Amlodipine: Uses, How It Works, Medicines
Also in: हिन्दी தமிழ் मराठी తెలుగు ಕನ್ನಡ বাংলা ગુજરાતી മലയാളം ਪੰਜਾਬੀ
Amlodipine is a prescription medicine that relaxes blood vessels. It is used to treat high blood pressure and certain kinds of chest pain called angina, including some forms of coronary artery disease. It belongs to the calcium channel blockers. It should only be started or stopped on a doctor's advice, and swollen ankles are its most common side effect.
Also known as: Amlodipine tablet, Amlodipine besylate, Amlodipine 5 mg, Amlodipine 2.5 mg, Amlodipine 10 mg, Norvasc, Amlong
Pharmacist review in progress. This page is based on the sources listed below and is being checked by our registered pharmacist.
How does Amlodipine work?
Amlodipine partly blocks calcium from entering the muscle in the walls of blood vessels. The muscle stays relaxed and the vessels widen, so blood pressure falls and the heart works with less strain.
How to take Amlodipine
Follow the label or your doctor's advice. Amlodipine is usually taken once a day, with or without food. Your doctor decides the dose and how long you need it.
Side effects of Amlodipine
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 pounding heartbeat
- Headache
- Dizziness or tiredness
- Feeling sick or stomach ache
Rare but serious: get medical help
- Chest pain that is new or gets worse. Get medical help immediately
- Fainting, or very low blood pressure with severe dizziness
- A fast, irregular or very slow heartbeat
- Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing (a severe allergic reaction). Get medical help immediately
- Yellow skin or eyes, dark urine or severe stomach pain
Who should be careful
Some people need to check with a doctor before taking amlodipine, or need extra care while taking it.
When the label says not to use it
- Allergy to amlodipine, other similar medicines or any ingredient of the tablet
- Liver disease: the dose may need to be lower or changed more slowly
- Severe narrowing of the aortic valve, recent heart attack, or heart failure
- Very low blood pressure
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding: take it only if your doctor advises it
- Older age: older people may be more sensitive to the medicine
Medicines and things that interact with Amlodipine
Amlodipine 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 it can raise the risk of muscle damage
- Other blood pressure medicines and water tablets: blood pressure may fall too low
- Clarithromycin, itraconazole, ketoconazole, diltiazem and ritonavir: they can make amlodipine's effect stronger
- Rifampicin and St John's wort: they may make its effect weaker
- Ciclosporin and tacrolimus: their blood levels may change
- Grapefruit and grapefruit juice: may change blood levels of the medicine
If someone takes too much
Taking one extra tablet by mistake is unlikely to be serious, but larger amounts can cause very low blood pressure, a fast heartbeat and fluid in the lungs. If someone has taken much more than prescribed, call 112 or go to the nearest hospital and take the medicine pack with you.
Regulatory status in India
Approved for sale in India as a prescription medicine; amlodipine is listed in Schedule H of the Drugs Rules 1945. Single-ingredient amlodipine is not on the CDSCO list of medicines banned under section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. Fixed-dose combinations that contain amlodipine with other medicines may be treated differently, so check the ingredient list on the pack.
Type of medicine
Amlodipine belongs to this type of medicine.
Medicines that contain Amlodipine
These medicines sold in India contain Amlodipine. They are listed A to Z, not ranked.
- Amlong 5 · 5 mg tablet
What is Amlodipine used for?
Medicines that contain Amlodipine are used for these conditions.
Common questions
What is amlodipine used for?
Amlodipine is a prescription medicine used to treat high blood pressure and certain kinds of chest pain called angina. It is also used in some people with coronary artery disease. A doctor decides whether it suits you.
Why does amlodipine cause swollen ankles?
It widens small blood vessels, which can let fluid collect in the ankles and feet. It is the most common side effect and is usually mild. Tell your doctor if it bothers you. Do not stop the medicine on your own.
Is amlodipine safe in pregnancy?
Take it only if your doctor advises it. If you are pregnant, may become pregnant or are breastfeeding, tell your doctor, who will weigh the benefits and risks. Do not stop a prescribed medicine without speaking to your doctor first.
Can I stop amlodipine if my blood pressure is normal?
Do not stop on your own. Blood pressure is normal because the medicine is working, and it can rise again if you stop. Talk to your doctor, who decides whether any change is suitable.
Can I take amlodipine with simvastatin?
Doctors sometimes prescribe both, but the simvastatin dose is limited when taken with amlodipine because levels of simvastatin rise. Tell your doctor about every medicine you take and follow the dose they set.
Can I eat grapefruit with amlodipine?
Grapefruit can change how the body handles some medicines, including amlodipine. It is safest to avoid grapefruit and its juice unless your doctor says it is fine.
Can I drink alcohol with amlodipine?
Alcohol can lower blood pressure further and add to dizziness, especially when you stand up. Keep alcohol low and ask your doctor what is reasonable for you.
Is Amlong 5 the same as amlodipine?
Amlong 5 is a brand name. The tablet contains amlodipine, 5 mg per tablet. Check the ingredient list and strength on the pack, and ask your doctor before switching to another product.
Sources
- Amlodipine: a medicine for high blood pressure and angina. NHS (UK)
- Norvasc (amlodipine besylate) tablets: prescribing information. DailyMed, US National Library of Medicine
- Amlodipine: MedlinePlus Drug Information. MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine
- ATC/DDD Index: C08CA Dihydropyridine derivatives. WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology
- List of drugs prohibited for manufacture and sale through gazette notifications under section 26A of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act 1940. Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO)
- The Drugs Rules, 1945 (consolidated, September 2024 edition), Schedule H: prescription drugs. Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO)