What Is Amlodipine?

Precautions To Remember

Before prescribing amlodipine, the physician will need to know if the patient currently has or has ever had liver disease or any other type of liver issue. The liver is responsible for processing this medication, and it could remain in the body for an extended period in patients with pre-existing liver conditions. Since this could lead to more side effects for the patient, doctors generally prescribe much lower doses of amlodipine for patients with liver concerns. Doctors will also need to know if the patient has congestive heart failure or a heart valve issue called aortic stenosis. These patients may not be able to take amlodipine safely, and an alternative drug might be prescribed instead.

Patients should always let their doctors know if they are pregnant or breastfeeding. Currently, it is not known whether amlodipine is harmful to an unborn baby. Patients who have high blood pressure during pregnancy may still be prescribed amlodipine to reduce the risk of gestational diabetes or eclampsia, both of which could cause potentially serious complications with the pregnancy. Amlodipine is capable of passing into breastmilk, but its potential effects on the baby are unknown. All patients taking amlodipine should avoid alcohol consumption during their treatment, as alcohol increases the side effects and could reduce blood pressure to levels that are too low. To reduce the risk of dizziness, fainting, and falls while on this medication, patients need to get up slowly from sitting or lying positions. Missed doses can be taken as soon as the patient remembers, but if the dose is more than twelve hours late, it should be skipped.

Read about the potential medication interactions next.