S Amlodipine
About S Amlodipine
S Amlodipine is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) and angina (chest pain). Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a lifelong or chronic condition in which the blood pressure against the artery walls becomes high. The higher this blood pressure, the harder the heart has to pump.
S Amlodipine contains S-amlodipine, which acts by relaxing the blood vessels. It helps to lower high blood pressure, reducing the chances of a heart attack or stroke.
You may have common side effects like fatigue, ankle swelling, sleepiness, flushing (sense of warmth in the face, ears, neck, and trunk), headache, nausea, dizziness, palpitations, and abdominal pain that usually resolve after some time. However, talk to your doctor if these side effects persist longer.
Inform your doctor if you are allergic to S Amlodipine. Tell your doctor if you are taking any other anti-hypertensive medicine. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant, are planning to get pregnant, or are breastfeeding. S Amlodipine should not be given to children without consulting the doctor.
Uses of S Amlodipine
Medicinal Benefits
- S Amlodipine is used to treat heart-related conditions like angina (chest pain) and high blood pressure (hypertension).
- S Amlodipine reduces the heart's workload and makes the heart more efficient at pumping blood throughout the body.
- It is a calcium channel blocker that inhibits the entry of calcium (ions) across the heart, which relaxes and widens the smooth muscles for better blood flow.
- S Amlodipine helps prevent sudden spasms of the coronary artery (blood vessels of the heart) and reduces how hard the heart has to pump blood around the body, lowering its oxygen requirements.
- It improves an individual’s tolerance to physical activity and exercise and keeps their blood pressure normal during exercise. As a result, it overall protects your heart and keeps it healthy.
Directions for Use
- Take S Amlodipine with or without food as advised by your doctor.
- It is advised to take S Amlodipine once daily; however, follow your doctor’s recommendation regarding the dosage and duration.
- Swallow it as a whole with a glass of water.
- Do not crush or chew it.
Storage
Side Effects of S Amlodipine
- Fatigue
- Ankle swelling
- Sleepiness
- Flushing (sense of warmth in the face, ears, neck, and trunk)
- Headache
- Difficulty in breathing
- Blurred vision
- Diarrhoea
- Irregular heartbeat
- Chest tightness
- Black or tarry stools
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Palpitations
- Abdominal pain
Drug Warnings
- S Amlodipine should not be given to people allergic to S Amlodipine, who have low blood pressure (less than 90 mmHg), have had a heart attack, kidney disease, liver disease, are pregnant women, or are planning to get pregnant and breastfeeding women without a doctor's prescription.
- Besides this, it is contraindicated in patients with aortic stenosis (a heart valve problem).
- S Amlodipine can pass into breast milk, but its effect on the baby is not known. So, it is better to tell your doctor if you are taking S Amlodipine and breastfeeding.
- S Amlodipine is not recommended for use in patients with a known history of hypotension or cardiogenic shock due to the increased risk of worsening the patient's condition.
- S Amlodipine should be used with caution in patients with coronary artery disease due to the increased risk of worsening the patient's condition.
- Appropriate dose adjustments or replacement with a suitable alternative may be required based on the clinical condition.
- Consumption of S Amlodipine may cause dizziness. Avoid activities like driving while on this medication.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: S Amlodipine may interact with high blood pressure lowering pills (benazepril, metoprolol, ramipril, hydrochlorothiazide), drugs used to control lipid levels in the blood (atorvastatin, simvastatin), medicines to treat erectile dysfunction (sildenafil), antibiotics (clarithromycin, erythromycin, rifampin), antifungal (itraconazole, ketoconazole), anti-HIV drugs (ritonavir), anti-epilepsy medicines (carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital, primidone), immune-suppressing drugs (cyclosporine, tacrolimus), cardiac glycoside (digoxin), blood thinners (warfarin), and painkillers (ibuprofen, aspirin).
Drug-Food Interactions: Avoid foods with high fat or cholesterol. Avoid too much salt in your diet, like pickles, and extra salt on salad. Avoid S Amlodipine with grapefruit juice.
Drug-Disease Interactions: S Amlodipine should not be given to people with cardiogenic shock (when the heart fails to pump required blood to the body), heart valve problems (stenosis), low blood pressure (hypotension), liver disease, heart failure, or kidney disease.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeYou are recommended not to consume alcohol along with S Amlodipine to avoid unpleasant side effects like lowering of blood pressure (hypotension).
Pregnancy
consult your doctorS Amlodipine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before taking S Amlodipine.
Breast Feeding
consult your doctorS Amlodipine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medicine.
Driving
unsafeDrive with caution, as S Amlodipine can cause drowsiness and impair driving ability.
Liver
cautionS Amlodipine should be used with caution, especially if you have or have had a history of liver disease.
Kidney
safe if prescribedS Amlodipine is generally safe to prescribe in patients with kidney diseases, and dose adjustment is generally not required. However, your doctor will decide the appropriate dosage strength depending on the severity of your condition.
Children
consult your doctorS Amlodipine can be given safely to children aged 6-12 years, provided the dose has been prescribed by a child specialist. S Amlodipine should not be given to the children without consulting a child specialist.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Keep your weight under control with a BMI of 19.5-24.9.
- Do regular physical activity or exercise for at least 150 minutes per week, or about 30 minutes most days of the week. Doing this can help you to lower your raised blood pressure by about 5 mm of Hg.
- Opt for a diet rich in whole grains, fruits, veggies, and low-fat dairy products.
- Limit your daily intake of sodium chloride (table salt) to 2300 mg or less, ideally 1500 mg or less, for most adults.
- If you are taking alcohol, then only one serving for women and two servings for men is advisable.
- Quitting smoking is the best strategy to lower the risk of heart disease.
