Pharmacology/Description:
Amlodipine is a dihydropyridine calcium antagonist, with a long duration of action, used for the treatment of hypertension and angina pectoris.
Indication:
Hypertension: Amlodipine is indicated for the treatment of hypertension. It may be used alone or in combination with other antihypertensive agents. Stable angina: Amlodipine is indicated for the treatment of stable angina. Amlodipine may be used alone or in combination with other antianginal agents. Vasospastic angina: Amlodipine is indicated for the treatment of confirmed or suspected vasospastic angina. Angiographically Documented CAD: In patients with recently documented CAD by angiography and without heart failure or an ejection fraction <40%, Amlodipine is indicated to reduce the risk of hospitalization due to angina and to reduce the risk of a coronary revascularization procedure.
Dosage And Administration:
The usual initial antihypertensive oral dose is 5 mg once daily with a maximum dose of 10 mg once daily. Elderly individuals or patients with hepatic insufficiency may be started on 2.5 mg once daily dose and this dose may be used when adding Amlodipine to other antihypertensive therapy. Dosage should be adjusted according to each patient`s need. The recommended dose for stable or vasospastic angina is 5-10 mg, with the lower dose suggested in the elderly and in patients with hepatic insufficiency.
Side Effects:
Peripheral oedema may occasionally be severe but is fully reversible. As with other calcium antagonist drugs, peripheral oedema and skin erythema occur in a proportion of patients (5-10%) and facial flushing in 2-5% of patients. Complain of fatigue was also reported more frequently than in placebo treated patients. There is evidence that these effects are more common in patients treated with doses greater than 10 mg daily.
Over Dosage
In humans, experience with intentional overdosage of Amlodipine is limited. If massive overdosage occurs, active cardiac and respiratory monitoring should be instituted. Frequent blood pressure monitoring is essential.
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