Tag Archives: Amlodipine

Factors Of Heart Disease

What Are The Risk Factors Of Heart Disease?

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There are several risk factors for heart disease and each one has its symptoms and treatment. Heart disease describes a range of conditions that affect your heart including a disease of the heart muscle and blood vessel diseases such as coronary artery disease.  Heart disease may also include heart rhythm and congenital heart defects. Several forms of heart disease can be prevented and treated with healthy lifestyle choices. 

Chest pain

Symptoms of Heart Disease

  • Chest tightness or discomfort 
  • Pain in the throat, neck, or jaw
  • Dizziness
  • Lightheadedness
  • Racing heartbeat 
  • Fluttering in your chest 
  • Easily tiring during exercise or activity 
  • Shortness of breath 
  • Changes in your heart rhythm 
  • Fainting 

Heart disease is easier to treat when detected early, so talk to your health care provider about your concerns regarding your heart health. This is especially important if you have a family history of heart disease.

Risk Factors of Heart Disease

  • Age: As you age, you increase your risk of damaged and narrowed arteries and a weakened or thickened heart muscle.
  • Stress: Unrelieved stress may damage your arteries and worsen other risk factors for heart disease.
  • Sex: Men are mostly at greater risk of heart disease. Women are at risk after menopause.
  • Family history: A family history of this disease increases your risk of coronary artery disease, especially if a parent developed it before age 55 for a male relative and 65 for a female relative.
  • Smoking: Nicotine tightens your blood vessels, and carbon monoxide can damage their inner lining which makes them more susceptible to atherosclerosis.
  • Poor diet: A diet that’s high in fat, cholesterol, salt, and sugar can contribute to the development of heart disease.
  • Obesity: Excess weight typically worsens other heart disease risk factors.
  • High blood pressure: Uncontrolled high blood pressure can result in hardening and thickening of your arteries which narrows the vessels through which blood flows.
  • Diabetes: Diabetes increases your risk of heart disease. Both conditions share similar risk factors, such as obesity and high blood pressure.
  • High blood cholesterol levels: High levels of cholesterol in your blood can increase the risk of plaque formation and atherosclerosis.
  • Physical inactivity: Lack of exercise also is linked with several forms of heart disease and some of its other risk factors as well.

Treatment for Heart Disease

The type of treatment you receive depends on the type of heart disease you have. In general, treatment for heart disease usually includes:

  • Lifestyle changes such as eating a low-fat and low-sodium diet, getting at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise on most days of the week, limiting alcohol intake, and quitting smoking
  • Medications that may be prescribed by your doctor to control heart disease. 
  • Medical surgery or procedures if medications are not enough. 

Medications that can be taken for heart disease may include:

Chest Tightness

Chest Tightness

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Chest Tightness may appear in several forms that range from a sharp stab to a dull ache. Sometimes, it feels crushing or burning. In most cases, the pain travels up the neck, into the jaw, and then spreads to the back or arms. 

Several factors can cause chest pain. The most life-threatening causes involve the heart or lungs because chest pain can indicate a serious problem, it is important to seek help right away. 

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Symptoms of Chest Tightness

Although chest pain is often associated with heart disease, there are several patients with the disease who say that they have a vague discomfort that isn’t necessarily identified as pain. In general, chest discomfort related to a heart attack or another heart problem may be described by or associated with one or more of the following:

  • Cold sweats
  • Dizziness or weakness
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Shortness of breath
  • Pain that lasts more than a few minutes, gets worse with activity, or goes away and comes back
  • The crushing or searing pain that spreads to your back, neck, jaw, shoulders, and one or both arms
  • Pressure, fullness, burning, or tightness in your chest

Causes of Chest Tightness

Chest pain has many possible causes, all of which need medical attention.

1. Heart-related causes

  • Heart attack
  • Angina
  • Aortic dissection
  • Inflammation of the sac around the heart (pericarditis)
Chest pain

2. Digestive causes

Chest pain can be caused by disorders of the digestive system, including:

3. Muscle and bone causes

Some types of chest pain are along with injuries and other problems affecting the structures that make up the chest wall, including:

4. Lung-related causes

Many lung disorders can cause chest pain, including:

  • Pulmonary embolism
  • Inflammation of the membrane covering the lungs (pleurisy)
  • Collapsed lung
  • Pulmonary hypertension

Chest pain can also be caused by:

  • Panic attack
  • Shingles
  • Diagnosis of Chest Tightness

Chest pain is not always a signal of a heart attack, but that’s what doctors in the emergency room usually test for first. It is because it can be potentially the most immediate threat to life. 

