Amlodipine 5mg splittable to 2.5mg IS AVAILABLE

[Charlie0603]

New to this community. Hello to All.

I have recently had my prescribed amlodipine 5mg prescription reduced to 2,5mg in consequence of much reduced blood pressure and asymptomatic sinus bradycardia. Total withdrawal had earlier led to rebound hypertension; from 110/65 to 160/90

Unfortunately the tablets my pharmacy dispenses are not amenable to splitting. They just shatter and I then have to approximate half the dose as fragments and dust onto a spoon. OK not the end of the world but I was surprised and rather angry when told by that pharmacy easily splittable tablets are not available.

I had earlier through BOOTS been provided with oval scored 5mg tablets which were very easy to break into two even parts without use of a splitter. These SANDOZ tablets have a scored line on one side and marked with a "5" on the other. These SANDOZ amlodipine tablets are available through Boots and some other online pharmacies - but unfortunately not my enforced local one.

Whilst these are available privately online (ca £24 for a years supply) of course I wish to be treated within NHS and with involvement of my GP. Amlodipine is a prescription only medicine in UK.

Unfortunately my GP practice (and all others in this PHPC purchasing area) have given exclusive POD prescription rights to HEALTHERA and healthera does not work with BOOTS or other pharmacies who might delivery the SANDOZ splittable tablets.

As both a patient and a retired senior healthcare professional over many decades I am very sad to see this situation where private enterprise and profit now takes precedence over patient choice and patient care or even patient convenience.

[springcross]

Hi Charlie, weIcome to the forum. I couldn't agree more. I had the Sandoz ones for several months but then stopped taking them for a couple of months and when I went back on them, they(Tesco) had changed the brand to Teva. I was really pleased when I went back on Amlodipine last year and found that they were breakable tablets, it makes so much sense to me as sometimes, 5 mg isn't enough but 10mg is too much and causes unpleasant side effects so you could have broken one in half and taken 7.5 mg, or 2.5 mg if 5 mg was too much, but no, that's too easy for us mere patients, we have to have it the hard way. It's so stupid in my opinion and I couldn't agree more about private enterprise and profit taking precedence over patient choice and care or even patient convenience. Spot on.

[lettingoffsteam]

I'm on amlodipine 5mg and my tablets can be split which I may have to do soon as my bp has come down rather low.I get my NHS prescriptions from Boots.

[Littlenairny]

This must be a problem local to yourself. I have had the 5mg Sandoz tablets which were dispensed through Boots, as you say, and would have been splittable. Thankfully I am now off them due to terrible side effects (palpitations). Much happier with Ramipril (different family of medicines). Why not ask your GP for a solution?