Amlodipine Besylate Tablets, 5mg: Uses, Side Effects and Dosage

What the medicinal ingredient is:

Amlodipine besylate

What the nonmedicinal ingredients are:

Magnesium stearate and microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel PH 112).

What dosage forms it comes in:

Tablets 5 mg and 10 mg amlodipine (as amlodipine besylate).

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

BEFORE you use Amlodipine Besylate Tablets talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you:

• Ever had heart or blood vessel diseases.
• Have aortic stenosis (narrowing of a valve of your heart).
• Have liver or kidney problems.

• Are pregnant, or plan to become pregnant.

  Amlodipine Besylate Tablets should not be used during pregnancy unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

• Are older than 65 years.

Amlodipine Besylate Tablets may occasionally cause low blood pressure (hypotension). Your blood pressure should be carefully monitored, especially if you have had a stroke or take other drugs to lower your blood pressure.

If you take Amlodipine Besylate Tablets together with a drug known as betablockers (e.g. acebutolol, atenolol, metoprolol, nadolol), do not suddenly stop using the beta-blocker. If your doctor advises you to discontinue use of the beta-blocker, your dose should be decreased slowly, as recommended by your doctor, before stopping it completely.

Amlodipine Besylate Tablets are not recommended for use in children less than 6 years of age.

INTERACTIONS WITH THIS MEDICATION

As with most medicines, interactions with other drugs are possible. Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist about all the medicines you take, including drugs prescribed by other doctors, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements, or alternative medicines.

Also mention if you drink alcoholic beverages.

ABOUT THIS MEDICATION

What the medication is used for:

Amlodipine Besylate Tablets have been prescribed to you for:

• The treatment of high blood pressure (hypertension), or
• The management of a type of chest pain called angina.

Amlodipine Besylate Tablets can be used by itself or with other medicines to treat these conditions.

What it does:

Amlodipine Besylate Tablets are a type of medicine known as a calcium channel blocker (CCB).

Amlodipine Besylate Tablets relaxes your blood vessels, which lets your blood flow more easily and helps lower your blood pressure.

Amlodipine Besylate Tablets controls chest pain by improving the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart and by reducing its workload.

When it should not be used:

Do not use Amlodipine Besylate Tablets if you:

• Are allergic to amlodipine (the active ingredient in Amlodipine Besylate Tablets), or to the inactive ingredients listed under “What the nonmedicinal ingredients are” below.
• Have ever had an allergic reaction to a similar type of drug.
• Have very low blood pressure (less than 90 mmHg systolic).
• Have been diagnosed with aortic stenosis (narrowing of the aortic heart valve).
• Have been diagnosed with unstable heart failure after a heart attack.
• Experience shock including cardiogenic shock.
• Are breast-feeding. Do not breast-feed while taking Amlodipine Besylate Tablets.

Drug-Drug interaction:

Drugs that may interact with Amlodipine Besylate Tablets include:

• Cyclosporin
• Clarithromycin, Erythromycin (antibiotics)
• Diltiazem
• Azole antifungals (e.g. ketoconazole, itraconazole)
• HIV protease inhibitors (e.g. ritonavir)
• Beta-blockers
• Sildenafil (VIAGRA)
• Statin drugs used to treat high cholesterol (e.g. Simvastatin, Atorvastatin)
• Tacrolimus (an anti-rejection drug)
• Sirolimus, temsirolimus, everolimus
• Dantrolene

Drug-Herb interaction:

• St-John Wort

Drug-Food interaction:

Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while on

Amlodipine Besylate Tablets.

PROPER USE OF THIS MEDICATION

Take Amlodipine Besylate Tablets exactly as prescribed by your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. It may be easier to take your dose if you do it at the same time every day, such as with breakfast or dinner, or at bedtime. Do not stop taking your medication without having first informed your doctor.

Usual dose:

For both high blood pressure and chest pain, the recommended initial dose of Amlodipine Besylate Tablets is 5 mg once daily. If necessary, your doctor may increase your dose to a maximum dose of 10 mg once daily.

Use in Patients with liver disease:

The starting dose is 2.5 mg once daily and can be gradually increased by your doctor.

Use in Children (6-17 years old):

The recommended dose is 2.5 mg to 5 mg once daily.

Overdose:

If you think you, or a person you are caring for, have taken too much Amlodipine Besylate Tablets, contact a healthcare professional, hospital emergency department, or regional poison control centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms.

One or more of the following signs may occur in an overdose: Low blood pressure and rapid heartbeat.

Missed Dose:

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it has been more than 12 hours since you missed your last dose, skip the missed dose and continue with the next dose at your regular time. Do not take double doses.

SIDE EFFECTS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM

Side effects include:

• Headaches
• Tiredness, extreme sleepiness
• Stomach pain, nausea
• Dizziness

If any of these affects you severely, tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Serious side effects and what to do about them

Serious side effects and what to do about them

Serious side effects and what to do about them

This is not a complete list of side effects. For any unexpected effects while taking Amlodipine Besylate Tablets, contact your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

HOW TO STORE IT

Keep Amlodipine Besylate Tablets out of the reach and sight of children. Store Amlodipine Besylate Tablets at room temperature (between 15-30°C). Protect Amlodipine Besylate Tablets from light.

Reporting Side Effects

MORE INFORMATION

Last revised: October 24, 2022