What is amlodipine besylate?

Amlodipine besylate treat hypertension and coronary artery disease. Within the treatment of coronary artery disease, amlodipine besylate , which is marketed under the brand name Norvasc, is a calcium channel blocker that is used totreats vasospastic angina (variant angina or Prinzmetal’s), chronic stable angina, and coronary artery disease if you have heart failure or an ejection fraction < 40%. Amlodipine besylate can treat adults or children over the age of 6 and can be used alone or in conjunction with other antihypertensive and antianginal agents (nitroglycerin).

How does amlodipine besylate work?

As amlodipine besylate is a calcium channel blocker, it works by relaxing your blood vessels to help treat high blood pressure. In turn, your heart does not have to work as hard to receive more oxygen, relieves chest pain, and lowers the risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events.

What doses of amlodipine besylate are available?

There are a few different dosage forms and strengths of amlodipine besylate. It comes in 2.5mg, 5mg, or 10mg oral tablets, a 1mg/ml oral liquid, or a 1mg/mL oral suspension. The dosage you take will depend on what specific disease or condition amlodipine besylate is treating.

How do you use amlodipine besylate?

Be sure you follow all directions given by your healthcare provider and read all drug information on the medication guide or instruction sheets. You typically take amlodipine besylate once a day, at the same time each day, with or without food. Make sure you use the supplied measuring device if you are taking the amlodipine besylate oral suspension liquid, and you will need to shake it before each use.

Do not change dosages unless instructed by your healthcare provider. If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you can. However, you should skip the dose if it is almost time for your next dose and simply begin again at the time of your next dose.

Ask your doctor how often you should be monitoring your blood pressure and when you may need to report it back to them. Sometimes, high blood pressure does not have any obvious symptoms, so keep using amlodipine besylate even if your symptoms of high blood pressure seem to have stopped.

Take all other medications your doctor has prescribed for you. They may also recommend or instruct you to eat a low-cholesterol diet, exercise more frequently, and limit your alcohol consumption.

What are the side effects of amlodipine besylate?

The most common side effects of amlodipine besylate include:

Edema (swelling, specifically of the feet and ankles)
Tiredness
Nausea
Headache
Stomach pain
Extremely fast heart rate (palpitations)

Rarely, amlodipine besylate may cause some serious side effects such as:

Dangerously low blood pressure, including the symptoms of:
- Lightheadedness
- Dizziness
- Feeling faint
- Pale skin
Heart attack, including the symptoms of:
- Anxiety
- Dizziness
- Chest pain and pressure
- Tiredness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sweating, and more
Pounding, rapid, or severely irregular heartbeat.

Contact your healthcare professional for medical advice about any possible side effects you experience while taking amlodipine besylate. You can report your adverse effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Amlodipine besylate drug interactions

When amlodipine besylate is taken with other prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and supplements, it may change how they work or increase the frequency or severity of side effects. Some drug interactions with amlodipine besylate include, but are not limited to:

Clarithromycin
Itraconazole
Cyclosporine
Simvastatin
Tacrolimus

Amlodipine besylate precautions

You should be sure that your healthcare provider is aware of all your medical conditions, including if you:

Have an allergy, or have had an allergic reaction to any of the ingredients in amlodipine besylate
Have or have had severe narrowing of a specific valve in your heart (aortic stenosis), or have had other heart problems
Have or have had coronary artery disease (clogged arteries)
Have liver disease or liver problems
Are pregnant, may become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
Have or have had heart disease as sometimes symptoms worsen after taking amlodipine besylate

Is there a generic available for amlodipine besylate?

Amlodipine besylate is a generic option for Norvasc (tablets), Katerzia (suspension), or Norliqva (liquid). All include the active ingredient amlodipine.

How do you store amlodipine besylate?

Amlodipine besylate tablets and oral solution (liquid) should be stored at room temperature, away from any moisture, light, and heat. Amlodipine besylate oral suspension should be stored in the refrigerator, however, it should not be frozen.