Amlodipine(Amlod): Uses, Dosage, Side Effects
Amlodipine(amlod) is belongs to a group of antihypertensive medicines called Calcium Channel blocker. Amlodipine (amlod) is used to treat high blood pressure and coronary artery disease. While not typically recommended in heart failure, amlodipine may be used if other medications are not sufficient for treating high blood pressure or heart-related chest pain.
Uses of Amlodipine(Amlod)
- Hypertension
- Angina Pectrosis
- Coronary arery disease
Side Effects of Amlodipine(Amlod)
- Oedema(1 in 10 people)
- Dizziness,
- Palpitations
- Flushing
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Somnolence
- Muscle cramps
- Nausea
- Tremors
- Irregular heart beats
- Visual disturbances, double vision
- Abdominal pain
- Sleepiness
Dosages of Amlodipine(Amlod)
Adults
The usual starting dose is 5 mg once daily. If necessary, your doctor may increase the dose to 10 mg once daily.
Use in children and adolescents (6 -17 years old)
The recommended usual starting dose is 2.5 mg a day. The maximum recommended dose is 5 mg a day.
Elderly patients
There is no special dosage for the elderly; however, care must be taken when the dose is increased.
If you have kidney problems
The normal dosage is recommended. Amlodipine cannot be removed from the blood by dialysis (artificial kidney). Amlodipine should be administered with particular caution to patients undergoing dialysis.
Warnings and precautions
Before taking Amlodipine tablets, tell your doctor/parmacist if you
- Have heart failure or have suffered a heart attack during the past month.
- Heart failure
- Severe increase in blood pressure (Hypertensive crisis)
- Have liver problems
- Are giving this medicine to a child under 18 years of age
- Are elderly, your doctor may monitor you closely.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Pregnancy
The safety of amlodipine in human pregnancy has not been established. If you think you might be pregnant, or are planning to get pregnant, you must tell your doctor before you take Amlodipine.
Breast-feeding
Amlodipine has been shown to pass into breast milk in small amounts. If you are breastfeeding or about to start breast-feeding you must tell your doctor before taking Amlodipine.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking anymedicine.
Some Questions About Amlodipine(Amlod)
Q. If you forget to take Amlodipine?
Ans: Do not worry. If you forget to take a tablet, leave out that dose completely. Take your next dose at the right time. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
Q. If you take more Amlodipine tablets than you should?
Ans: If you or someone else has taken too much Amlodipine, contact your nearest hospital casualty department. Please carry with you the product leaflet or remaining tablets for better identification of the doctor. The person concerned should be made to lie down with their arms and legs up (resting on a couple of cushions, for example). Symptoms of an overdose are: extreme dizziness and/or feeling very light-headed, faint or weak, problems with breathing, having to urinate very often. If blood pressure drop is severe enough shock can occur. Your skin could feel cool and clammy and you could lose consciousness.
Q. How to take Amlodipine tablets?
Always take Amlodipine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Methods and routes of administration
Ans: This medicine can be used before or after food and drinks. You should take this medicine at the same time each day with a drink of water. Do not take Amlodipine with grapefruit juice
Q. Taking Amlodipine with food and drink?
Ans: Amlodipine tablets should be taken with a glass of liquid (e.g. a glass of water) with or without food.
Grapefruit juice and grapefruit should not be consumed by people who are taking Amlodipine. This is because grapefruit and grapefruit juice can lead to an increase in the blood levels of the active ingredient Amlodipine, which can cause an unpredictable increase in the blood pressure lowering effect of Amlodipine.
Q. What you need to know before you take Amlodipine?
Ans: Do not take Amlodipine tablets, if you
- Hypersensitive to amlodipine or any of the other ingredients of this medicine or other calcium antagonists (the so-called dihydropyridine derivates like felodipine, nifedipine, nimodipine).
- Are suffering from cardiogenic shock.
- Are suffering from narrowing of the aortic heart valve (aortic stenosis)
- Suffer from chest pain at rest or with minimal effort (unstable angina pectoris).
- Are pregnant or breast-feeding.
- Have severe low blood pressure (hypotension).
Q. Which brand name of Nepali pharmaceuticl company is in amlodipine molecule?
Ans: Nepali Pharmaceutical Comapny Amlodipine Brands are: Amlod, Mylod, Alpine, Amcab, Amd, Amdeep, Yesamlo, Myodip, Myamlo, Lodip, Camlodin, Camlo, Amlive, Amfast.
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