Lack of exercise, stress and smoking are just some of the causes that can lead to high blood pressure (hypertension). The active ingredient amlodipine is used to lower elevated blood pressure again. Amlodipine belongs to the group of calcium antagonists and is one of the most commonly used antihypertensive agents. In drugs, the active ingredient amlodipine is present either as amlodipine besilate or as amlodipine maleate. Bioequivalence has been demonstrated for the two salts: This means that the active ingredient is present in the blood at the same rate and in the same amounts after ingestion and that the clinical effect does not differ.
Amlodipine: action and mode of action.
Agents such as amlodipine decrease the influx of calcium ions into the cells of the vascular muscles. Because of the lower calcium concentration, the ability of the vascular muscles to contract decreases. This results in a dilation of the vessels and thus a reduction in blood pressure. This also relieves the heart, as it has to pump against less resistance. In patients with moderate hypertension, the effect of amlodipine can reduce high blood pressure by around ten percent. Since amlodipine also dilates the blood vessels that supply the heart with oxygen, the active ingredient is also used to treat angina pectoris. At 40 hours, amlodipine has a long half-life and thus also a long efficacy. The high half-life has the advantage that drugs with amlodipine as the active ingredient only need to be taken once a day. The long half-life also has a positive effect on the treatment of angina pectoris: Since attacks occur mainly in the early morning, an active ingredient level that hardly changes over 24 hours is favorable for those affected.
Side effects of amlodipine
Like all other medications, the active ingredient amlodipine has side effects. As the blood vessels are relaxed by taking amlodipine, fluid can enter the tissues. This can lead to headaches and water retention (edema) in the arms and legs. In addition, at the beginning of treatment, facial redness is one of the most common side effects of amlodipine. These rednesses occur because the vasodilatation improves the blood supply to the skin. Nausea, abdominal pain, dizziness and fatigue may also occur. Occasionally, insomnia, visual disturbances and indigestion may also occur. Very rare side effects of amlodipine include back pain, joint pain, vision problems, or mood changes.
Amlodipine and other blood pressure medications.
When it comes to preventing heart attacks, other drugs, such as beta blockers and ACE inhibitors, are superior to amlodipine. This is because, compared to these two drugs, treatment with amlodipine can increase the risk of heart attack as well as heart failure. That is why amlodipine is often prescribed not as the only medication but as a supplement when blood pressure cannot be lowered sufficiently by treatment with beta blockers or ACE inhibitors.
Interactions with amlodipine
Because the active ingredient amlodipine, just like all other calcium channel blockers, is broken down by the liver enzyme CYP 3A4, the concentration of other drugs that are broken down by the same enzyme may be affected. Conversely, drugs that inhibit the CYP 3A4 enzyme can also affect amlodipine concentrations in the blood. These drugs include various antifungals, antibiotics, and AIDS medications. If other antihypertensive drugs, such as ACE inhibitors or beta blockers, are taken, caution is also advised: In combination, the effect of the antihypertensive drugs can be significantly increased. For this reason, the dosage of the medication must be precisely adjusted by a physician. In principle, possible interactions with other medications should also be clarified with the doctor before taking amlodipine.
Contraindications
Amlodipine must not be used in cases of low blood pressure, advanced heart failure, as well as acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina, or stenosis of the aorta. Furthermore, amlodipine must not be taken by pregnant women and during breastfeeding. If it is urgently necessary to take amlodipine, you should stop breastfeeding beforehand, otherwise amlodipine will pass into breast milk.Other contraindicators are hypersensitivity to the substance, cardiovascular shock or severe liver dysfunction. This is because if liver function is impaired, this can result in an increased reduction in blood pressure. Amlodipine should also not be used in children and adolescents, as the effects on this patient group have not yet been adequately researched. In addition, it should be noted that the active ingredient amlodipine impairs reaction time and thus has negative effects on driving and operating machinery.
