Amlodipine 5mg is a medicine that can be consumed by mouth. This medicine is available in the market that comes with the drug name Norvasc. In fact, it is a general medicine usually prescribed by doctors for those who are suffering from high BP. There is a feasibility to use this medicine alongside other medications that treat heart disorders. It is a calcium channel blocker that improves blood flow by dilating blood vessels. Amlodipine treats angina, coronary heart disease, and high blood pressure. In the case of heart failure, if other medications aren’t available, the patient can take Amlodipine.
Why it’s used?
The medication can be used alone or in combination with other heart medicines mainly to lower your blood pressure. It improves the flow of blood and helps to reach your heart easily. This could happen whenever there is some blockage to the arteries within the heart. The Amlodipine tablet helps in enhancing the blood flow to your heart without any obstructions. In addition to that, Amlodipine also works in the best way to cure a heart attack in some patients.
Uses and Benefits of Amlodipine 5mg:
Amlodipine 5mg medication is used to lower high blood pressure and other heart problems related to it. It is advised to take in conjunction with a proper diet and regular exercise. It also treats chest pain. This medicine effectively works in the treatment of hypertension which is a cause of the blood pressure caused by genetic, environmental, or any other factors. It is also taken in the condition of Angina Pectoris which is a type of heart disease and is associated with chest pain caused due to various factors such as emotional stress, smoking, and others.
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Side Effects of Amlodipine 5mg:
The following are some of the frequently seen side effects on those people who are suffering from heart-related diseases. Check out some of the side effects of Amlodipine medicine.
• Swelling of ankles or feet
• Difficulty in breathing
• Dizziness
• Irregular heartbeat
• Redness of the face, arms, neck, and chest
• Pain in muscles
• Heartburn
• Acid or sour stomach
• Stomach pain
• Anxiety
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Sweating
• Abnormal muscle movement
• Tremors
The severity of the aforementioned side effects will depend on the dosage that the patients intake on a daily basis. If the dosage of this medicine increases, it might show a drastic impact on the side effects of the individual. Based on the dosage of the medicine, the swelling effect of hands and feet might be increased. Not all the side effects might be seen in all the individuals who intake this medicine. We can witness those adverse effects only in a rare percentage of people. Some of the side effects might last longer and some of them might vanish in just a couple of days. If you experience any serious side effects then, contact the doctor immediately.
Serious side effects
If the dosage of this medicine increases then, it might show a massive impact on the health of the patient. The patient might suffer from an abrupt heart attack. Some other symptoms include the following:
• Heart Attack
• Uneasiness in the upper body
• Difficulty in breathing
• Sensing freezing sweat
• Abnormal weariness
• Vomiting
These are some of the commonly caused side effects of Amlodipine.
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Common Dosage of Amlodipine 5mg:
For adults whose age ranges between 18 years and 64 years need to take 5mg on a daily basis. Based on your increased blood pressure, the physician might alter your dosage for bringing you into normal condition. The doctor might increase the dose to a maximum of 10 mg on a daily basis.
In the case of children whose age ranges between 6 and 17 years, the dosage will be pretty less i.e., 2.5 to 5 mg on a daily basis.
For the kids whose age is between 0 and 5 years then, drug usage is not recommended. This medicine is advised only for patients whose age is more than 6 years.
People who are suffering from liver diseases need to take this medicine with a dosage of 2.5 mg per day.
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Composition and Nature of Amlodipine 5mg:
It comprises a long-acting Dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker which is effectively working in the treatment of angina and hypertension. It is a calcium channel blocker with antihypertensive and antianginal properties.
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How to Use Amlodipine 5mg?
This medication is an oral tablet and is used for patients for a really long time period. One must consume this medicine only as per the prescription by the doctor. A sudden break in taking the tablets can worsen the condition of increased blood pressure. In some situations, it could lead to severe heart problems that include heart attack. In case, if any patient misses the dose, this also worsens the condition of the patient and leads to chest pain. People who don’t remember their tablet timings need to take it whenever they remember about it. Ensure that the time you memorized about the medicine is not nearer to the next medicine. If that is the case then, simply skip the dose. Also, blood pressure falls down if the dosage of the Amlodipine tablet increases. There is no cure for an overdose of this medicine. If you experience any of the symptoms of overdose then, contact your doctor immediately.
The patient who is suffering from high BP should take Amlodipine medication regularly at the same time. One can either consume it by cutting or crushing the tablet. Store this medication in the same package with the lid closed in a tight way. Ensure that the medicine is placed at room temperature. Store it away from the sunlight and don’t place it near humid or wet areas.
Remember to bring your medicine with you even at the time of travel. Put the medication in your handbag. You need not be anxious about X-ray equipment at the airport. On asking, you can open the bag and show the pharmacy brand name for your medication to the airport personnel and it must be your precise prescription-labeled package. When the weather is very hot or very cold, don’t place this medicine in your vehicle’s glove section.
