Amlodipine is what is known as a channel blocker, more specifically it is a calcium channel blocker. It is used mainly for chest pain, also called angina, and high blood pressure. Since calcium makes the arteries contract and it causes the arteries to become narrow, by blocking the calcium Amlodipine helps the blood flow into the heart more smoothly. It also relaxes the muscle in the arteries to help the heart pump blood. Another effect is that it reduces blood pressure and it increases blood flow to other parts of the body. Chest pain is greatly reduced by the extra supply of blood to the heart. It is usually the drug of choice when treating hypertension and angina. Amlodipine helps the heart deal with high pressure by increasing the blood and relaxing the muscles, this way the heart doesn’t have to work so hard.
Any prescription or non-prescription drugs should be reported to the doctor before taking Amlodipine. Perscription drugs for HIV or AIDS, prostate problems, seizure problems, fungal infections, bacterial infections, or diuretics might be harmful to your body if taken with Amlodipine. Even herbal medication, natural supplements, large amounts of calcium, or even vitamins might affect the treatment of the drug. Also, if the patient has ever had liver disease or heart disease it might have left those organs weakened and thus more susceptible to harmful Amlodipine effects. Inform your treating physician immediately if any of those diseases have occurred. Patients who are already taking nitroglycerin for angina don’t have to stop taking it when Amlodipine is prescribed, nitroglycerin can be taken with Amlodipine without any harmful effects.
Some side effects that can occur while taking Amlodipine are: edema, dizziness, headache, upset stomach, rashes, drowsiness, arrhythmia, swelling of the hands and feet, and excessive tiredness. These are negligible side effects that are common with most drugs. Patients must be careful not to drive after taken Amlodipine because the drowsiness that comes with taking the drug might cause problems on the road. Some more serious side effects are severe chest pain, irregular heartbeat and fainting. If any of these effects occur then it is best to go to a hospital immediately.
No concrete evidence suggests that Amlodipine is harmful to pregnant women, but if you are pregnant or become pregnant during the treatment please inform your doctor as a safety measure. Only take Amlodipine if the benefits outweigh the probable danger to the fetus. A warning to mothers: researchers have not yet confirmed if the drug is also passed on through breast milk, so as a precaution nursing mothers should stop breastfeeding while on Amlodipine.
Amlodipine is commonly sold under the names Norvasc and Istin. It is usually sold as pills in 5-10 mg tablets. Doctors usually prescribe 5mg at the beginning of treatment than gradually increase the dosage if they see fit. Amlodipine usually is in effect for a full 24 hours, so the dosage is typically daily. A tip when using this drug is to have a low-sodium diet because it helps the drug with its course of action.
Amlodipine has the following structural formula:
• Molecular formula of amlodipine is C20H25ClN2O5
• Chemical IUPAC Name is methylethyl2-(2-aminoethoxymethyl)-4-(2-chlorophenyl)- 6-methyl-1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate
• Molecular weight is 408.876 g/mol
• Amlodipine available : 2.5mg tablets, 5mg tablets, 10mg tablets
Brand name(s): Amlocard, Amlodipino, Amlodipinum, Amlodis, Amvaz, Coroval, Lipinox, Lotrel, Norvasc
Review published on: 05 March 2008
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