Amlodipine is a drug that is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure is often called the “silent killer” because it has no symptoms until serious complications develop. Left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to heart attack, stroke, kidney failure and other life-threatening conditions. Resistance to the effects of the hormone angiotensin II leads to a decrease in the activity of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and consequently an increase in the activity of neutralendopeptidase (NEP).
These enzymes are responsible for degrading vasoconstrictor peptides such as angiotensin II. Reducing their activity leads to an increase in the level of angiotensin I which will be excreted by the kidneys. This results in a decrease in its vasoconstrictor effect.
What is Amlodipine?
Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker that relaxes your blood vessels by inhibiting the flow of calcium in your blood vessels. This relaxes your blood vessels and reduces the amount of stress put on the heart while pumping blood. This makes it great for lowering blood pressure and preventing strokes, heart attacks, and kidney disease caused by hypertension. It comes in tablet form, usually once a day.
Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker that relaxes your blood vessels by inhibiting the flow of calcium in your blood vessels. This relaxes your blood vessels and reduces the amount of stress put on the heart while pumping blood. This makes it great for lowering blood pressure and preventing strokes, heart attacks, and kidney disease caused by hypertension.
How does Amlodipine work?
Amlodipine works by relaxing the blood vessels and reducing stress on the heart. It does this by relaxing the smooth muscles inside your blood vessels, like the arterial walls. This reduces blood pressure by allowing blood to flow more freely through your arteries. Amlodipine also inhibits the release of a chemical called angiotensin II from the kidneys. Angiotensin II causes your blood vessels to narrow and blood pressure to rise. With the blood vessels relaxed and blood pressure lowered, amlodipine can help protect you from heart disease and strokes. It can also benefit people with other diseases, like pulmonary arterial hypertension, diabetic nephropathy, or migraines.
Uses of Amlodipine
Amlodipine can be used for decreasing blood pressure and preventing strokes, heart attacks, and kidney disease caused by hypertension. It can also be used to treat high blood pressure in people with diabetes or kidney disease, or migraines/headaches if they’re caused by a medical condition. Amlodipine can also be used to open narrowed blood vessels in people whose blood vessels have been narrowed by an autoimmune disorder that causes the body to attack itself. This can be helpful for people with diseases like Raynaud’s syndrome, scleroderma, or lupus.
Some common side effects of amlodipine include; headaches, dizziness, fatigue, muscle cramps, dry mouth, and constipation. If any of these side effects bother you, talk with your doctor. They may be able to change your dose or other parts of your treatment plan so that you can continue taking this drug.
Some rare side effects include allergic reactions, low blood pressure, and shortness of breath. If you have any of these rare side effects, stop taking amlodipine and call your doctor, as this may be a serious complication.
Dosage of Amlodipine
Amlodipine is available as 5mg and 10mg tablets. The drug is mostly used for blood pressure and angina. The dose of Amlodipine is 10 mg daily for patients with hypertension, angina, or existing heart disease. For patients with hypertension, the dose can be increased to 20 mg daily. For patients with coronary artery disease that is being treated with 10 mg daily of Amlodipine, the dose can be increased up to 20 mg daily.
Bottom line: What you need to Know about Amlodipine Oral Tablets
Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker that is used to treat hypertension, angina, and to prevent heart attack. Amlodipine works by dilating (widening) your blood vessels, which lowers your blood pressure. It also inhibits the reabsorption of sodium and water by the kidneys, which also contributes to lowering blood pressure. Amlodipine can be safely used in patients with hypertension, angina, and existing heart disease, provided the doctor’s instructions are followed carefully.