The medication isn’t stored at every pharmacy. So, you need to check nearby pharmacist for this drug.
How Amlodipine 5mg works?
Amlodipine is a group of calcium control lumps which is a division of drugs that function in a related manner and is used to cure alike conditions. It doesn’t permit calcium from inflowing into definite tissues and arteries. This in turn crafts it simpler for them making the blood flow easily directly to the heart. Amlodipine medicine lessens the blood pressure of the individual and diminishes the jeopardy of a heart attack. If the doctor prescribes you this medicine for the pain in the chest then, it diminishes the potential of undergoing heart surgery.
In chemical terminology, the Amlodipine tablet is an angio selective calcium channel blocker that evades the progress of calcium ions towards the cardiac muscle cells. It will hinder the tightening of cardiac muscle and vascular smooth muscle cells. This medicine has the ability to slow down the calcium ion overflow across the cell membranes, with a larger outcome on vascular smooth muscle cells. This way, the Amlodipine tablet lessens blood pressure.
Warnings and Precautions – When to avoid Amlodipine 5mg?
This medication comes with several warnings. Here are those warnings and precautions to keep in mind while taking this drug.
Allergy warning: It can cause a severe allergic reaction to the patients who take this as their medication. Allergy symptoms include:
• Trouble in breathing
• Swelling of the throat or tongue
• Hives
Warning for people with liver problems: Liver processes Amlodipine. So, if your liver isn’t working well, this drug may stay in your body for a longer time and can put you at risk for more side effects.
Warning for people with heart problems: In problems such as narrowing of the arteries, taking this medication may increase the risk of health problems. It can lower the blood pressure, worse the chest pain, or a risk of a heart attack.
Warnings for pregnant women: When a mother takes amlodipine, it shows negative effects on the fetus. This has been proven after researching on the animal but there are no such studies done in humans to say the same. So, consult a doctor during pregnancy.
Warning for women who are breastfeeding: A few research have shown that amlodipine passes into breast milk and can cause side effects in a child who is breastfed.
Warning for seniors: As you age, this medication puts you at risk for more side effects.
For children: This drug shouldn’t be given to children younger than 6 years.
Amlodipine 5mg Substitutes:
There is a wide range of substitutes for Amlodipine:
• Felodipine (felodipine)
• Lopressor (metoprolol tartrate)
• Prazosin (prazosin)
• Coreg (carvedilol)
• Nifedipine (nifedipine)
• Hydrochlorothiazide(hydrochlorothiazide (hctz))
• Zestoretic (lisinopril/hydrochlorothiazide)
• Lisinopril (lisinopril)
• Diovan (valsartan)
• Catapres (clonidine)
• Calan (verapamil)
• Diltiazem (diltiazem)
Amlodipine Interactions with Other Drugs:
If an element alters the working procedure of a drug then, it falls under the category of a drug interaction. Such interaction of the medicines might turn dangerous to the person who intakes the medicine. Amlodipine medicine also shows adverse effects upon its interaction with other medicines, herbs, and vitamins as well. A health physician prescribes all your medicines in order to evade the interactions. That’s the reason it is necessary for the individual to explain the medications that are used currently.
• If you intake Diltiazem medicine alongside Amlodipine then, there are possibilities that it might enhance the dosage of Amlodipine in your body. This will lead to an increase in your side effects.
• For those who intake the medications to treat the fungus in their body alongside the Amlodipine then, it will bring additional side effects.
• If you mix up the medicines Amlodipine and clarithromycin then, it will definitely enhance the levels of this medication in your body.
• If you intake the drugs that include sildenafil, tadalafil, avanafil, and vardenafil then, it will enhance the jeopardy of hypotension in the patient.
• It is also not recommended to intake Amlodipine tablet alongside simvastatin medicine for treating cholesterol.
• If you intake the Amlodipine medicine along with some other drugs such as tacrolimus and cyclosporine then, it will enhance the levels of the medicine in your body.
FAQs:
1) Can Norvasc (Amlodipine) make you gain weight?
Ans: It is a rare side effect of Norvasc (Amlodipine) and can occur in less than 1 percent of people who take the medication. Weight gain with Norvasc happens so infrequently.
2) If you are taking Amlodipine, what painkillers can be taken?
Ans: Acetaminophen can be taken when taking Norvasc (Amlodipine). For any stronger drug, consult with a doctor.
3) Is taking Amlodipine safe during pregnancy?
Ans: No, it is not safe. Doctors don’t recommend this.
4) Can Amlodipine drug be taken while breastfeeding?
Ans: This is not recommended during breastfeeding.
5) Is it an antibiotic drug?
Ans: It is a class of calcium channel blocker, not an antibiotic.
