What Is Amlodipine Besylate Used to Treat?

Amlodipine besylate is a drug that can treat hypertension (high blood pressure) and angina (chest pain). It is a commonly used calcium channel blocker (CCB) and belongs to the dihydropyridine family of CCBs. It can be prescribed alone or in a combination with other antihypertensive or antianginal drugs. While numerous drugs are available for high blood pressure, your age, blood pressure readings, level of cardiovascular risk and commitment to making lifestyle changes may influence which medication is best for you.

Mechanism

• To contract, vascular smooth muscle cells (and cardiac cells) need to transport calcium ions across the calcium channels in their cell membrane. Like other calcium channel blockers, amlodipine blocks these membrane channels to reduce the contraction of smooth muscle cells (and cardiac muscle cells to a lesser extent), allowing them to relax.

Hypertension

• Constriction of arteries is one of the reasons behind high blood pressure. Being a medicine that can dilate blood vessels (vasodilator), amlodipine is widely used to reduce high blood pressure. The correct dosage may need to be decided by your doctor after considering your age and medical history.

Angina

• The dilation of blood vessels can increase the supply of oxygen and nutrients to your heart. At the same time, the decrease in blood pressure allows your heart to work less. These actions by amplodipine can provide relief from anginal chest pain.

Similar Drugs

• Some other calcium channel blockers include nifedipine, verapamil and diltiazem. Among these medicines, amlodipine is known for its long duration of effects (a long half-life) and has shown a beneficial effect on patients with nonischemic cardiac failure. Also, the vasodilation that it causes is gradual in onset. Unlike amlodipine, verapamil and diltiazem can also lower the heart rate and therefore may not be suitable for patients with a slow heart rate.

Potential Side Effects

• Amlodipine can cause palpitations, flushing, dizziness, swelling of ankles, headache, fatigue and nausea. To avoid serious complications, an adjustment in dosage may be required for the elderly and patients suffering from hepatic insufficiency.