Some of the first tests your doctor may order when evaluating chest pain include:

  • CT Scan
  • Chest X-ray
  • Blood tests 
  • ECG or EKG

Depending on the results from the initial tests for chest pain, you may need follow-up testing, which may include:

  • Echocardiogram
  • Stress tests
  • Coronary catheterization (angiogram)

Treatment and Medications for Chest Tightness

Based on your specific situation, your doctor will be able to explain the recommended treatment options and the outlook for your condition. A variety of treatment options are available, from simple lifestyle changes to medication or a detailed treatment plan. 

Drugs used for the treatment of some of the most common causes of chest pain may include:

High Blood Pressure

Treatment for High Blood Pressure

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High Blood Pressure is a major health problem that is common in older adults. Your body’s network of blood vessels changes with age. High blood pressure is sometimes called the silent killer which often does not cause any signs of illness that you can see or feel. Even though it affects nearly half of all adults, lots of people may not even be aware that they have it. 

If high blood pressure isn’t controlled with lifestyle changes and medication, it can lead to serious health problems including:

  • Cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease and stroke
  • Vascular dementia
  • Eye problems
  • Kidney disease

The good news is that blood pressure can be controlled in most people.

High Blood Pressure

Causes of High Blood Pressure

There are two types of high blood pressure:

  • Primary hypertension: For most adults, there is no recognizable cause of high blood pressure. This type of high blood pressure tends to develop gradually over many years.
  • Secondary hypertension: This type of high blood pressure tends to appear suddenly and causes higher blood pressure than does primary hypertension. 

Risk Factors of High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure has various risk factors:

  • Family history
  • Not being physically active
  • Being overweight or obese
  • Using tobacco
  • Too little potassium or too much salt in your diet 
  • Stress 
  • Drinking too much alcohol 
  • Certain chronic conditions 

Symptoms of High Blood Pressure

Most people with high blood pressure have no symptoms, even if blood pressure readings reach dangerously high levels.

A few people with this condition may have shortness of breath, headaches, or nosebleeds, but these signs and symptoms are not specific and usually don’t occur until high blood pressure has reached a severe or life-threatening stage. 

Diagnosis for High Blood Pressure

Your physician will ask questions about your medical history and do a physical analysis. The doctor or other medical assistant will place an inflatable arm cuff around your arm and measure your blood pressure using a pressure-measuring gauge. Your blood pressure usually must be measured in both arms to define if there is a difference. It is important to use an appropriate-sized arm cuff.  

Blood pressure normally varies during the day and might increase during a doctor’s. Your doctor will likely take several blood pressure readings at three or more separate appointments before diagnosing you with high blood pressure. 

Treatment and Medications for High Blood Pressure

losing weight

Changing your lifestyle can help control and manage high blood pressure. Your doctor may recommend that you make lifestyle changes including:

  • Limiting the amount of alcohol you drink
  • Getting regular physical activity
  • Eating a heart-healthy diet with less salt
  • Maintaining a healthy weight or losing weight if you’re overweight or obese

However, sometimes lifestyle changes are not enough. If diet and exercise don’t help, your doctor may recommend medication to lower your blood pressure. 

Medications used to treat high blood pressure include:

1. Calcium channel blockers

2. Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs)

3. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors

4. Diuretics

Buy Amlodipine

Amlodipine

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Amlodipine is an oral calcium channel blocker that is primarily used in lowering the blood pressure. It is also used in treating chest pain or angina including variant angina or Prinzmetals, and other conditions caused by coronary artery diseases.

High blood pressure is a common condition but when left untreated, it can cause damages to the brain, heart, blood vessels and kidney. Lowering the blood pressure can help prevent heart attack, stroke, kidney problems, loss of vision and other health problems.

