Essential Hypertension: Amlocard is effective as a single therapy for controlling high blood pressure. It can also be used in combination with other antihypertensive medications if required.

Angina Pectoris: Amlocard is indicated for managing chronic stable angina and works effectively as monotherapy. It may be combined with other antianginal agents for better symptom control.

Vasospastic Angina: Amlocard is suitable for treating confirmed or suspected vasospastic angina. It can be administered alone or in combination with other antianginal drugs.

Amlodipine is a long-acting dihydropyridine calcium-channel blocker used to treat hypertension and angina. It acts on myocardial cells, specialized cardiac conducting cells, and vascular smooth muscle cells. Its primary effect is vasodilation, which reduces peripheral resistance, lowers blood pressure and cardiac afterload, increases coronary blood flow, and may reflexively increase heart rate. These actions improve myocardial oxygen supply and cardiac output.

Hypertension: Usual dose is 5 mg once daily. The maximum dose is 10 mg once daily. Elderly patients with hepatic insufficiency may be started on 2.5 mg once daily; this dose may also be used when adding Amlodipine to other antihypertensive therapy.

Angina (Chronic stable or Vasospastic): 5 to 10 mg, using the lower dose for elderly and in patients with hepatic insufficiency. Most patients require 10 mg.

Administrations: May be taken without regard to meals.

Hypersensitivity to dihydropyridine derivatives. Pregnant women.

Common adverse effects are related to vasodilation, including dizziness, flushing, headache, hypotension, and peripheral edema. Other effects may include gastrointestinal disturbances, increased urination, fatigue, eye pain, and mental depression. Some patients may experience a paradoxical increase in ischemic chest pain at the start of therapy. Rarely, excessive blood pressure reduction can lead to cerebral or myocardial ischemia or temporary blindness. Hypersensitivity reactions may cause rashes, fever, or liver function abnormalities.

Amlodipine is Pregnancy Category C. There are no adequate, well-controlled studies in pregnant women. It should be used during pregnancy only if the benefits outweigh potential risks to the fetus. It is unknown if Amlodipine passes into human milk. Nursing is recommended to be discontinued while taking Amlodipine due to lack of data.

Use caution in patients with liver impairment, and during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Children (6–17 years) with hypertension: Start with 2.5 mg once daily. If blood pressure goals are not reached after 4 weeks, the dose may be increased to 5 mg once daily. Doses above 5 mg daily have not been studied in pediatric patients.

Children under 6 years: The effect of Amlodipine on blood pressure in children under 6 years is not known.

Elderly: Amlodipine is generally well tolerated in elderly patients at similar doses to younger adults. Standard dosing is recommended, but dose increases should be made cautiously.

Renal impairment: Plasma concentrations of Amlodipine are not significantly affected by renal impairment. Normal dosing is recommended. Amlodipine is not removed by dialysis.

Hepatic impairment: Dosage guidelines are not established for patients with mild to moderate liver impairment. Start with the lower end of the dosing range and titrate carefully. In severe hepatic impairment, start at 2.5 mg once daily and increase slowly. Pharmacokinetics in severe hepatic impairment have not been studied.

Symptoms: Large overdose may cause excessive peripheral vasodilation and reflex tachycardia. Severe and prolonged hypotension, including shock, has been reported.

Management: Clinically significant hypotension requires active cardiovascular support, frequent monitoring of cardiac and respiratory function, elevation of extremities, and attention to fluid balance and urine output.

Vasoconstrictors may help restore vascular tone and blood pressure if not contraindicated. Intravenous calcium gluconate may reverse calcium channel blockade. Gastric lavage may be useful in some cases. Activated charcoal within 2 hours of amlodipine administration can reduce absorption. Dialysis is unlikely to be effective due to high protein binding.

Calcium-channel blockers

Keep all medicines out of reach of children. Store in a cool, dry place, protected from light.