Amlodipine besylate is a calcium channel blocker used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). It can help high blood pressure by helping to widen blood vessels. This can lower blood pressure and make it easier for the heart to pump blood throughout the body.
If you have hypertension, you can prevent heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes in the future by taking this medicine. Chest pain conditions that occur due to heart disease (angina) can also be prevented by using amlodipine besylate.
- Class: Calcium antagonist drugs.
- Category: Hard drugs (red).
- Used by: adults and children over 6 years of age as per medical instructions.
- Amlodipine besylate for pregnancy: There are no controlled studies for the use of amlodipine in pregnancy. If you want to use it, you should consult your doctor first.
- Amlodipine besylate for breastfeeding mothers: Not recommended, due to the risk of being absorbed into breast milk.
- Drug form: tablets and suspension.
Benefits of Amlodipine Besylate
Amlodipine besylate can be used alone or with other medications. The use of this drug is useful for several conditions, such as:
1. Hypertension
You need to be aware, that hypertension can increase the workload of the heart and arteries. If not treated properly, long-term hypertension makes the heart and arteries not function properly.
As a result, blood vessels in the brain, heart, and kidneys can be damaged. This can lead to stroke, heart failure, and kidney failure.
To minimize this risk, you are advised to control your blood pressure well, one way of doing this is by using medication.
2. Chronic stable angina
This drug can also be used to relieve chronic stable angina (chest pain) or vasospastic angina.
As mentioned, amlodipine besylate is a calcium channel blocker. This drug works by affecting the movement of calcium into the cells of the heart and blood vessels. So that the blood vessels can relax and blood pressure decreases, and increase the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart while reducing its workload.
Amlodipine Besylate Dosage
Amlodipine besylate is a drug that you can only get with a doctor’s prescription. The dosage of this drug varies, depending on the age of the sufferer.
Here are the doses that doctors generally prescribe based on age:
- Adults: The initial dose is 5 milligrams (mg) once daily. The dose can be increased based on the patient’s response and condition to treatment after 1-2 weeks. The maximum dose is 10 mg once daily.
- Children 6 to 17 years of age: The initial dose is 2.5 mg once daily. If your doctor feels the need for an increase, you can increase the dose to 5 mg once daily after 5 weeks. The dose can only be increased depending on the patient’s condition and response to treatment.
- Elderly (senior citizens): Initial dose 2.5 mg once daily.
How to Use Amlodipine Besylate
Here’s how to use the drug amlodipine besylate:
- How to use amlodipine besylate is taken once a day. This medicine is available in tablet and suspension (liquid) form for you to drink.
- To help you remember to take this medicine, take it at the same time every day.
- Be sure to follow the directions on your prescription label carefully. It never hurts to ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain anything you don’t understand.
- Take the medication exactly as your doctor or pharmacist directs. Avoid taking more or less than your doctor prescribes.
- For suspension medication, shake it well before use so that the medication is mixed evenly. Your doctor may give you a low dose of amlodipine and gradually increase the dose.
You should also know that amlodipine can help control high blood pressure, angina, and coronary artery disease, but it cannot cure these conditions.
However, continue taking this medication even if you feel well. Do not stop taking it without talking to your doctor first.
Amlodipine Besylate Drug Trademark
In the market, you can find amlodipine besylate drugs with various brand names. Here are some recommendations:
- Amlodipine 10 mg 10 Tablets. Antihypertensive drugs Calcium Channel Blockers (CCB) for first-line treatment in patients with hypertension.
- Amlodipine 5 mg 3 Strips (10 Tablets/Strip) – Routine Medication. This medication is indicated for the first-line treatment of hypertension and can be a single agent to control blood pressure in hypertensive patients.
- Theravask 10 mg 10 Tablets. Contains amlodipine, to help treat hypertension, stable angina, and prinzmetal angina.
- Zevask 5 mg 10 Tablets. This drug with 5 mg amlodipine content can be used before or after meals to treat hypertension, stable angina, prinzmetal angina, or coronary blood vessels.
- Norvask 5 mg 10 Tablets. Can be used for first-line treatment in cases of hypertension, as well as a single agent to control blood pressure in patients.
- Amcor 10 mg 10 Tablets. Used for initial treatment for hypertension sufferers, as well as people who are not sufficiently controlled with a single antihypertensive drug (other than amlodipine).
- Tensivask 5 mg 10 Tablets. This drug contains amlodipine besylate 5 mg which can be used for the treatment of hypertension, as well as helping to control blood pressure in hypertensive patients.
Cautions in Using Amlodipine Besylate
There are several things you need to pay attention to before or while using amlodipine besylate:
- Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in amlodipine besylate or any other medications. Ask your pharmacist for a list of ingredients.
- Tell your doctor about all prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Your doctor may need to change your dose or monitor you closely for side effects.
- Tell your doctor if you have ever had heart failure, heart disease, or liver disease.
- Also, tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking amlodipine, call your doctor right away.
Amlodipine Besylate Side Effects
Common side effects include:
- Swelling of the feet or ankles.
- Fatigue.
- Sleepy.
- Nauseous.
- Dizzy.
- A hot or warm sensation on the face that appears reddish.
- Heart beats fast (palpitations).
The above side effects may be mild for some people and usually disappear within a few days or weeks. However, if they are more severe or do not go away, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Meanwhile, if serious side effects appear as listed below, immediately contact a doctor or visit the emergency room (ER):
- Low blood pressure, characterized by the appearance of severe dizziness and fainting.
- Frequent chest pain or heart attacks. This condition is characterized by chest pain, discomfort in the upper body, shortness of breath, cold sweats, unusual fatigue, nausea, and dizziness.
Amlodipine Besylate Interactions
Amlodipine may interact with other medications, vitamins, or herbs you may be taking. A drug interaction occurs when a substance changes the way a drug works. This is usually harmful or may prevent the drug from working well.
Some drugs that can interact with amlodipine besylate are:
- Heart medications, such as diltiazem.
- Antifungal medications such as ketoconazole, itraconazole, or voriconazole.
- Medications for erectile dysfunction such as sildenafil, tadalafil, or avanafil.
- Cholesterol medications such as simvastatin.
- Drugs that control the immune system, such as cyclosporine and tacrolimus,
Contraindications of Amlodipine Besylate
Amlodipine should not be used if you have hypersensitivity to this drug. In addition, some people with the following conditions should also avoid using this drug:
- Cardiogenic shock.
- Severe aortic stenosis.
- Unstable angina.
- Severe hypotension.
- Heart failure.
- Liver disorders.