As a calcium-channel blocker, Amlodipine works by relaxing and widening the blood vessels. It acts directly on the muscle cells found in the walls of the arteries which cause the muscles to relax and get wider. By widening and relaxing the blood vessels, amlodipine reduces the workload of the heart in pumping blood throughout the body thus preventing also angina attacks or chest pain. When your heart doesn’t get enough oxygen this causes an angina attack or chest pain. It controls chest pain by increasing the blood supply to the heart. Amlodipine helps improves the flow of blood supply to the heart muscle causing the heart muscle to pump blood effortlessly thus reducing the blood pressure.

In addition to taking medications, lifestyle changes help also help control your blood pressure and chest pain. These changes include eating a healthy diet, exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, drinking moderately and not smoking.

How to Take Amlodipine?

The typical dose of amlodipine is 5 mg a day. Your doctor may increase your dose to 10mg a day if your chest pain and blood pressure aren’t controlled well enough. You can take your dose at any time of the day. You can take it either with or without food, on an empty or full stomach.

To help you remember, take it at the same time each day. You may need to take your medication on a long-term basis in order to help manage your blood pressure and to prevent an angina attack. For a missed dose, take it as soon as you remember. Do not take two doses to make up for the missed one.

What are the side effects of Amlodipine?

Medicine can affect people in many ways. The following are common side effects of amlodipine:

  • Headache
  • Flushing
  • Shortness of breath
  • Feeling tired or dizzy
  • Feeling sick
  • Abdominal pain
  • Palpitations
  • Indigestions
  • Diarrhea
  • Fluid retention that causes swelling of ankle or edema

Uncommon side effects are:

  • Vomiting
  • Dry mouth
  • Hair loss
  • Tremor
  • Ringing sensations in the ears
  • Low blood pressure
  • Cough
  • Abnormal heartbeat
  • Enlargement of the breast in men
  • Muscle and joint pain
  • Enlargement of the gums
  • Nasal inflammations causing running nose
  • Feeling unwell or weak
  • Mood changes

Very rare and serious side effects are:

  • Chest pain
  • Severe stomach pain
  • Swelling of face, lips, tongue, throat
  • Unusual bruising or bleeding
  • Signs of liver problems such as yellowing of the skin and eyes

Health’s Safety

Amlodipine is not suitable for:

  • Patients who are suffering from an on-going angina attack.
  • Patients with unstable angina or angina that are getting worse or angina lasting longer.
  • Patients who are allergic to any of the ingredients of the medicines.
  • Patients with cardiogenic shock or failure of the heart to maintain adequate circulation of blood.
  • Patients with aortic stenosis or narrowing of the main artery in the heart through which blood is pumped to the rest of the body.

Lower doses are required for those with:

  • Liver problems
  • Elderly people
  • Patients with heart failure
  • Children

Amlodipine is not a cure for hypertension and angina. It only works in preventing chest pain but it does not stop chest pain once it starts. Your doctor may prescribe you other medications when you have on-going chest pain. Do not stop taking amlodipine even if you feel well. If you stop taking your medication your blood pressure will likely rise and your chest pain attack may get worse or may happen more often.

As a blood pressure lower medication, Amlodipine can make you feel dizzy, tired and sleepy. It’s best to avoid drinking alcoholic beverages if you are affected in this way as alcohol can worsen your condition. Avoid doing potential activities like driving or operating machinery. Avoid drinking grapefruit juices as this can potentially increase the amount of amlodipine in your body and so increase the risk of getting side effects.

If you feel flushed or get a headache during the first few days of using amlodipine, do not worry as this will just go away after a few days. If your condition becomes troublesome, let your doctor know. If you feel dizzy, let it pass by lying down until the symptoms pass. If you develop chest pain after taking your dose, do not take a further dose and contact your doctor. If you experience swelling of the limbs, then this medication is not good for you. Your doctor may recommend alternative anti-hypertensive medication that works best for you.

The safety of this medication for use during pregnancy has not been well established. Your doctor will determine whether this medication is essential for controlling your condition or not.  Your doctor will discuss to you the potential risk and benefits you’ll get from taking amlodipine. Before taking this drug, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or planning to become pregnant.

Why Buy Amlodipine?

