Amlodipine Usage

Amlodipine is used in the treatment of high blood pressure and chest pain (Angina).

How Amlodipine works

Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker. It works by relaxing blood vessels which makes the heart more efficient at pumping blood throughout the body.

Common side effects of Amlodipine

Fatigue, Ankle swelling, Sleepiness, Flushing (sense of warmth in the face, ears, neck and trunk), Headache, Nausea, Dizziness, Palpitations, Edema, Abdominal pain

Expert advice for Amlodipine

• It is very common to have dizziness, lightheadedness, swelling ankles/feet, flushing, or a headache as a side effect.
• To lower your risk of dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position.
• Inform your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if it worsens (for example, your blood pressure readings remain high or increase, chest pain continues or worsens). 
• Inform your doctor immediately if any of these serious side effects occur: fast/irregular/pounding heartbeat, fainting.
• Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time each day. It is important to continue taking this medication even if you feel well.
• If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ques. Q. What is Amlodipine used for?
Amlodipine is indicated for the treatment of high blood pressure (hypertension), angina pectoris (pain in the chest caused by blockages in the arteries leading to the heart) or chest pain classed as vasospastic angina pectoris (or Prinzmetal’s angina).

Ques. Q. Is Amlodipine a calcium channel blocker and how does it works?
Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker. In patients with high blood pressure, it works by relaxing blood vessels, so that blood passes through them more easily. In patients with angina, it works by improving blood supply to the heart muscle, which then receives more oxygen, and hence, prevents chest pain. It does not provide immediate relief of chest pain from angina.

Ques. Q. Is Amlodipine safe?
Amlodipine is safe if used at prescribed doses for the prescribed duration as advised by your doctor.

Ques. Q. Can I take Amlodipine at night?
Amlodipine can be taken at night. You should take Amlodipine at the same time each day with a glass of water.

Ques. Q. Can I take Amlodipine and aspirin?
Amlodipine can be taken with aspirin. No drug-drug interactions have been reported between the two. However, interactions can occur. Please consult your doctor before taking the two medicines together.

Ques. Q. Can I take Amlodipine with sildenafil?
Both Amlodipine and sildenafil cause a lowering the blood pressure. So, taking the two medicines together could be harmful. Please consult your doctor before taking them together.

Ques. Q. Is Amlodipine a beta blocker?
Amlodipine is not a beta blocker. It belongs to a group of medicines called calcium channel blockers.

Ques. Q. Is Amlodipine safe for kidneys?
Amlodipine is not known to damage kidneys. However, Amlodipine can cause urinary disorders like difficulty in passing urine, increased the need to urinate at night, increased number of times of passing urine as an uncommon side effect.

Ques. Q. Is Amlodipine a diuretic?
Amlodipine is not a diuretic. It belongs to a group of medicines called calcium channel blockers.

Ques. Q. Is Amlodipine a blood thinner?
Amlodipine is not a blood thinner. It belongs to a group of medicines called calcium channel blockers.

Ques. Q. Is Amlodipine a statin?
Amlodipine is not a statin. It belongs to a group of medicines called calcium channel blockers.

Ques. Q. Is Amlodipine an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor?
Amlodipine is not an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. It belongs to a group of medicines called calcium channel blockers.

Ques. Q. Does Amlodipine cause tachycardia?
Amlodipine can rarely cause changes in heart rate, which can be an increase (tachycardia) or a decrease in heart rate (bradycardia) or an irregular heart rate. Please consult your doctor if you experience any changes in your heart rate while taking Amlodipine.

Ques. Q. Does Amlodipine cause pedal edema (swelling of the ankles)?
Amlodipine can cause pedal edema (swelling of the ankles). Please consult your doctor if you have pedal edema while taking Amlodipine.

Ques. Q. Does Amlodipine increase creatinine?
Amlodipine has not been reported to increase creatinine levels. Please consult your doctor if you have increased creatinine levels while taking Amlodipine as it requires proper diagnosis and management.

Ques. Q. Does Amlodipine cause erectile dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction is an uncommon side effect of Amlodipine. Please consult your doctor if you experience erectile dysfunction when you are taking Amlodipine.

Ques. Q. Does Amlodipine cause bradycardia (decreased heart rate)?
Amlodipine can rarely cause changes in heart rate, which can be an increase (tachycardia) or a decrease in heart rate (bradycardia) or an irregular heart rate. Please consult your doctor if you experience any changes in your heart rate while taking Amlodipine.

Ques. Q. Does Amlodipine cause weight gain?
Amlodipine can cause changes in weight, it can either cause weight gain or weight loss. However, these changes are very rare. Please consult your doctor if you experience a change in weight while taking Amlodipine.

Ques. Q. Does Amlodipine cause joint pain (arthralgia)?
Amlodipine can cause joint pain (arthralgia). Please consult your doctor if you experience excessive joint pains while taking Amlodipine.

Ques. Q. Does Amlodipine cause cough?
Amlodipine can cause cough, but it is a very rare side effect. Please consult your doctor if you experience excessive coughing while taking Amlodipine.

Ques. Q. Does Amlodipine cause dry mouth?
Amlodipine can cause dry mouth as an uncommon side effect. Please consult your doctor if you experience excessive dryness of mouth after taking Amlodipine.

Ques. Q. Can I take Amlodipine without food?
Amlodipine can be taken before or after food and drinks. Amlodipine should be taken same time each day with a glass of water. Do not take Amlodipine with grapefruit juice.

Ques. Q. Can I take Amlodipine with milk?
There are no specific recommendations on the use of Amlodipine with milk. However, it can be taken before or after food and drinks.

Ques. Q. Can I take Amlodipine with lisinopril?
Amlodipine can be taken with lisinopril. No drug-drug interactions have been reported between the two. However, as both the medicines have a blood pressure lowering effect, interactions can occur. Please consult your doctor before taking the two medicines together.

Ques. Q. Can I take Amlodipine with ibuprofen?
Amlodipine can be taken with ibuprofen. No drug-drug interactions have been reported between the two. However, interactions may occur. Please consult your doctor before taking the two medicines together.

Ques. Q. Can I take Amlodipine with metoprolol?
Amlodipine and metoprolol both have a blood pressure lowering effect. So, taking both the medicines together can be harmful. Please consult your doctor before taking the two medicines together.

Ques. Q. Can I take Amlodipine with losartan?
Amlodipine and losartan both have a blood pressure lowering effect. So, taking both the medicines together can be harmful. Please consult your doctor before taking the two medicines together.

Ques. Q. Can I take Amlodipine with ramipril?
Amlodipine and ramipril both have a blood pressure lowering effect. So, taking both the medicines together can be harmful. Please consult your doctor before taking the two medicines together.

Ques. Q. Can I take Amlodipine with simvastatin?
Amlodipine can increase the levels of simvastatin, causing an increased tendency towards myopathy (muscle pain) and rhabdomyolysis (increased breakdown of muscle). The dose of simvastatin may need to be reduced when giving along with Amlodipine . Please consult your doctor.

Ques. Q. Can I take Amlodipine with atorvastatin?
Amlodipine can be taken with atorvastatin. No drug-drug interactions have been reported between the two. However, interactions may occur as interactions have been reported between simvastatin (belongs to the same class). Please consult your doctor before taking the two medicines together.

Ques. Q. Can the use of Amlodipine cause gout?
Amlodipine does not cause gout. It may cause joint pains (arthralgia). Please consult your doctor in case you have any signs and symptoms of gout as you may need treatment for the same.