What Is the Drug Norvasc Used For?

Norvasc is a prescription medication used to treat people with high blood pressure and angina. Treating high blood pressure lowers a patient's chances of experiencing other serious medical conditions, such as heart attacks, strokes and kidney problems. Norvasc is typically taken in pill form, usually once a day. It can be taken with or or without food. Your doctor might start you on a low dose of the medication and gradually increase the dose to achieve maximum benefit.

How It Works

• Norvasc belongs to a class of drugs called calcium channel blockers. It works by blocking the body's transport of calcium to the muscle cells lining the body's arteries, including the coronary arteries. When the transport of calcium is blocked, the muscles surrounding arteries are relaxed and arteries can dilate. In turn, blood pressure is lowered, which results in less of a burden on the heart.

Non-Serious Side Effects

• Some patients taking Norvasc to treat high blood pressure and angina might experience nausea, stomach pain, muscle cramps, weakness, fatigue, flushing, headaches, dizziness and drowsiness. None of those is cause for concern, but contact your doctor if the side effects become bothersome.

Serious Side Effects

• Rarely, Norvasc can cause serious side effects that indicate a potential complication requiring prompt medical treatment. Stop taking the medication and notify your doctor immediately if you develop any of the following: jaundice, dark urine, worsening chest pain, breathing difficulties, a fast or irregular heartbeat, pounding in the chest, tender, swollen or bleeding gums and swelling of the legs or feet.

Warnings

• Norvasc might not be safe for people with certain medical conditions, including those with liver problems, extremely low blood pressure or heart failure. Also, be sure to tell your doctor whether you are pregnant or breastfeeding as the medication could harm your baby. Always be sure to discuss your full medical history with your doctor before taking Norvasc or any other medications.

Drug Interactions

• As with many medications, Norvasc is known to interact with other drugs, causing potentially harmful interactions or increasing the likelihood of experiencing side effects. For example, taking Norvasc along with vasopressin receptor antagonists increases the chances of experiencing the side effects of Norvasc. Taking sildenafil and Norvasc together increases the chances of developing low blood pressure.