Amlodipine is an effective anti-hypertensive medication suitable for most adults and children 6 years and older. It was approved for medical use since 1990 by the World Health Organization. It’s one of the safest and most effective medicines needed in the health system.

Amlodipine is the first-choice medication for high blood pressure. It is particularly effective in lowering systolic blood pressure making it a good medication for older patients who often get high systolic blood pressure.  It may be used if other medications are not enough for treating hypertension or heart-related problems. It lasts longer than other calcium blockers which keep the blood pressure consistent without ups and down.

Prescribed by Most Doctors To Treat High Blood Pressure or Hypertension

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Amlodipine – Valsartan is a prescription medication. It’s a single pill combination of a calcium channel blocker (CCB) and an angiotensin receptor blocker. It is prescribed by most doctors for the treatment of high blood pressure or hypertension. High blood pressure adds up to the workload of the heart and arteries. If it continues for a long time, the arteries and the heart won’t function properly. This can cause damages to the heart, blood vessels, brain, kidney and other parts of the body.

Amlodipine is a CCB or a calcium channel blocker. It works by relaxing the muscles in the blood vessels and the heart. Valsartan is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist. It works by blocking the action of the angiotensin II. Angiotensin II is a natural chemical in the body responsible for the tightening and the narrowing of the blood vessels in the body. Blocking the angiotensin II relaxes the blood vessels thus lowering the blood pressure and increasing the supply of oxygen to the heart.

How to use Amlodipine-Valsartan?

Amlodipine – Valsartan comes in an oral tablet that you need to take by mouth. The dose of this medication is based on the following:

  • Your condition
  • Severity of your condition
  • Your age
  • Your reaction to the initial dose

The usual initial dose for an adult is 5 mg amlodipine/160 mg valsartan per day. Your doctor may increase your dose if the blood pressure is not controlled after a week of medication. The maximum dose is 10 mg amlodipine/320 mg valsartan per day. For senior age 65 years and above, their dose is lower compared with an adult dose. The use

Take this medication exactly as prescribed. Take it with a glass of water with or without food. For a missed dose, take it as soon as you remember. Your blood pressure may increase and cause side effects if you stop taking this medication all of a sudden.

What are the side effects of Amlodipine – Valsartan?

Some of the common side effects are:

  • Sore throat
  • Dizziness
  • Swelling of the ankles, hand and feet
  • Chest cold
  • Nasal congestions

Serious side effects are:

  • Kidney problems with signs like unexplained weight gain
  • Heart attack with symptoms such as a rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, chest pain and discomfort in the upper part of the body
  • Low blood pressure with symptoms like chest pain and dizziness

Important Information

  • Amlodipine-Valsartan may increase your potassium level. Consult your doctor first before consuming any potassium supplements.
  • This drug can cause low blood pressure if you take diuretics or on a low-salt diet or you’re getting a dialysis treatment.
  • Do not take Amlodipine-Valsartan if you are pregnant.
  • Do not take this drug if you are allergic to any of its active ingredient.
  • Limit your alcohol intake while using this medication.
Buy Amlodipine

Medication To Treat Coronary Artery Disease and Angina Pectoris

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Amlodipine is a long-acting calcium channel blockers. It is indicated for the treatment of hypertension or high blood pressure. It is also prescribed by doctors to treat conditions like:

  • Coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients without heart failure
  • Angina pectoris (chest pain) due to Coronary artery disease
  • Chronic stable angina due to activity and stress
  • Prinzmetal’s angina that occurs at rest

Lowering the blood pressure helps reduces the risk of patients from cardiovascular-related events such as heart attack and stroke. It also lowers the patient’s risk from having kidney problems, loss of vision and other problems.

Amlodipine belongs to the class of drug known as calcium channel blocker. This drug works by blocking the calcium from entering into the muscle along the walls of the blood vessels and into the heart muscle. Blocking the calcium widens the blood vessels thus improving the flow of blood and reducing the blood pressure. It relaxes the blood vessel so the heart won’t have to pump blood that hard.

How to use Amlodipine?

Amlodipine comes in a tablet of 2.5mg, 5mg and 10mg. Take this medication once a day. You can take it with or without food. The typical dose for an adult is 5mg a day with a maximum dose of 10mg a day. For adults who are fragile, small or have liver problems, they may start with 2.5mg a day. For children who are 6 to 17 years of age, their dose is 2.5 mg to 5 mg once a day. This medication may only control chest pain and blood pressure but it will not cure the underlying condition. Take this medication even if you feel well.

