Norvasc (Amlodipine Besylate)

Norvasc Review

Amlodipine (Norvasc) is used alone or in combination with other medications to treat high blood pressure and chest pain (angina). It lowers blood pressure by relaxing the blood vessels so the heart does not have to pump as hard. It controls chest pain by increasing the supply of blood to the heart. If taken regularly, amlodipine controls chest pain, but it does not stop chest pain once it starts.

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Norvasc Drug Class and Mechanism

Amlodipine (as besylate, mesylate or maleate) is a long-acting calcium channel blocker (dihydropyridine) used as an anti-hypertensive and in the treatment of angina. As other calcium channel blockers, amlodipine acts by relaxing the smooth muscle in the arterial wall, decreasing peripheral resistance and hence reducing blood pressure; in angina it increases blood flow to the heart muscle. Amlodipine is marketed as Norvasc® in North America and as Istin® in the United Kingdom by Pfizer as well as under various other names.

Norvasc Uses

Hypertension Norvasc is indicated for the treatment of hypertension. It may be used alone or in combination with other antihypertensive agents. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) Chronic Stable Angina Norvasc is indicated for the symptomatic treatment of chronic stable angina. Norvasc may be used alone or in combination with other antianginal agents. Vasospastic Angina (Prinzmetal's or Variant Angina) Norvasc is indicated for the treatment of confirmed or suspected vasospastic angina. Norvasc may be used as monotherapy or in combination with other antianginal drugs. Angiographically Documented CAD In patients with recently documented CAD by angiography and without heart failure or an ejection fraction <40%, Norvasc is indicated to reduce the risk of hospitalization due to angina and to reduce the risk of a coronary revascularization procedure Hypertension or angina: 5 or 10 mg once daily

Norvasc Side Effects

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking Norvasc and contact your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical treatment: -an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives -unusually fast or slow heartbeat; -chest pain; -severe dizziness or fainting; -psychosis; -jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or -swelling of the legs or ankles. Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take Norvasc and talk to your doctor if you experience -fatigue or tiredness; -headache; -insomnia; -vivid or abnormal dreams; -flushing; -abdominal pain; -nausea, diarrhea, or constipation; or -increased or difficult urination. Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

Norvasc Pregnancy

Norvasc Overdose

Single oral doses of amlodipine maleate equivalent to 40 mg amlodipine/kg and 100 mg amlodipine/kg in mice and rats, respectively, caused deaths. Single oral amlodipine maleate doses equivalent to 4 or more mg amlodipine/kg or higher in dogs (11 or more times the maximum recommended human dose on a mg/m?basis) caused a marked peripheral vasodilation and hypotension. Overdosage might be expected to cause excessive peripheral vasodilation with marked hypotension and possibly a reflex tachycardia. In humans, experience with intentional overdosage of NORVASC is limited. Reports of intentional overdosage include a patient who ingested 250 mg and was asymptomatic and was not hospitalized; another (120 mg) was hospitalized, underwent gastric lavage and remained normotensive; the third (105 mg) was hospitalized and had hypotension (90/50 mmHg) which normalized following plasma expansion. A case of accidental drug overdose has been documented in a 19-month-old male who ingested 30 mg amlodipine (about 2 mg/kg). During the emergency room presentation, vital signs were stable with no evidence of hypotension, but a heart rate of 180 bpm. Ipecac was administered 3.5 hours after ingestion and on subsequent observation (overnight) no sequelae were noted.

Norvasc More Information

Before taking Norvasc, tell your doctor if you have liver disease or another disease of the heart or blood vessels such as sick sinus syndrome, aortic stenosis, heart failure, low blood pressure, or coronary artery disease. If you are over 65 years of age, you may be more likely to experience side effects from Norvasc. Your doctor may prescribe a lower dose of this medication.