General Info: Uses and Effects

Amlodipine is an oral tablet that is available as a generic drug. Its brand name is Norvasc. It is used for the treatment of coronary artery disease, angina, and high blood pressure. It is in a tablet form and taken by mouth. It is important to know that Amlodipine is processed by the liver. If you have a liver problem, a high percentage of this medication will stay in your body for a longer period. This therefore increases your risk of having side effects when using the medication. People with severe liver conditions are usually prescribed with lower dosage of this drug. The medication may also have an adverse effect on people with heart problems. It has the potential of narrowing the arteries and may increase the risk of other health problems. Other health problems that can come up include low blood pressure, heart attack, or worse chest pain. In case you develop any of these health conditions while using Norvasc, call your physician immediately.

Norvasc Amlodipine can be taken as part of a treatment plan for heart conditions. It is used to help lower blood pressure and it is also used to help the blood flow easily to the heart when the arteries of the heart are blocked.

Contraindication: Important to Know

Norvasc Amlodipine is in a class of medications known as calcium channel blockers. All drugs in the same class of medications are used for the treatment of similar health conditions. Amlodipine works by blocking calcium from entering into arteries and certain tissues. This allows them to relax to enable blood flow easily to the heart. This minimizes the risk of stroke or heart attack. It also helps to lower blood pressure. If you are using the medication for chest pain, it will reduce your risk of surgeries and hospitalization due to the chest pain.

Research has shown negative effect of the medication on the foetus of animals when the mother takes Norvasc Generic. Therefore, inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. You should only use the medication in pregnancy if it is absolutely necessary. Amlodipine can also pass into breast milk. However, the effect on a nursing baby is not yet known. Therefore, talk to your physician if you are breastfeeding a child. You might have to decide on whether to stop using the medication or stop breastfeeding.

Instructions on Taking

Use Norvasc Amlodipine according to the prescription of your doctor. Do not take the medication in smaller or larger doses. Do not share your drug with another person even if he/she has the same symptoms as you do and keep all medications out of the reach of children.

Dosage

Your doctor or pharmacist will usually provide you with detailed information on how to take the medication and what its duration. Your dosage will depend on your age, condition being treated, severity of the condition, other medical conditions, and your response to the treatment.

Norvasc Amlodipine is an oral tablet and comes in the strengths of 2.5mg, 5mg, and 10mg. Adult within the ages of 18 to 64 years should start with 5mg daily. Depending on your response to treatment and your blood pressure goals, the dosage may be increased. However, the dosage should not exceed 10mg per day. For children between the ages of 6 and 17 years, the recommended dosage is 2.5-5mg per day. Children should not use dosage above 5mg. Children under 6 years old should not use the medication. For adults above the age of 65 years, a dosage of 2.5mg is usually recommended. Due to the fact that older adults process drugs slowly, they should not be given more than 2.5mg per day. Sometimes, the dose may have to be reduced.

Side Effects

It is important to know that your doctor has prescribed this medication for you because they believe that the health benefits to you far outweigh the risk of side effects. You should also know that many people using the medication do not experience any serious side effects. Some of the more common side effects that you can experience while taking Norvasc Amlodipine include:

• Tremor;
• Nausea;
• Dizziness;
• Stomach pain;
• Abnormal muscle movement;
• Swelling of the ankles or legs;
• Extreme sleepiness or tiredness;
• Arrhythmia (irregular heart rate);
• Heart palpitations (very fast heart rate);
• Warm or hot feeling in the face (flushing).

These adverse effects are usually mild and will go away within a short period of time. However, if they become severe or persistent, inform your doctor.

There are other serious side effects that can be experienced while using the medication. You should therefore call your physician immediately if you develop any of the following side effects:

• Low blood pressure with symptoms, such as light-headedness, severe dizziness, or fainting.
• Heart attack or severe chest pain with symptoms, such as shortness of breath, chest pain or discomfort, unusual tiredness, upper body discomfort, breaking out in cold sweat, or nausea.

Please note that the list of possible adverse effects mentioned here is not exhaustive. You should therefore call for urgent medical attention if you develop any symptom of side effects other than what is listed here. In addition to this, discuss all possible side effects with your doctor based on your medical history before you start the medication.

Interaction with Other Drugs

Norvasc Amlodipine may interact with other medications, herbs, or vitamins. An interaction usually causes a change in the way a medication works. This can increase the risk of side effects or worsen the health condition. To avoid any interactions therefore you should inform your doctor of all medications you are using currently or that you stopped taking recently. Some medications that can interact with Amlodipine include heart medications (Diltazem), antifungal medications (Voriconazole, Ketoconazole, Itraconazole), antibiotics (Clarithromycin), ED medications (Sildenafil), cholesterol medications (Simvastatin), and immune system medications (Cyclosporine, Tacrolimus).

This is not a complete list of possible drug interactions for Norvasc Amlodipine. You need to inform your doctor about all medications you are using and also remember to tell him your medical history.