Amlodipine+valsartan
About Amlodipine+valsartan
Amlodipine+valsartan is an oral prescription medicine used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) in adults. It combines two medicines that work together to relax and widen blood vessels, allowing blood to flow more easily and effectively lowering blood pressure. Keeping your blood pressure under control also helps reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular complications, such as heart attack, stroke, and other heart- and blood vessel-related problems.
Amlodipine+valsartan is typically taken once daily, and you must take it consistently at the same time each day to maintain stable blood pressure. You can take this tablet with or without food. Combining this treatment with a low-salt diet and regular physical exercise will help you achieve the best results.
Some people taking this medicine may experience mild side effects like ankle swelling, dizziness, or headaches. However, if you develop serious symptoms such as severe dizziness, fainting, or swelling of the face, lips, or tongue, seek medical help immediately.
Talk to your doctor before using Amlodipine+valsartan if you have liver damage, kidney disease, or severe heart conditions. Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant, as it can cause severe injury or death to an unborn baby.
Amlodipine+valsartan can interact with potassium supplements, certain pain relievers, and alcohol, which may cause your blood pressure to drop too low or harm your kidneys. Breastfeeding or elderly individuals should consult their doctor or pharmacist before starting this treatment to ensure safety.
Uses of Amlodipine+valsartan
Medicinal Benefits
Amlodipine+valsartan helps control blood pressure and supports long-term cardiovascular health. Its benefits include:
- Helps provide effective, long-lasting control of high blood pressure throughout the day.
- Combines two blood pressure-lowering medicines in a single tablet, making treatment simpler and improving convenience.
- Helps reduce the risk of complications associated with uncontrolled hypertension, including heart attack, stroke, and kidney damage.
- Protects vital organs such as the heart, brain, and kidneys from the harmful effects of persistently high blood pressure.
- Supports overall cardiovascular health, helping you maintain an active lifestyle and improve your long-term well-being when taken regularly as prescribed.
Directions for Use
- Take Amlodipine+valsartan with or without food or as advised by a doctor.
- Recommended to take once daily or as advised by your doctor.
- Swallow the medicine as a whole with a glass of water.
- Do not crush, break, or chew it.
Storage
Side Effects of Amlodipine+valsartan
Common Side Effects (Usually mild):
- Swelling in the ankles, feet, or lower legs (fluid retention)
- Dizziness or feeling lightheaded when standing up
- Headaches
- Feeling unusually tired or weak
Serious Side Effects (Call a doctor right away):
- Signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, or trouble breathing
- Chest pain or a rapid, pounding, or irregular heartbeat
- Severe dizziness, confusion, or fainting
- Muscle weakness, numbness, or tingling, which can be signs of high potassium levels
- A sudden change in how much or how often you urinate, indicating potential kidney problems
Medicines Containing this Salt
View AllDrug Warnings
- Stand Up Slowly: Always rise slowly from a sitting or lying position to prevent dizziness and reduce the risk of falling.
- Keep a Blood Pressure Log: Monitor your blood pressure at home regularly and write down your readings to show your doctor.
- Get Regular Blood Tests: Attend all scheduled doctor appointments for routine blood tests to check your kidney function and blood potassium levels.
- Stop Immediately if Pregnant: If you plan to become pregnant or find out you are pregnant, stop taking Amlodipine+valsartan immediately and contact your doctor.
- Check OTC Pain Relievers: Avoid taking over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or naproxen without consulting your pharmacist, as they can reduce the effectiveness of Amlodipine+valsartan and harm your kidneys.
Drug Interactions
- Potassium-Sparing Diuretics or Potassium Supplements: May cause dangerously high levels of potassium in your blood, affecting your heart rhythm.
- Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs): Medicines like ibuprofen or naproxen can decrease the blood-pressure-lowering effect of Amlodipine+valsartan and increase the risk of severe kidney damage.
- Other Blood Pressure Medicines: Combining this with other blood pressure drugs, especially ACE inhibitors or aliskiren, may increase your risk of low blood pressure and kidney issues.
- Lithium: Amlodipine+valsartan may increase lithium levels in your blood, raising the risk of lithium toxicity.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionDo not consume alcohol along with Amlodipine+valsartan to avoid unpleasant side effects.
