Treating Conditions Caused By Coronary Artery Disease

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.