Generic name: amlodipine [am-LOE-di-peen]
Brand names: Katerzia, Norliqva, Norvasc
Dosage forms: oral tablet 5 mg, 10mg, 2.5 mg, oral liquid 1 mg/mL, oral suspension 1 mg/mL
Drug class: Calcium channel blockers
Medically reviewed by Melisa Puckey, BPharm. Last updated on Oct 29, 2023.
What is amlodipine?
Amlodipine besylate belongs to a class of medications called calcium channel blockers. It lowers blood pressure by relaxing the blood vessels so the heart does not have to pump as hard.
Amlodipine is used to treat certain types of angina (chest pain) and other conditions caused by coronary artery disease (narrowing of the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart).
Amlodipine besylate controls chest pain by increasing the supply of blood to the heart. If taken regularly, this medicine controls chest pain, but it does not stop chest pain once it starts. Your doctor may prescribe a different medication to take when you have chest pain.
Amlodipine is also used alone or in combination with other medicines to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) in adults and children at least 6 years old. Lowering blood pressure may lower your risk of a stroke or heart attack.
Amlodipine besylate is available as:
- Amlodipine 5 mg tablets (Norvasc)
- Amlodipine 10 mg tablets (Norvasc)
- Amlodipine 2.5 mg tablets (Norvasc)
- Amlodipine 1 mg/mL solution (Norliqva)
- Amlodipine 1 mg/mL oral suspenstion (Katerzia)
Amlodipine side effects
Common amlodipine side effects
The most common amlodipine side may include:
dizziness, drowsiness;
swelling of your legs or ankles;
irregular heartbeat;
pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest;
muscle stiffness;
uncontrolled muscle movements;
feeling tired;
stomach pain, nausea; or
flushing (sudden warmth, redness, or tingly feeling).
Amlodipine besylate may cause serious side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to amlodipine: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
In rare cases, when you first start taking this medicine, your chest pain may get worse or you could have a heart attack. Seek emergency medical attention or call your doctor right away if you have symptoms such as: chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, nausea, sweating.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
worsening chest pain; or
a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Amlodipine side effects (more detail)
Warnings
Before taking amlodipine besylate, tell your doctor if you have congestive heart failure or liver disease.
Drinking alcohol can further lower your blood pressure and may increase certain side effects of amlodipine.
If you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using amlodipine even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medication for the rest of your life.
Amlodipine is only part of a complete program of treatment that may also include diet, exercise, weight control, and other medications. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely.
Tell your doctor about all other heart or blood pressure medications you are taking.
Your chest pain may become worse when you first start taking amlodipine or when your dose is increased. Call your doctor if your chest pain is severe or ongoing.
Before taking this medicine
You should not take amlodipine if you are allergic to it.
To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:
severe narrowing of a certain valve in your heart (aortic stenosis), or other heart problems;
coronary artery disease (clogged arteries); or
liver disease.
It is not known if amlodipine will harm an unborn baby. However, having high blood pressure during pregnancy may cause complications or medical problems in both mother and baby. The benefit of treating hypertension may outweigh any risks to the baby.
Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
Amlodipine pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings (more detail)
How should I take amlodipine?
Take amlodipine exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose.
Amlodipine is usually taken once per day.
Take the medicine at the same time each day, with or without food.
Shake the oral suspension (liquid). Measure a dose with the supplied measuring device (not a kitchen spoon).
Your blood pressure will need to be checked often.
If you have high blood pressure, keep using amlodipine even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms.
Do not change your doses or stop taking any of your medications without your doctor's advice.
Your treatment may also include diet, exercise, weight control, and blood tests.
Store amlodipine tablets and oral solution (liquid) at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
Store amlodipine oral suspension in the refrigerator, do not freeze.
Amlodipine Dosing information
Usual Amlodipine Adult Dose for Hypertension:
Initial dose: 5 mg orally once a day
Maintenance dose: 5 to 10 mg orally once a day
Maximum dose: 10 mg/day
Comments: Patients who are small or fragile may be started on 2.5 mg orally once a day.
