Amlong 5: Uses, How It Works, Side Effects

What is Amlong 5 used for?

Amlong 5 is a prescription medicine. It is used, on a doctor's advice, to treat high blood pressure and certain types of chest pain.

• Treating high blood pressure (hypertension) in adults
• Preventing chest pain caused by angina, including angina from spasm of a heart artery
• Treating coronary artery disease (narrowed heart arteries) as directed by a doctor

How does Amlong 5 work?

The muscle in blood-vessel walls needs calcium to enter its cells before it can tighten. Amlodipine partly blocks this entry, so the muscle stays relaxed and the vessels widen. Blood pressure falls and the heart does not have to work so hard, and the heart muscle also gets more blood.

What happens in your body after you take it

1. You swallow the tablet

   The tablet dissolves in the gut and amlodipine is slowly absorbed into the blood. Food does not change this much.

2. It builds up gradually

   Amlodipine is absorbed slowly and leaves the body slowly, so blood levels rise gently over several days of daily doses.

3. It blocks calcium channels

   In the muscle of the blood vessel walls, amlodipine partly blocks the channels that let calcium in. Less calcium inside the cell means the muscle cannot tighten as much.

4. Vessels relax and widen

   The relaxed vessels offer less resistance to the blood. Blood pressure falls, and the heart muscle gets a better blood supply, which eases angina.

5. The liver clears it

   The liver breaks amlodipine down and the kidneys remove the products in urine. Its half-life is about 30 to 50 hours, so it keeps working through the day on one dose.

How to take Amlong 5

Take Amlong 5 exactly as your doctor has prescribed or as printed on the pack. Your doctor decides the dose and how long you need it.

• It is usually taken once a day, at about the same time each day.
• It can be taken with or without food. Follow the label or your doctor's advice.
• If you miss a dose, take it when you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Do not take two doses together.
• High blood pressure usually gives no symptoms, so you may feel well. Do not stop taking it on your own; talk to your doctor first.
• Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice unless your doctor says it is fine, because it may change how your body handles the medicine.

Side effects of Amlong 5

Most people take amlodipine without serious problems. Some side effects are common and mild, but a few need medical help.

Uncommon or mild

• Swollen ankles or feet
• Flushing (a warm, red face) or a feeling of a pounding heartbeat
• Headache
• Dizziness or tiredness
• Feeling sick or stomach ache

Who should be careful

Some people need to check with a doctor before taking Amlong 5, or need extra care while taking it.

• Liver disease: the dose may need to be lower or changed more slowly
• Severe narrowing of the aortic valve (aortic stenosis), recent heart attack, or heart failure
• Very low blood pressure
• Swelling of the ankles or feet that is painful or getting worse
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding: take it only if your doctor advises it
• Older age: older people may be more sensitive to the medicine
• Surgery or dental work: tell the doctor or dentist that you take it

Medicines and things that interact with Amlong 5

Amlong 5 can change how other medicines work, and some medicines change its effect. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about everything you take, including herbal remedies.

• Simvastatin: with amlodipine the simvastatin dose is limited, because blood levels of simvastatin rise and can cause muscle damage
• Other blood pressure medicines and water tablets: blood pressure may fall too low
• Medicines that slow the liver's clearance of amlodipine, such as clarithromycin, itraconazole, ketoconazole, diltiazem and ritonavir: its effect may be stronger
• Medicines that speed up its clearance, such as rifampicin and the herbal remedy St John's wort: its effect may be weaker
• Ciclosporin and tacrolimus: their blood levels may change; the doctor may check them
• Grapefruit and grapefruit juice: may change blood levels of the medicine
• Alcohol: can add to dizziness and low blood pressure

If someone takes too much

Storage

Store below 30 C in a dry place, protected from light and moisture, in the original strip, and out of the reach of children. Do not use after the expiry date. Check the pack for the exact storage instructions.

Regulatory status in India

Approved for sale in India as a prescription medicine. Single-ingredient amlodipine is not on the CDSCO list of medicines banned under section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. Amlong 5 contains amlodipine only.

Other brands with the same medicine

Amlodipine 5 mg tablets are sold under other brand names and as generic medicines. They contain the same medicine; check the label for the strength. Some Amlong products also contain other medicines, so do not switch between them without asking your doctor.

Other strengths and forms

Amlodipine is sold in different strengths, and in combination tablets with other medicines. The strength and contents are printed on the pack and are not the same across products, so check the label of the one you have.

Common questions