Norvasc (Amlodipine)

Description

Amlodipine, also known as Norvasc, is a medication used to treat high blood pressure and thereby prevent heart attacks and strokes. This calcium channel blocker is used to treat a number of other diseases as well.

 

How it works

 

The medication increases the width of the blood cells by relaxing them. This enables the cells to facilitate a more fluid flow of blood, which increases the overall efficiency of the blood circulation system. This way, blood is able to flow easily to all organs of the body.

 

 

 

Its uses

 

Norvasc is used to treat a number of illnesses apart from hypertension. These include:

 

 Chest pain (angina)
 Conditions caused as a result of coronary artery disease
 Kidney problems

 

It is important to note that Norvasc is only used to prevent heart attacks and strokes. Therefore, it must not be used after one.

 

Dosage

 

This medication is usually taken in drug form, once a day, with or without food. The dosage might differ according to your personal health condition and response to the treatment. Your physician might gradually increase the dosage to increase its effectives. Do not attempt to do the same on your own without consulting your physician. In order to experience the benefits of the medication, you must take your dose regularly. It is best to take it daily during the same time since it will prevent you from forgetting your daily dose.

 

Side effects

 

Consuming the medication on the long term will make you susceptible to experience the following side effects.

 

 Swelling of hands and feet
 Pounding heartbeat
 Nausea
 Chest pain
 Drowsiness
 Sweating

 

Contact your healthcare provider if you experience any of the above since they need to be reversed before they can deteriorate into a worse condition.

 

Precautions

 

 Listed below are some precautionary methods that will help you to reduce the risk of these side effects.

 

 Do not consume alcohol – It can reduce blood pressure to a further extent.

 

 Avoid engaging in any activity that requires focus and concentration since the medication can make you drowsy.

 

 Do not stop consuming the medication abruptly without consulting your healthcare provider

 

 Monitor your blood pressure to ensure that the medication is making a positive impact on your condition.

 

 Check whether you are allergic to any of the ingredients used to create the medication.

 

 Avoid using Norvasc or stop it temporarily during the periods of pregnancy and breastfeeding since it can affect the infant.

 

 Do not offer the medication to anyone below the age of six.

 

 Inform your healthcare provider if you have a congestive heart failure or a liver disease.

 

Self-care

 

If you are using this medication to treat high blood pressure, do understand that Norvasc is only a part of the treatment program. The entire process consists of a healthy diet, weight control, exercise and other medications as well. Therefore, you need to be able to handle all these factors well in order to increase your overall condition.

 

This medication can negatively affect certain other types of medication. For instance, beta-blockers such as Toprol and Betapace can reduce the effectiveness of the medication. This does not mean that you cannot use a combination of medication. Rather, make sure to have a gap between each dose to ensure that they do not chemically react to each other.