Generic Norvasc

 

 

 

Norvasc Amlodipine Besylate is in a group of drugs called calcium channel blockers. It dilates blood vessels and slows the heart to reduce blood pressure and chest pain. This medication controls high blood pressure (hypertension) or angina (chest pain caused by lack of oxygen in the heart muscle due to clogged arteries).

The following precautions can be adopted to get most out of it.

Since the vasodilation caused by Norvasc is steady in beginning, acute hypotension has rarely caused after orally taken. Even so, caution as with any other peripheral vasodilator, should be implemented when administering this drug, mostly in patients having severe aortic stenosis.

Amlodipine besylate is the active ingredient in NORVASC. People who are allergic to amlodipine besylate or to its active ingredients should not take this drug.

Before taking Norvasc Amlodipine Besylate, tell your doctor if you have congestive heart failure or liver disease. Usually, calcium channel blockers need to be used with caution in patients with heart failure.

Tell your doctor about all other heart or blood pressure drugs you are taking.

Stay away from drinking alcohol while taking this drug. Alcohol can further lower your blood pressure and may enhance some of the adverse effects of this medicine.

If you are also taking a beta-blocker drug (such as Blocadren, Corgard, Inderal, Normodyne, Tenormin, Toprol, Trandate, Zebeta, and others) do not suddenly discontinue using the beta-blocker without consulting your doctor. Norvasc is not a beta-blocker. Hence it does not protect against the dangers of sudden beta-blocker withdrawal. Therefore any such withdrawal of beta-blocker dose should be slowly reduced. Use less and less before you stop the drug completely.

Norvasc is extensively metabolized by the liver and the plasma elimination half-life (t 1/2) is 56 hours in patients with impaired hepatic function. So apply caution when administering this treatment to patients with severe hepatic impairment.

Amlodipine maleate has been shown to prolong both the gestation period and the duration of labor in rats at dose of 10 mg amlodipine/kg/day for 14 days. But there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. It should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

It has not been acknowledged whether amlodipine is passed into human milk. So it is suggested that nursing needs to be discontinued while this medicine is administered.

The outcome of Norvasc on blood pressure in patients less than 6 years of age is not identified. Therefore safety can’t be confirmed.

No adequate studies have been made on patients aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger subjects. Other reported clinical experience has not identified diversity in responses between the elderly and younger patients. It is essential that you apply care for an elderly patient by starting a low dose.

If you are being treated for high blood pressure, carry on using these tablets even if you feel fine. You may require using blood pressure drug for the rest of your life.

Norvasc is only part of a complete program of treatment that may also include diet, exercise, weight control, and other medications. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely.

Your chest pain may become worse when you first start taking this drug or when your dose is increased. Call your doctor if your chest pain is severe or ongoing.