Description
Introduction
Amdocal 5 belongs to a class of medicines known as a calcium channel blockers. It is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and prevent angina (heart-related chest pain). It lowers blood pressure and reduces the workload of the heart which helps in preventing heart attacks and strokes. Amdocal 5 may be prescribed alone or along with other medicines. The dose depends on what you are taking it for and the severity of your condition. You can take it at any time of the day, with or without food, but it is best to take it at the same time each day. You should take this medicine for as long as it is prescribed for you. Even if you feel well, do not stop this medicine on your own because high blood pressure often has no symptoms. If you stop taking it, your condition may get worse. Keeping youself active with regular exercise, reducing your weight and eating a healthy diet will also help control your blood pressure. Follow your doctor’s advice while taking this medicine. The most common side effects include fatigue, swelling in the feet or ankles, sleepiness, dizziness, flushing, headache and unusual beating of the heart (palpitations). Consult your doctor if any of these side effects bother you or do not go away. Before taking it, let your doctor know if you have any liver, heart or kidney problems. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should also consult their doctor for advice before taking this medicine. You also need to tell your doctor what other medicines you are taking, especially those used to treat high blood pressure or heart conditions. You should have your blood pressure checked regularly to make sure that this medicine is working properly.
Uses of Amdocal 5
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Angina (heart-related chest pain)
Side effects of Amdocal 5
- Fatigue
- Ankle swelling
- Sleepiness
- Flushing (sense of warmth in the face, ears, neck and trunk)
- Headache
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Palpitations
- Edema (swelling)
- Abdominal pain
How to use Amdocal 5
Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Amdocal 5 may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time.
How Amdocal 5 works
Amdocal 5 is a calcium channel blocker. In high blood pressure, it normalizes the blood pressure by relaxing the blood vessels to reduce the pressure on them, thereby improving the blood flow in the body. In heart-related chest pain (angina), the enhanced blood flow in the body relaxes the heart muscles by reducing the workload on the heart. It also improves the oxygen flow in the body, thereby, preventing any heart-related chest pain.
What if you forget to take Amdocal 5?
If you miss a dose of Amdocal 5, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. Do not double the dose.
- Take it at the same time every day to help you remember to take it.
- A sudden drop in your blood pressure may occur, especially when you first start taking Amdocal 5. To lower the chance of feeling dizzy or passing out, rise slowly if you have been sitting or lying down.
- It can cause ankle or foot swelling. To reduce the swelling, raise your legs while you are sitting down. Talk to your doctor if it does not go away.
- It may cause dizziness. Do not drive or perform any activity that requires mental focus until you know how Amdocal 5 affects you.
- Inform your doctor if you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Indication
Oral Prinzmetal’s angina; Stable angina Adult: Initially, 5 mg once daily increased to 10 mg once daily if necessary. Elderly: Initially, 2.5 mg once daily. maintenance: 10 mg/day Hepatic impairment: Initially, 2.5 mg once daily. Hypertension Adult: Initially, 5 mg once daily increased to 10 mg once daily if necessary. Elderly: Initially, 2.5 mg once daily. may be increased by 2.5 mg/day every 7-14 days; not to exceed 10 mg/day PO; maintenance: 5-10 mg/day PO Hepatic impairment: Initially, 2.5 mg once daily.
Administration
Plasma concentrations may be elevated w/ CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g. azole antifungals, ritonavir). Concomitant therapy w/ simvastatin may increase risk of myopathy including rhabdomyolysis. May increase ciclosporin plasma levels and conivaptan.
Adult Dose
Impaired liver or renal function, CHF, sick-sinus syndrome, severe ventricular dysfunction, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, severe aortic stenosis. Caution when used in patients with idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis. Elderly, children. Pregnancy, lactation. Use in renal failure: Although Amlodipine is excreted primarily via kidney, mild renal impairment does not appear to have an effect on the plasma concentrations. Severe renal impairment may however require a dosage reduction. Amlodipine is not dialyzable. Use in patients with impaired hepatic function: Amlodipine half-life is prolonged in patient with impaired hepatic function. Amlodipine should therefore be administered at lower (5mg) initial dose in these patients. Use in heart failure: An increased number of pulmonary oedema has been reported. Lactation: Unknown whether drug is excreted in milk; use not recommended
Renal Dose
Amlodipine relaxes peripheral and coronary vascular smooth muscle. It produces coronary vasodilation by inhibiting the entry of Ca ions into the slow channels or select voltage-sensitive channels of the vascular smooth muscle and myocardium during depolarisation. It also increases myocardial oxygen delivery in patients w/ vasospastic angina.
Contraindication
Hypertension <6 years: Safety and efficacy not established >6 years: 2.5-5 mg/day PO
Mode of Action
May be taken with or without food.
Precaution
Mild to moderate hypertension, Chronic stable and vasospastic angina, Raynaud’s disease, Coronary Artery Disease, HTN, Stroke prevention
Pregnancy Category Note
>10% Edema (1.8-10.8%),Pulmonary edema (7-15%) 1-10% Headache (7.3%),Fatigue (4.5%),Palpitations (0.7-4.5%),Dizziness (1.1-3.4%),Nausea (2.9%),Flushing (0.7-2.6%),Abdominal pain (1.6%),Somnolence (1.4%),Male sexual disorder (1-2%),Drowsiness (1%),Pruritus (1-2%),Skin rash (1-2%),Muscle cramps (1-2%),Muscle weakness (1-2%) Potentially Fatal: Hypotension, bradycardia, conductive system delay and CCF.
Interaction
Hypersensitivity to Amlodipine or other calcium channel antagonist, Severe hypertension.
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