Drug Action
Amlodipine is a dihydropyridine calcium- channel blocker.
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Drug reference
Amlodipine is a dihydropyridine calcium- channel blocker.
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Prophylaxis of angina ▶BY MOUTH ▶Adult: Initially 5 mg once daily; maximum 10 mg per day Hypertension ▶BY MOUTH ▶Adult: Initially 5 mg once daily; maximum 10 mg per day DOSE EQUIVALENCE AND CONVERSION ▶Tablets from various suppliers may contain different salts (e.g. amlodipine besilate, amlodipine maleate, and amlodipine mesilate) but the strength is expressed in terms of amlodipine (base); tablets containing different salts are considered interchangeable.
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Cardiogenic shock. significant aortic stenosis. unstable angina
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SAFE PRACTICE Amlodipine has been confused with nimodipine and atenolol; care must be taken to ensure the correct drug is prescribed and dispensed.
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→Appendix 1: calcium channel blockers
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▶Common or very common Asthenia. constipation. diarrhoea. dyspepsia. dyspnoea. gastrointestinal disorders. joint disorders. muscle cramps. oedema. vision disorders ▶Uncommon Alopecia. anxiety. arrhythmias. chest pain. cough. dry mouth. gynaecomastia. hyperhidrosis. hypotension. insomnia. malaise. mood altered. numbness. pain. rhinitis. taste altered. tinnitus. tremor. urinary disorders. weight changes ▶Rare or very rare Confusion. hepatic disorders. hyperglycaemia. hypersensitivity. leucopenia. muscle tone increased. myocardial infarction. pancreatitis. peripheral neuropathy. photosensitivity reaction. Stevens-Johnson syndrome. thrombocytopenia. vasculitis ▶Frequency not known Extrapyramidal symptoms. pulmonary oedema
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No information available—manufacturer advises avoid, but risk to fetus should be balanced against risk of uncontrolled maternal hypertension.
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Manufacturer advises avoid—no information available.
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Dose adjustments Manufacturer advises initiate at low dose and titrate slowly (limited information available).
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Tablets may be dispersed in water.
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There can be variation in the licensing of different medicines containing the same drug. Forms available from special-order manufacturers include: oral suspension, oral solution Oral solution ▶Amlodipine (Non-proprietary) Amlodipine 1 mg per 1 ml Amlodipine 5mg/5ml oral solution sugar- free | 150 ml P £75.78 DT = £75.78 Amlodipine 2 mg per 1 ml Amlodipine 10mg/5ml oral solution sugar-free | 150 ml P £115.73 DT = £115.73 Oral suspension ▶Amlodipine (Non-proprietary) Amlodipine 1 mg per 1 ml Amlodipine 5mg/5ml oral suspension sugar-free | 150 ml P £70.00 DT = £70.00 Tablet ▶Amlodipine (Non-proprietary) Amlodipine 2.5 mg Amlodipine 2.5mg tablets | 28 tablet P £4.50 Amlodipine 5 mg Amlodipine 5mg tablets | 28 tablet P £9.99 DT = £0.84 | 500 tablet P £9.87–£14.82 Amlodipine 10 mg Amlodipine 10mg tablets | 28 tablet P £14.07 DT = £0.86 | 500 tablet P £10.17–£15.54 ▶Istin (Upjohn UK Ltd) Amlodipine 5 mg Istin 5mg tablets | 28 tablet P £11.08 DT = £0.84 Amlodipine 10 mg Istin 10mg tablets | 28 tablet P £16.55 DT = £0.86 Combinations available: Olmesartan with amlodipine, p. 189. Olmesartan with amlodipine and hydrochlorothiazide, p. 189
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Initially 5 mg once daily; maximum 10 mg per
First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.
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Initially 5 mg once daily; maximum 10 mg per
First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.
PDF page 190