What are the side effects of amlodipine?

Some of the side effects of amlodipine are:

  • Headache
  • Flushing
  • Drowsiness
  • Stomach pain
  • Upset stomach
  • Excessive tiredness
  • Swelling of feet, hands, ankle and lower leg

Serious side effects are:

  • Fainting
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Severe chest pain

If you will experience side effects not mentioned above, seek medication attention right away.

Important Information

  • Take amlodipine exactly as directed. Do not skip a dose nor double up a dose for a missed one.
  • Do not take the medicine if you are allergic to its active ingredient and if you have very low blood pressure.
  • People with severe obstructive coronary artery disease may experience worsening of chest pain and heart attack at the initial phase of the treatment.

Amlodipine can cause low blood pressure in people with heart valve problems known as aortic stenosis.

Treating Conditions Caused By Coronary Artery Disease

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High blood pressure is a common condition. But if it is left untreated can cause damage to Heart, Brain, blood vessels & kidney. Amlodipine is a drug used to treat high blood pressure i.e., hypertension. It is also useful in the treatment of chest pain (angina) and other condition caused by coronary artery disease. It belongs to the category of calcium channel blockers.

How does Amlodipine works?

Amlodipine belongs to the class of drugs known as calcium channel blockers. It lowers the high blood pressure. This prevents further danger of strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems. The above drug helps to lower the high blood pressure, by the following mechanism.

  1. The calcium channel blockers blocks the entry of calcium in the Vascular smooth muscle and heart muscle.
  2. Thus they reduce the electrical conduction within the heart.
  3. Decrease the force of work (contraction) of the muscle cells.
  4. Dilate the arteries of the heart.
  5. Dilation of the arteries reduce the blood pressure.
  6. All this changes reduces the effort of the heart to pump blood.

What are uses of Amlodipine?

Amlodipine is specifically used to lower the high blood pressure in the patient. But it also has many other uses as discussed below.

  1. It relaxes (widens) blood vessels.
  2. Improves blood flow.
  • Treats high blood pressure.
  1. Useful in treatment of chest pain (angina)
  2. Treats other conditions caused by coronary artery disease.
  3. Reduce the effort of heart to pump hard.
  • Help to increase your ability to exercise.

How to take Amlodipine?

It comes in the forms of tablets of strength 5mg and 10mg. The dose depends upon the following conditions.

  • Your age
  • The condition being treated.
  • How you react to the first dose.
  • Other medical conditions you have and
  • How severe is your condition.

What is the precaution in taking Amlodipine?

  • Do not take Amlodipine if you are allergic to it or any ingredients in the drug.
  • Check the progress with the use of the drug.
  • You should take extra care when exercising or when the weather is hot. Due to loss of water the blood pressure may decrease.
  • Don’t suddenly stop the use of medicine. Reduce it as per doctors’ advice.
  • Discusses with your dentist in case of tenderness, swelling or bleeding of your gums.
  • Inform your doctor about any other medicine you are taking. This will avoid risk of side effects.
  • This drug may make you feel dizzy. So avoid driving, use of machinery and other activity that require alertness until you feel fresh.
  • Discuss about the risk and benefits of the drug in pregnancy & breast feeding.

Cost of Amlodipine {Generic & Brand}

They both contain same basic active ingredients. So the mechanism of action & drug interactions remains same for both. The only difference is the price, packaging and Brand name of the company. This increases the cost of the Brand product. Generic medicines do not spent on research and other marketing aids. This amount is given as a profit to our buyers.

Here is the difference between the cost of the generic and the brand version.

Cost of Generic Amlodipine,

*5 mg tablet is $ 0.35 per unit .Pack of 60 costs $ 21.

*10 mg tablet is $0.42 per unit. Pack of 60 costs $ 25.

Cost of brand Norvasc,

*5 mg tablet is $ 6.35 per unit .Pack of 60 costs $ 381.51.

*10 mg tablet is $ 8.70 per unit. Pack of 60 costs $ 522.35.