine for adults?

The following is the recommended amlodipine dosage for adults:

Usual adult dose for hypertension

Initial dose: 5 mg orally once a day

Maintenance dose: 5-10 mg orally once a day. Susceptible patients can be started at 2.5 mg orally once a day.

Usual adult dose for angina pectoris

The dose for stable or vasospastic chronic angina, or coronary artery disease angiography recorded in patients without heart failure is less than 40 percent:

Dose of 5-10 mg orally once a day. Most patients with chronic stable or vasospastic angina need 10 mg until effects are felt.

In clinical studies, most patients with coronary artery disease required 10 mg.

Usual adult dose for coronary artery disease

Stable or vasospastic chronic angina, or coronary artery disease angiography as documented in patients without heart failure or an ejection fraction of less than 40%:

5-10 mg orally once a day. Most patients with chronic stable or vasospastic angina need 10 mg for adequate effect. In clinical studies, most patients with coronary artery disease required 10 mg.

What is the dose of amlodipine for children?

The following is the recommended amlodipine dosage for children:

Children's dosage for hypertension

Ages 6-17 years: 2.5-5 mg orally once a day.

Note: Doses greater than 5 mg daily have not been studied in pediatric patients.

In what dosage and preparation is this drug available?

Amlodipine is only available in oral tablet form (drinking), including doses of 2.5 mg, 5 mg, and 10 mg.

If you have difficulty taking this drug, consult your doctor for other easy ways to take amlodipine.

Side effects

What are the possible side effects of amlodipine?

Generally, this high blood pressure-lowering drug causes drowsiness. This is the mildest side effect. Stop using amlodipine and call your doctor if you have any of the following serious side effects:

• Swelling in the hands, ankles, or feet
• Heartbeats pounding or fluttering in the chest
• Chest pain or a feeling of heaviness, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general feeling of pain

Less common side effects of amlodipine may include:

• Headache
• Dizziness, drowsiness
• Tired feeling
• Stomach ache; or
• Flushing (a feeling of warmth, redness of the skin, or a tingling sensation)
• Loss of consciousness

Not everyone experiences the following side effects. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you have concerns about certain side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

If this is your first time using this antihypertensive drug or is increasing your dose and you feel your chest pain getting worse, you may have a heart attack.

Stop use immediately if you experience this. Apart from chest pain, other heart attack symptoms you should be aware of include:

• Hard to breathe
• Upper body aches and aches
• The body feels tired and continues to sweat cold
• Nausea and dizziness

Precautions & Warnings

What should be known before using this drug?

Before using amlodipine, make sure of the following:

1. You have allergies

Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to amlodipine, any other drugs, or any of the ingredients in these anti-hypertensive tablets. Ask the pharmacist for any list of ingredients.

Symptoms of an allergy to this hypertension drug include:

• Difficulty breathing
• Body itching
• Swelling of the face, lips, throat or tongue
• Feeling about to pass out
• Nausea and vomiting
• The body continues to sweat

Do not take this medicine again if you have experienced allergies after taking it. Instead of treating hypertension, taking amlodipine even though allergies can get you into fatal health problems, even like death.

2. Stop treatment if causing unpleasant symptoms

The use of drugs must be supervised by a doctor. The reason is, not everyone can use this drug smoothly. If it causes unusual symptoms, talk to your doctor immediately.

3. Are or will be using other drugs

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about prescription and non-prescription drugs, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products that you are using or will be using.

4. Having certain conditions

The presence of other health problems in your body can affect the use of this drug. Tell your doctor if you have any health problems.

6. Do not skip or stop taking medication without a doctor's direction

Hypertension is not like a cold, which completely clears the disease from the body. Once you have this disease, you will continue to have it. However, you can live a healthy life if you take medication regularly and live a healthy life. So don't try it - without the doctor's permission or miss it on purpose.

Is amlodipine safe for pregnant or breastfeeding women?

There is no adequate research on the risks of using amlodipine for pregnant or lactating women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication.

This medicine falls into the category C pregnancy risk according to US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:

• A = Not at risk
• B = No risk in several studies
• C = May be risky
• D = There is positive evidence of risk
• X = Contraindicated
• N = Unknown

Drug Interactions

What medicines may interact with amlodipine?

Drug interactions can change the performance of your medications or increase the risk of serious side effects. Not all possible drug interactions are listed in this document.

Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs, and herbal products) and consult your doctor or pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any medication without your doctor's approval

Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:

1. Heart drugs

Using diltiazem with amlodipine can increase the levels of amlodipine in your body. This can cause more side effects.

2. Antifungal drugs

Taking this medication with antifungal medicines can increase the level of amlodipine in the body. This can cause more side effects or more severe side effects. For example, these drugs include:

• Ketoconazole
• Itraconazole
• Voriconazole
• Antibiotic

3. Medication for erection problems

Taking high blood pressure medication with drugs for erection problems can increase the risk of low blood pressure (hypotension), including:

• Sildenafil
• Tadalafil
• Avanafil
• Vardenafil
• Cholesterol drugs

4. Medicines that control the immune system

Taking high blood pressure medications with these medicines can double the dosage content. This can cause more side effects. For example, these drugs, namely:

• Cyclosporine
• Tacrolimus

Can food or alcohol interact with this drug?

Certain drugs should not be taken while eating or consuming certain foods because drug interactions can occur.

Smoking or consuming alcohol with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur. Discuss your use of drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your health care provider.

What health conditions can interact with this drug?

If you have any conditions, always tell your doctor. The following are medical conditions that you should tell your doctor about, namely:

1. Liver disease

This antihypertensive drug is processed in the liver. If the liver function is not working properly, the drug will not be processed properly. This means that the effect of the drug will last longer in the body.

This puts you at risk for more side effects. If you have problems with your liver, ask your doctor to lower the dose of the drug.

2. Heart disease

If you have heart problems, such as narrowed blood vessels, medication can increase your risk of several health problems. This medicine may cause worse chest pain, heart attack, or very low blood pressure if you increase your dose.

So, it is very stressful to tell the doctor about your health condition.

Overdose

What should I do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (119) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.

Overdose symptoms may include:

• Dizzy
• Fainting
• Fast heart rate

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, when it is nearing the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the usual dosing schedule. Do not double your dose without your doctor knowing.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.