Amlodipine Besylate Tablet.

[naba5218]

NORVASC is indicated for the treatment of hypertension, to lower blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions. These benefits have been seen in controlled trials of antihypertensive drugs from a wide variety of pharmacologic classes including NORVASC.

Control of high blood pressure should be part of comprehensive cardiovascular risk management, including, as appropriate, lipid control, diabetes management, antithrombotic therapy, smoking cessation, exercise, and limited sodium intake. Many patients will require more than one drug to achieve blood pressure goals. For specific advice on goals and management, see published guidelines, such as those of the National High Blood Pressure Education Program’s Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC).

Numerous antihypertensive drugs, from a variety of pharmacologic classes and with different mechanisms of action, have been shown in randomized controlled trials to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, and it can be concluded that it is blood pressure reduction, and not some other pharmacologic property of the drugs, that is largely responsible for those benefits. The largest and most consistent cardiovascular outcome benefit has been a reduction in the risk of stroke, but reductions in myocardial infarction and cardiovascular mortality also have been seen regularly.

Elevated systolic or diastolic pressure causes increased cardiovascular risk, and the absolute risk increase per mmHg is greater at higher blood pressures, so that even modest reductions of severe hypertension can provide substantial benefit. Relative risk reduction from blood pressure reduction is similar across populations with varying absolute risk, so the absolute benefit is greater in patients who are at higher risk independent of their hypertension (for example, patients with diabetes or hyperlipidemia), and such patients would be expected to benefit from more aggressive treatment to a lower blood pressure goal.

Some antihypertensive drugs have smaller blood pressure effects (as monotherapy) in black patients, and many antihypertensive drugs have additional approved indications and effects (e.g., on angina, heart failure, or diabetic kidney disease). These considerations may guide selection of therapy.

---Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) ---

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 agents.

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 for angina and to reduce the risk of a coronary revascularization procedure.

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[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Hello! Do you suffer from a heart condition or are you a pharmaceutical salesperson? Amlodipine belongs to a class of drugs known as CCIs (calcium channel inhibitors). One of the main problems with it is that it can cause severe odema in many people. It should not usually be used in combination with a number of heart drugs including Clopidogrel and Digoxin.

You also mention its anti-anginal properties. Some more modern CCIs such as Diltiazem are more effective in this respect and are less problematical with odema. Of course there are also the traditional nitrates such as Isosorbide Mononitrate.

I would stress to anyone to be guided by their GP/cardiologist as each and everyone of us is different, and frequently there are other issues to be considered.

[Celtic]

I don’t know the origins of your post but as far as I am concerned I will never again take Amlodipine or any pill from the same family.

In the past, my forays into Amlodipine have ended with severely swollen and inflamed lower legs resulting in a diagnosis of varicose eczema as a direct result of taking this medication. albeit at a lowish dose.

After trying Amlodipine for a third time recently together with a diuretic to appease my renal consultant, the swelling returned after just a couple of weeks so the pill was again discontinued but replaced with a lower dose of Felodipine. I persevered with this drug for 3 months to my next renal appointment so that I could show the consultant the familiar swelling/inflammation. But this time, the day before the appointment, I could barely stand due to foot pain when getting out of bed - the diagnosis : gout. My big toe and the next toe are swollen and very red and painful. All this is as a direct result of the Amlodipine/Felodipine swelling side effect.

I have now been prescribed a course of steroids to take unless, now off the Felodipine, the swelling and gout resolve of their own accord within the next few days.

These medications might suit some but my advice to anyone with lower leg swelling as a side effect is to get off this particular pill before it leads to varicose eczema, gout, or worse.