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Medicine Highlights
| Uses | 1- To treat high blood pressure 2- To treat chest pain 3- To treat narrow coronary artery |
| Common Side Effects | Swelling in the ankles or feet |
| Additional Information | Alcohol should be avoided both before and after taking the medicine. |
| Storage | 1- The medicine should be stored at room temperature 2- Keep away from sunlight and moisture 3- Keep away from the reach of children |
| How to Take This Medicine | The medicine should be taken orally |
Amlodipine Summary
Amlodipine 5 mg is a daily medication used to treat high blood pressure and chest pain by helping your blood vessels relax, making it easier for your heart to pump blood. It’s important to take it regularly as prescribed and not stop without your doctor’s advice. Common side effects include swollen ankles, while more serious ones- though rare-can include chest discomfort or irregular heartbeat. Avoid grapefruit and let your doctor know if you have liver issues or allergies to the medicine. Alongside the medication, healthy lifestyle habits can make a big difference. Eating less salt, staying active, losing extra weight, and quitting tobacco can all help keep your blood pressure in check. And remember-if you ever miss a dose, take it when you remember unless it’s close to your next one. In case of overdose, get medical help right away. Store the medicine in a cool, dry place, out of children’s reach.
Amlodipine Uses
Amlodipine 5 mg is an oral medicine belonging to the class of dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker medicines. It is used for following indications:
- High blood pressure/ Hypertension
- Chest pain
- Narrowing of coronary artery (Vasospastic angina)
Directions for Use
- Take amlodipine exactly as prescribed by your doctor, regularly at the same time each day.
- Do not stop taking amlodipine without your doctor’s approval, even if you feel better.
- If you forget to take the medicine, take it as soon as you remember, unless it’s almost time for the next one, then just skip it.
Amlodipine side effects
More Common
- Swelling of the ankles or feet
Less Common
- Chest tightness
- Difficult or labored breathing
- Dizziness
- Fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
- Feeling of warmth
- Redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest
How Amlodipine works
Imagine your blood vessels are like tiny straws inside your body. When you need to move a lot of blood, these straws can get tighter or wider, depending on how your body needs to work. Normally, there’s something called calcium that helps tighten the straws. But when you take a medicine like amlodipine, it helps make the straws bigger by stopping some of that calcium from getting inside. This makes it easier for the blood to flow, which is helpful if you have problems like high blood pressure, chest pain, or cold fingers and toes (like when someone has Raynaud’s disease). Amlodipine also helps the heart not work so hard, which makes it feel better. If someone has trouble with their kidneys because of diabetes, taking amlodipine with other medicines can help protect their kidneys.
Safety Measures and Warning
📌 Allergy/Hypersensitivity
If you are allergic to amlodipine then inform your doctor about the same.
📌 Liver Disease
If you have liver disease, inform your doctor, as this medicine is metabolized by the liver, and any liver condition can worsen your health.
📌 Pregnancy
It is safe to use amlodipine for high blood pressure during pregnancy.
Amlodipine Interaction with Other Medicines
Avoid taking amlodipine 5 mg with the following medicines, as it may increase or decrease the desired effect, or in worse cases, it could be fatal:
Amlodipine Interaction with Food Product
Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice immediately before or after taking amlodipine, as it may alter the medicine’s effects.
Storage
- The medicine should be stored at room temperature
- Keep away from sunlight and moisture
- Keep away from the reach of children
Amlodipine Chemical Structure
IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry)/ Chemical name-
3-O-ethyl 5-O-methyl 2-(2-aminoethoxymethyl)-4-(2-chlorophenyl)-6-methyl-1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate.
Intake routine/cycle
📌 Daily Dose
Take amlodipine exactly as your doctor recommends. The dose may change based on your condition and how well you respond. Do not take more than prescribed without consulting your doctor.
📌 Missed Dose
If you forget to take your medicine, take the medication soon as you remember. If it’s nearly time for your next dose, skip the missed one and continue with your regular schedule. Always consult the doctor before making any changes to your dosage.
📌 Overdose
A dose greater than 40 mg of amlodipine is considered an overdose. Symptoms may include facial redness, low blood pressure, and a rapid heartbeat. If someone unintentionally ingests amlodipine, or if you know anyone who consumes amlodipine and exhibits these symptoms, then immediately rush them to the hospital.
Dietary and Lifestyle Management
High blood pressure is caused by numerous factors such as age, genetics, obesity, hormonal disorders, and more. While it is not entirely curable, it can be effectively managed with some modifications to your diet and regular exercise. Here are some lifestyle changes you can make to manage hypertension:
Eating a healthy, low
If you are diagnosed with hypertension, then you should limit the intake of salt in your diet. The scientific reason behind this is that salt contains sodium. Sodium is hydrophilic, meaning it loves water, and wherever it goes, water will be drawn towards it. When sodium enters the blood vessel, it increases the blood volume and increases pressure in your artery, resulting in hypertension. Therefore, it is advised to have low sodium intake in your diet to manage hypertension.
Losing Weight
Losing weight helps in managing high blood pressure. The more you weigh, the harder your heart functions to supply blood to other body parts, resulting in elevated blood pressure. Losing weight will help you to manage hypertension.
Being Physically Active
If you are physically active, then it will strengthen your heart muscle to pump blood to other parts of the body without much effort.
Quitting Tobacco
Quitting tobacco can help manage hypertension as it drops your blood pressure and heart rate to normal.
FAQ’s
1. Can amlodipine be taken on empty stomach?
➡️ Yes, amlodipine can be taken with or without food. It is generally recommended to take it on an empty stomach only if your condition is severe. Always consult your doctor for personalized advice.
2. Can amlodipine be taken twice a day?
➡️ Amlodipine is typically taken once a day because its effects last for 24 hours.
3. Can amlodipine and nifedipine be taken together?
➡️ Yes, amlodipine and nifedipine can be taken together, as there are no reported interactions between them. However, you should only take them together after consulting with your doctor.
4. Can amlodipine be taken with telmisartan?
➡️ Yes, amlodipine and telmisartan can be taken together, as there are no reported interactions between them. However, you should only take them together after consulting with your doctor.
Reference
- Mayo Clinic. Amlodipine (oral route). Rochester: Mayo Clinic; 2023 [cited 2024 Sep 7]. Available from.
- Bulsara KG, et.al, Amlodipine. In: StatPearls Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan–. [Published 2024 Jan; cited 2024 Sep 7]. Available from.
- World Health Organization. Hypertension. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2023 [cited 2024 Sep 8]. Available from.
- Mayo Clinic. Angina treatment: Stents, drugs, lifestyle changes — what’s best?Rochester: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2023 [cited 2024 Sep 8]. Available from.
- NHS. Common questions about Amlodipine. [Internet]. 2024 [cited 2024 Sep 8]. Available from.
- World Health Organization. Hypertension [Internet]. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2024 [cited 2024 Sep 8]. Available from.
- Stanek EJ, Nelson CE, DeNofrio D. Amlodipine overdose. Ann Pharmacother. 1997 Jul-Aug;31(7-8):853-6. doi: 10.1177/106002809703100708. PMID: 9220044. Available from.
- Drugs.com. Amlodipine and nifedipine interaction. Available from.
- NHS.uk. How and when to take amlodipine. Available from.
