Amlodipine Besylate, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: calcium channel blocker

Generic and brand names: amlodipine besylate, oral; Norvasc

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is a calcium channel blocker. It is taken by mouth to treat:

• high blood pressure
• chest pain

It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• aortic stenosis (problems with a valve in your heart)
• heart problems, including heart failure
• liver or kidney disease
• very low blood pressure.

Females of childbearing age: Talk with your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

You must take this medicine every day to control your blood pressure or to avoid chest pains. Take this medicine regularly for as long as prescribed, even if you feel better. Do not stop taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval. You may need to take this medicine for the rest of your life. Take it at the same time each day to help you remember.

Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Do not take more of it or take it more often than prescribed.

This medicine is usually taken once a day. You may take it with or without food. Do not take more than 10 mg per day unless directed to do so by your healthcare provider. You may have side effects with higher doses.

Be sure to follow your healthcare provider's directions for taking other medicines with this medicine. Most other medicines for high blood pressure or chest pain (angina) can be used safely with this medicine. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you have any questions.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is within 12 hours of the next dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What if I overdose?

If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: dizziness, weakness, fainting, flushing, fast heartbeat.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine may increase chest pain when you first start taking it, or when your dosage is increased. If this happens, stop taking the medicine and contact your healthcare provider right away or get emergency medical care.

Your healthcare provider will want to see you regularly to check your progress and may adjust your dosage.

This medicine may make you dizzy or faint, especially if you get up quickly after sitting or lying down. Getting up slowly may help.

This medicine may reduce or eliminate chest pain that you may have when you exercise or are very active. Ask your healthcare provider about a safe exercise program.

Contact your healthcare provider if you continue to have chest pain after taking this medicine for a while.

You may have headaches when you first start taking this medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if headaches continue or get worse.

If you need emergency care or surgery, tell the healthcare provider you are taking this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Decreased urination; irregular or fast heartbeat; swelling in your hands or feet; low blood pressure; fainting; severe dizziness; severe nausea; slurred speech; vision changes.

Other: Flushing, weakness, sleepiness, muscle cramps, nervousness, cough, constipation, increased heart rate, headache, trouble sleeping, dizziness, dry mouth, diarrhea, nausea.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• alpha-1 blockers such as terazosin (Hytrin), doxazosin (Cardura), prazosin (Minipress), and alfuzosin (Uroxatral)
• amiodarone (Pacerone, Cordarone)
• antibiotics such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), ciprofloxacin (Cipro), nafcillin (Unipen, Nallpen), telithromycin (Ketek), doxycycline (Vibramycin), isoniazid, rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifamate), and erythromycin (Erythrocin, EES, EryPed)
• antifungals such as itraconazole (Sporanox), fluconazole (Diflucan), and ketoconazole (Nizoral)
• antiseizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), valproic acid (Depacon, Depakote, Depakene), and phenobarbital (Luminal)
• cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Gengraf, Neoral)
• fluvoxamine (Luvox)
• herbal products such as ephedra, yohimbe, ginseng, garlic, St. John's wort, and dong quai
• imatinib (Gleevec)
• medicines to treat erectile dysfunction such as sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), and vardenafil (Levitra)
• medicines to treat HIV such as amprenavir (Agenerase), atazanavir (Reyataz), nevirapine (Viramune), and indinavir (Crixivan)
• mirtazapine (Remeron)
• nefazodone
• NSAID pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Motrin), sulindac (Clinoril), diclofenac (Voltaren), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, Anaprox), and ketoprofen
• quinidine
• theophylline (Theo-Dur, Theochron, Theolair)
• trifluoperazine

Do not drink alcohol while you are taking this medicine unless your healthcare provider approves.

Do not take this medicine with grapefruit juice because it can cause a dangerous increase in the effects of this medicine. Take this medicine with plain water. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.