Amlodipine is one type of calcium channel blocker. Doctors usually prescribe these medicines to treat people with high blood pressure. A doctor can also prescribe amlodipine for angina and coronary artery disease.
In this post, we discuss what doctors prescribe amlodipine for and what is its recommended dosage. We also cover the side effects, interactions, warnings, and concerns for amlodipine.
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Table of Contents
What is it used to treat?
The first approved amlodipine was in 1987. The FDA considers amlodipine safe and effective for the treatment of:
- High blood pressure
- Coronary artery disease
- Angina, which is chest pain resulting from reduced blood flow to the heart
To learn more, you can: All About Coronary Heart Disease
Doctors sometimes also prescribe amlodipine to treat people with other conditions. This is known as “off-label” treatment.
According to one source, off-label uses of amlodipine are:
- Diabetic nephropathy
- Left ventricular hypertrophy
- Raynaud’s phenomenon
- Silent myocardial ischemia
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Recommended dosage
Amlodipine dosage depends on the person’s condition and how strongly their symptoms react to the medication.
The doctor will also consider a person’s age and medical history when prescribing a dosage.
Doctors prescribe amlodipine for various conditions, and the doctor can prescribe the following dosages:
For high blood pressure:
- For adults: 5 mg once daily and maximum dose of 10 mg daily.
- For aged people or those who have liver problems: 2.5mg once daily.
- For children between 6–17 years old: 2.5mg or 5 mg once daily.
For stable, chronic and vasospastic angina:
- For adults: 5-10 mg once daily. Most people will require to take 10 mg for effective results.
- For aged people or those who have liver problems: 5 mg once daily.
For chronic artery disease:
- For adults: 5 to 10mg once daily.
- For aged people or those who have liver problems: 5 mg once daily.
A doctor may inflict amlodipine as an injection or drip for some people who have difficulty swallowing medicines, such as children and aged people.
Side effects
According to the research, researchers have done clinical tests to estimate the safety of amlodipine. These researches found that the medicine rarely caused problems in dosages up 10 mg daily.
However, typical side effects are:
- Edema, which is a swelling that happens in several parts of the body, especially the feet or ankles
- Dizziness
- Flushing
- Pulses, which are feelings of a fast or irregular heartbeat
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Less common side effects include:
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Abdominal pain
- Drowsiness
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Drug Interactions
Amlodipine can probably interact with some other medications, such as:
- Simvastatin
- CYP3A4 inhibitors
- Cyclosporine
People must inform their doctors about all the medications, herbs, and supplements they are currently taking before starting amlodipine or other new medicines.
Considerations
Here, we have also highlighted some considerations that the doctor and the person taking amlodipine need to be aware of. :
Pregnancy
There is a lot of research into the safety of using amlodipine during pregnancy. Therefore, the doctor recommends amlodipine to pregnant women for the potential benefits outweigh the fetus’s risks.
Breastfeeding
Experts have not yet defined whether amlodipine can enter a woman’s breast milk. Because of this, the doctors recommend that women should not take amlodipine during breastfeeding.
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Children under six years
Due to many studies, doctors didn’t recognize how safe and effective amlodipine is in kids under six years.
Amlodipine and magnesium
Taking magnesium with these medications might cause blood pressure to be too low. These medications include nifedipine verapamil diltiazem isradipine, felodipine, amlodipine, and others.
You must read this article: What Vitamins And Minerals Are Good For the Brain?
Conclusion
Amlodipine is vocal medicine doctors prescribe to treat high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, and angina. It is usually a safe and effective medication, but it may cause side effects in some people.
However, a doctor may prescribe a lower dosage for some people taking amlodipine, such as aged people, pregnant ladies, and people with liver diseases. This is because amlodipine can interact with some other medications.
A person needs to consult with their doctor if they have any concerns about taking amlodipine or experiencing any troubling side effects.
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