Usual Adult Dose for Angina Pectoris:
Maintenance dose: 5 to 10 mg orally once a day
Maximum dose: 10 mg/day
Usual Adult Dose for Coronary Artery Disease:
Maintenance dose: 5 to 10 mg orally once a day
Maximum dose: 10 mg/day
Usual Geriatric Dose for Hypertension:
Initial dose: 2.5 mg orally once a day
Maintenance dose: 2.5 to 10 mg orally once a day
Maximum dose: 10 mg/day.
Usual Geriatric Dose for Angina Pectoris:
Initial dose: 5 mg orally once a day
Maintenance dose: 5 to 10 mg orally once a day
Maximum dose: 10 mg/day..
Uses: Alone or in combination with other antianginal agents for the symptomatic treatment of chronic stable angina
-Alone or in combination with other antianginal agents for the treatment of confirmed/suspected vasospastic angina
-To reduce the risk of hospitalization for angina and to reduce the risk of a coronary revascularization procedure in patients with recently documented CAD by angiography and without heart failure or an ejection fraction less than 40%
Usual Pediatric Dose for Hypertension:
6 to 17 years:
-Maintenance dose: 2.5 to 5 mg orally once a day
-Maximum dose: 5 mg/day
Comments: Doses higher than 5 mg have not been studied in pediatric patients.
The dosage should be adjusted according to patient response. In general, titration should proceed over 7 to 14 days. If clinically warranted, titration may proceed more rapidly, provided the patient is assessed frequently.
Use: Alone or in combination with other antihypertensive agents to treat hypertension
Detailed Amlodipine dosage information
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if you are more than 12 hours late for the dose. Do not take two doses at one time.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
Overdose symptoms may include rapid heartbeats, redness or warmth in your arms or legs, or fainting.
What should I avoid while taking amlodipine?
Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy.
What other drugs will affect amlodipine?
Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medicines at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you use, which may increase side effects or make the medicines less effective.
Other drugs may interact with amlodipine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use.
Amlodipine drug interactions (more detail)
Popular FAQ
Research has suggested that taking your blood pressure medication at night instead of in the morning can provide better blood pressure control at night without compromising daytime blood pressure control and reduce your overall risk of dying because of cardiovascular disease by 45%. Continue reading
Swelling from amlodipine is a common, but often troublesome side effect of amlodipine with 5% to 9% of people stopping amlodipine because of it. If you develop swelling with amlodipine, tell your doctor right away because they may be able to change your blood pressure medications slightly to help reduce the swelling. Swelling caused by amlodipine does not usually respond to treatment with diuretics (such as furosemide) because it is caused by changes in capillary pressure that result in leakage into the spaces between capillaries (called the interstitial area) rather than water retention. Continue reading
Amlodipine can take more than 8 hours to start working, because it takes a long time to be absorbed. This means it is not a good choice for lowering blood pressure quickly, and other agents, such as hydralazine, clonidine, and nifedipine XL (which work within 1 to 2 hours) are preferred. Continue reading
Weight gain has been reported by some people taking amlodipine but this is not a common side effect and some people have also reported weight loss. Weight gain with amlodipine may also be a symptom of edema, which is when you retain fluid, which may be particularly noticeable around your ankles or lower legs. The risk of edema is greater in women compared with men and in those people taking a higher dosage of amlodipine, and edema is usually noticed as weight gain. Continue reading
More FAQ
- What medications cause swollen ankles and feet?
- Best time to take amlodipine - day or night?
- How long does amlodipine stay in your system?
View more FAQ
References
More about amlodipine
- Check interactions
- Compare alternatives
- Reviews (812)
- Drug images
- Side effects
- Dosage information
- Patient tips
- During pregnancy
- Support group
- Drug class: calcium channel blockers
- Breastfeeding
- En español
Patient resources
- Amlodipine Tablets patient information
- Amlodipine Suspension
Other brands
Norvasc, Katerzia, Norliqva
Professional resources
- AmLODIPine monograph
- Amlodipine (FDA)
- Amlodipine Suspension (FDA)
Other brands
Norvasc, Katerzia, Norliqva
Related treatment guides
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- Coronary Artery Disease
Further information
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use amlodipine only for the indication prescribed.
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circ*mstances.
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