What is amlodipine?
Amlodipine is in a group of drugs called calcium channel blockers. Amlodipine relaxes (widens) blood vessels and improves blood flow.
Amlodipine is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) or chest pain (angina).
Amlodipine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
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Precautions
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Instructions
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Side Effects
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Interactions
Precautions
You should not take this medication if you are allergic to amlodipine.
If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use this medication. Before taking amlodipine, tell your doctor if you have:
- congestive heart failure; or
- liver disease.
If you are also taking a beta-blocker drug (such as Blocadren, Corgard, Inderal, Normodyne, Tenormin, Toprol, Trandate, Zebeta, and others) do not suddenly stop using the beta-blocker without first talking to your doctor. You may need to use less and less before you stop the medication completely. Stopping a beta-blocker too quickly can cause serious heart problems that will not be prevented by amlodipine.
FDA pregnancy category C. Amlodipine may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether amlodipine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.
Avoid drinking alcohol while taking amlodipine. Alcohol can further lower your blood pressure and may increase some of the side effects of amlodipine.
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Instructions
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have taken too much of this medication.
Overdose symptoms may include warmth or tingly feeling, severe dizziness, and fainting.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
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Side Effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
- feeling like you might pass out;
- swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet;
- chest pain;
- slow, fast, or pounding heartbeats;
- easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;
- numbness, burning, pain, or tingly feeling; or
- jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes).
Less serious side effects may include:
- headache;
- drowsiness, depression, nervousness;
- dizziness, spinning sensation;
- warmth or redness under your skin;
- nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite;
- diarrhea, constipation;
- urinating more than usual;
- sleep problems (insomnia);
- strange dreams;
- mild skin rash or itching;
- joint or muscle pain;
- dry mouth, thirst, increased sweating; or
- weight changes.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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Interactions
Tell your doctor about all other heart or blood pressure medications you are taking.
There may be other drugs that can interact with amlodipine. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
Other Names
Norvasc and amlodipine
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Disclaimer
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2004 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version 2.05. Revision date 8/23/04
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