When should Norvasc® not be used?

Like all drugs, Norvasc® must not be used if an allergy or intolerance to the active ingredient amlodipine or a substance contained in the drug is known. Norvasc® must also not be used if you have very low blood pressure before taking it. The same applies to the extreme form of low blood pressure, the shock in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to supply the body with sufficient blood.

This also applies explicitly if the cause of the shock is a heart failure. Norvasc® must not be taken even if the outflow of blood from the heart is blocked, e.g. by a narrowing of the valve between the heart and the aorta (aortic valve stenosis). This is because the heart has to work much harder to achieve an acceptable pressure behind the narrowing. Norvasc® must not be taken during the first four weeks after a heart attack. Norvasc® must not be taken in cases of severe liver damage, as the drug is broken down in the liver.

How is Norvasc dosed?

As a matter of principle you should take Norvasc® in the dosage prescribed by your doctor. However, the usual dosages are as follows: As a rule, you should take 5 mg per day at the beginning; in addition, a 5 mg tablet is taken once a day. The daily dose can be increased up to the desired effect up to a maximum of 10 mg per day.

In children aged 6-17 years the starting dose is 2.5 mg a day and can be increased up to a maximum of 5 mg a day. In case of kidney damage no reduction of the dosage is necessary. However, in liver damage the dose should be increased very slowly. In cases of severe liver damage, Norvasc® should not be taken at all.

What are the side effects?

Only side effects that occur in at least 1/1000 of patients are mentioned here. For a complete list, please refer to the package insert.Occasionally the following side effects occur: The following side effects are common:

Insomnia
Mood swings
Depressions
Tremble
Taste disorders
Short-term fainting
Ear noises
Sensory and visual disturbances
Shortness of breath
Sniffles
Skin redness
Hair Loss
Fast heartbeat, this can also be felt as unpleasant (“palpitations”)
Attacks of chest tightness (angina pectoris)
Drowsiness
Swindle
Headaches
Swollen joints
Tiredness
Gastrointestinal complaints