Amlodipine/Olmesartan, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: calcium channel blocker/angiotensin receptor blocker

Generic and brand names: amlodipine/olmesartan, oral; Azor

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to treat and control high blood pressure. It contains both a calcium channel blocker and an angiotensin receptor blocker.

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
• an autoimmune disease such as lupus, or any other immune system problem
• heart disease or irregular heartbeat
• imbalances such as too much or too little potassium or sodium in your blood
• kidney or liver problems
• low blood pressure

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. Do not take this medicine after the third month of pregnancy. It can cause severe harm to the baby. If you become pregnant while taking this medicine, contact your healthcare provider right away. Do not breast-feed while you are taking this medicine.

How should I take it?

Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Take it regularly every day, even if you start to feel better. You may take this medicine with or without food. You may need to take it for a long time to control your blood pressure. Do not stop taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

Take this medicine with a full glass of water. Swallow the medicine without crushing, breaking, or chewing it.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled 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 about what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What if I overdose?

Symptoms of an acute overdose have not been reported.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

This medicine may cause a sudden drop in blood pressure, especially when you first start taking it. You may feel dizzy or faint when you get up quickly after sitting or lying down. Getting up slowly may help. If you feel dizzy or faint while you are standing, lie down for a while and then get up slowly, Also, drinking alcohol may make it worse. Do not drink alcohol unless your healthcare provider approves.

You need to check your blood pressure regularly while taking this medicine. You may need to have blood tests to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments.

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

If you are dehydrated (due to diarrhea or sweating heavily) or you have lost salt from your system, this medicine may cause low blood pressure (lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting). This is more likely to happen if you are taking a diuretic (water pill). If you feel faint, lie down until the reaction passes. Talk with your healthcare provider if this happens often. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

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 contact your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (swelling of your tongue, throat, lips, or face; trouble swallowing; hives; itching; tightness or pain in your chest; trouble breathing); severe dizziness or fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; severe abdominal pain.

Serious: Swelling in hands or feet, or any unexplained swelling; change in how much you urinate; fever.

Other: Cough, stuffy nose, sore throat, flushing, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, dizziness, tiredness.

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:

• antibiotics such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (EES, EryPed), rifampin (Rifadin), and telithromycin (Ketek)
• antidepressants such as fluvoxamine and nefazodone
• antifungal medicines such as itraconazole (Sporanox) and ketoconazole (Nizoral)
• anti-HIV medicines such as amprenavir (Agenerase), atazanavir (Reyataz), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), and ritonavir (Norvir)
• antiseizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin), and phenobarbital (Luminal)
• cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Gengraf, Neoral)
• diuretics (water pills) such as furosemide (Lasix), chlorothiazide (Diuril), hydrochlorothiazide (Oretic, Microzide), spironolactone (Aldactone), amiloride (Midamor), bumetanide (Bumex), torsemide (Demadex), and triamterene (Dyrenium, Maxzide, Dyazide)
• imatinib (Gleevec)
• lithium (Lithobid, Lithotabs, Eskalith)
• medicines to treat erectile dysfunction such as vardenafil (Levitra), sildenafil (Viagra), and tadalafil (Cialis)
• medicines to treat irregular heartbeat such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), procainamide (Pronestyl), disopyramide (Norpace, Norpace CR), quinidine, sotalol (Betapace), dofetilide (Tikosyn), flecainide (Tambocor), lidocaine (Xylocaine), digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps, Digitek), and tocainide (Tonocard)
• natural remedies such as dong quai, yohimbe, ginseng, and garlic
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), indomethacin (Indocin), nabumetone (Relafen), hydrocodone/ibuprofen (Vicoprofen), ketoprofen, ketorolac (Toradol), and celecoxib (Celebrex)
• potassium supplements such as Kaon-Cl, Slow-K, K-Tab, K-Lyte/Cl, Klorvess, Micro-K, and K-Dur
• salt substitutes containing potassium

The effects of this medicine may be increased if you take it with grapefruit juice. 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.