- Avoid chronic stress, as it can raise your blood pressure. Try to enjoy and spend time with your loved ones to cope with stress and practice mindfulness techniques.
- Monitor your blood pressure daily and if there is too much fluctuation, then immediately contact your doctor.
- Try to include heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acid-containing food drinks in your daily diet. You can also use low-fat cooking oil like olive oil, soybean oil, canola oil, and coconut oil to lower your elevated blood pressure.
Special Advise
- S Amlodipine is generally advised for the treatment of high blood pressure and other heart conditions.
- The S Amlodipine should be taken at the same time every day for its maximum effects to be seen and to increase compliance.
- A sudden drop in blood pressure may be seen while on this medication, which might lead to dizziness. Adjusting your posture at a slower rate may help counteract this.
- Ankle swelling is sometimes seen as a side effect of this drug. Consult your doctor if this or other side effects cause trouble or are persistent.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Hypertension: Hypertension is a chronic condition in which blood pressure is too high. This condition can lead to hardened arteries (blood vessels), decreasing the blood and oxygen flow to the heart. Raised blood pressure can cause chest pain (angina) and a heart attack (when the blood supply to the heart is blocked). Additionally, high blood pressure also causes brain damage (stroke) and kidney failure. Systolic pressure is the pressure with which the heart pumps blood out. On the other hand, diastolic pressure is when your heart is at the resting stage between heartbeats. Ideal blood pressure should be between 90/60 mmHg and 120/80 mmHg.
Angina (chest pain): Angina is a type of chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart. Angina feels like squeezing, pressure, heaviness, tightness, or pain in the chest. It can be sudden or recur over time.
FAQs
S Amlodipine is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) and angina (chest pain).
S Amlodipine contains S-amlodipine, a calcium channel blocker that acts by relaxing the blood vessels. This reduces the heart's workload and makes the heart more efficient at pumping blood throughout the body. Thus, it helps to lower high blood pressure, reducing the chances of heart attack or stroke.
The common side effects of S Amlodipine are fatigue, ankle swelling, sleepiness, flushing (sense of warmth in the face, ears, neck, and trunk), headache, nausea, dizziness, palpitations, and abdominal pain resolves after some time.
No, you are advised to inform your doctor and monitor your blood pressure for at least two weeks before stopping the medicine. Depending upon your current blood pressure readings, there is a possibility your doctor may lower your medicine dosage and will not recommend discontinuing it.
In case you have missed a dose of S Amlodipine, you are advised to take it as soon as you remember. However, try not to miss a dose in the first place, if it is time for you to take your next dose, then do not take both doses together. Take only one dose, taking a double dose of S Amlodipine will lead to low blood pressure.
Yes, S Amlodipine is known to cause ankle swelling upon long-term use. Please try to keep your feet up when sitting for long hours. If the problem persists still, consult your doctor and do as advised.
No, you should notify your doctor and monitor your blood pressure for at least two weeks before quitting the medication. Depending on your current blood pressure readings, your doctor may reduce your drug dosage but will not advocate quitting it.
Eating well, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, quitting smoking, getting enough sleep, and managing stress are all lifestyle changes that can help lower blood pressure.
Uncontrolled hypertension gradually destroys the arteries, causing them to harden. As the arteries constrict and become less flexible, the heart works harder to circulate blood. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can cause a stroke, heart attack, heart failure, and other heart problems, damage to the kidneys, memory, and eyesight, and contribute to erectile dysfunction.
S Amlodipine begins to act on the day you take it, but it may take a few weeks before it has full effect.
S Amlodipine may cause itching, although it is not common in everyone. It usually fades with time; however, contact your doctor if you experience severe itching.
S Amlodipine is generally safe to prescribe in patients with mild kidney dysfunctions, and dose adjustment is generally not required. However, your doctor will decide the appropriate dosage strength depending on the severity of your condition.
You can take it at any time of day but try to make sure it's around the same time every day.
Usually, treatment with S Amlodipine is long term, even for the rest of your life. Talk to your doctor if you want to stop taking S Amlodipine.
No, S Amlodipine is not a beta-blocker. It belongs to a class of medicines known as calcium channel blockers.
More frequent or more severe chest pain, rapid, pounding, or irregular heartbeat and fainting. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical treatment.
S Amlodipine does not interfere with contraception. However, some hormonal methods of contraception, such as the combination pill and contraceptive patch, are generally not indicated if you have high blood pressure.
Consuming significant amounts of grapefruit or grapefruit juice can raise the levels of amlodipine in your blood and exacerbate adverse effects. If you are affected, you may need to avoid eating or drinking grapefruit while taking amlodipine. Also, avoid alcohol consumption, quit smoking, and limit salt intake (Aim for no more than 6g of salt a day).
If oedema occurs while taking amlodipine, stop using it and consult your healthcare provider right away.
Drinking alcohol can make amlodipine lower your blood pressure more than you need. This can make you sleepy or dizzy or bring on a headache.
S Amlodipine can make some people feel dizzy. If this happens to you, do not drive a car, ride a bike, or use tools or machinery until you feel better.
S Amlodipine contains S-amlodipine, a calcium channel blocker.
S Amlodipine is generally safe to take for a long time. In fact, it works best when you take it for a long time.
S Amlodipine can be given safely to children aged 6-12 years, provided a child specialist has prescribed the dose. S Amlodipine should only be given to the children by consulting a child specialist.
S Amlodipine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before taking S Amlodipine.
Avoid exceeding the recommended dose, as it could lead to an overdose. Symptoms of overdose may include excessive peripheral vasodilation with marked low blood pressure and reflex tachycardia. If you experience these symptoms or suspect you have taken an overdose, seek immediate medical attention.
