Norvasc Oral

Uses

Amlodipine is used with or without other medications to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), certain kinds of chest pain (chronic stable angina, vasospastic angina, coronary artery disease). Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems. Relieving symptoms of angina can increase your ability to exercise and perform strenuous work. Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker. It works by relaxing blood vessels so blood can flow more easily. It may relieve the symptoms of angina by relaxing narrowed blood vessels and lowering blood pressure so that the heart muscle does not have to work as hard to pump blood through your body.

How to use Norvasc Oral

Take this medication by mouth, usually once daily in the morning with or without food or as directed by your doctor. Swallow the tablet whole. If you cannot swallow a whole tablet, you may cut it in half to make swallowing easier.

The dosage is based on your age, medical condition, body size, and response to therapy.

Use this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, use it at the same time each day. It is important to continue taking this medication even if you feel well. Most people with high blood pressure do not feel sick. For the treatment of high blood pressure, it may take up to a week before the full benefit of this drug takes effect. If used for angina, this medication must be taken regularly to be effective. It should not be used to treat angina when it occurs. Use other medications (e.g., sublingual nitroglycerin) to relieve an angina attack as directed by your doctor. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for details.

Do not suddenly stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor. Your condition may become worse when the drug is suddenly stopped. Your dose may need to be gradually decreased.

Inform your doctor if your condition worsens (e.g., your routine blood pressure readings increase or your chest pain happens more often).

Before taking amlodipine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other calcium channel blockers (e.g., diltiazem, nifedipine) or if you have any other allergies.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: certain heart problems (severe coronary artery disease, aortic stenosis), liver disease, heart failure.

This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy; use caution while engaging in activities requiring alertness such as driving or using machinery. Limit alcoholic beverages.

Caution is advised when using this drug in the elderly because they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially dizziness.

To reduce the risk of dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a seated or lying position.

Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking this medication.

This medication should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.

It is not known whether amlodipine passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Overdose

If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US national poison hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly. Symptoms of overdose may include: severe dizziness/fainting, fast/irregular/very slow heartbeat, confusion.

NOTES:

Do not share this medication with others.

Lifestyle changes such as stress reduction programs, exercise, and dietary changes may increase the effectiveness of this medicine. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about lifestyle changes that might benefit you.

Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., blood pressure, electrocardiograms) may be performed from time to time to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.

Have your blood pressure checked regularly while taking this medication. Learn how to monitor your own blood pressure, and share the readings with your doctor.

MISSED DOSE:

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

STORAGE:

Store at room temperature between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.

MEDICAL ALERT:
Your condition can cause complications in a medical emergency. For enrollment information call MedicAlert at 1-800-854-1166 (USA) or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).

Headache, swelling of the ankles/feet, dizziness, lightheadedness, flushing, nausea, stomach pain, feeling your heart beating in your chest, tiredness, constipation, and difficulty sleeping may occur as your body adjusts to the medication. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

To minimize dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a seated or lying position.

To prevent constipation, maintain a diet adequate in fiber, drink plenty of water, and exercise. If you become constipated while using this drug, consult your pharmacist for help in selecting a stool softener.

Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: shortness of breath, persistent tiredness, fast/irregular/very slow heartbeat, muscle cramps/pain, joint pain, unusual dreams, vision changes, mental/mood changes (e.g., depression, anxiety, nervousness), decreased sexual ability/desire, fainting.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: severe abdominal pain, dark urine, severe nausea/vomiting, severe constipation, difficult/increased urination, yellowing eyes/skin, new or worsening chest pain, sudden dizziness/fainting, signs of infection (e.g., fever, chills, persistent sore throat), easy bruising/bleeding.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include: rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Your healthcare professionals (e.g., doctor or pharmacist) may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: sildenafil, conivaptan, cyclosporine.

Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., cough-and-cold products, diet aids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs-NSAIDs for pain/fever reduction) because they may contain ingredients that could increase your blood pressure or heart rate (e.g., pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine, ibuprofen, naproxen). Ask your pharmacist about using those products safely.

This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.