Pregnancy
unsafeAmlodipine+valsartan is not recommended in pregnancy. This is because Valsartan can reduce the amount of amniotic fluid, especially if taken in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.
Breast Feeding
unsafeAmlodipine+valsartan is not recommended for breastfeeding mothers.
Driving
cautionDriving after taking Amlodipine+valsartan is not recommended as it may occasionally cause tiredness or dizziness.
Liver
cautionAmlodipine+valsartan to be taken with caution, especially if you have a liver disease. Your doctor will prescribe only if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Kidney
consult your doctorInform your doctor before taking the Amlodipine+valsartan if you have a history of kidney disease. Your doctor will prescribe only if the benefits outweigh the risks. In case of moderate kidney impairment, potassium level monitoring is advisable.
Children
unsafeUse of Amlodipine+valsartan in children under 12 years of age is not recommended as the safety and efficacy of Amlodipine+valsartan in these age groups have not yet been established.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Limit Sodium Intake: Avoid adding extra salt to your food and limit processed foods. Lowering sodium directly helps Amlodipine+valsartan work more effectively in managing your blood pressure.
- Avoid High-Potassium Salt Substitutes: Since Amlodipine+valsartan can raise potassium levels in your blood, do not use salt substitutes containing potassium without consulting your doctor.
- Stay Active Safely: Engage in moderate aerobic exercise, like walking or cycling, for 30 minutes on most days of the week, as recommended by your physician.
- Watch Your Fluid Intake: Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, but avoid drinking large quantities of grapefruit juice, which can interact with the medicine.
- Limit Alcohol: Restrict your alcohol intake, as combining alcohol with this medicine can make you excessively dizzy or cause your blood pressure to drop too low.
Special Advise
It is important to use contraception if you're taking valsartan and carefully plan any pregnancy with your doctor or specialist. They will review your medical condition and medicine before you get pregnant.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Blood pressure: It is the measurement of the force that our heart uses to pump blood to all parts of the body. Hypertension is a chronic condition when 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 heart attack (when the blood supply to the heart is blocked). High blood pressure also causes brain damage (stroke) and kidney failure. High blood pressure can be diagnosed with the help of a blood pressure monitor. Systolic pressure is the pressure with which the heart pumps blood. On the other hand, diastolic pressure is when your heart is resting between heartbeats. If your blood pressure is 140/90 mm of Hg, the systolic pressure is 140 mm of Hg, and diastolic pressure is 90 mm of Hg. Ideal blood pressure should be between 90/60 mm of Hg and 120/80 mm of Hg.
FAQs
Amlodipine+valsartan is used to treat Hypertension (high blood pressure).
Amlodipine+valsartan contains Amlodipine (calcium channel blocker) and Valsartan (angiotensin receptor blocker). Together, amlodipine and valsartan effectively relax and widen your blood vessels. This lowers your blood pressure and makes it easier for your heart to pump blood around your body.
You are not recommended to stop using Amlodipine+valsartan without consulting your doctor as it may worsen the condition or cause recurring symptoms. Therefore, take Amlodipine+valsartan for as long as your doctor has prescribed it, and if you experience any difficulty while taking Amlodipine+valsartan, please consult your doctor.
If you have missed a dose of Amlodipine+valsartan, you are advised to take it as soon as you remember. However, try not to miss a dose in the first place; if it's time for you to take your next dose, then do not take both doses together. Take only one dose; taking a double dose of Amlodipine+valsartan will lead to low blood pressure.
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 not recommend discontinuing it.
Amlodipine+valsartan is restricted in people with known allergies to any of this medicine's components. It should be used with caution in people with liver impairment. It should also be avoided in women's second and third trimesters of their pregnancy.
Amlodipine+valsartan can be safely taken as long as your doctor prescribes it. High blood pressure is life-long, and one should not abruptly discontinue it without discussing it with a doctor.
Yes, Amlodipine+valsartan contains amlodipine, which 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.
Before taking Amlodipine+valsartan, inform your doctor about all your medical conditions and medications you are using. Let the doctor know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Discuss with the doctor if you have low blood pressure, heart, kidney or liver problems.
Amlodipine+valsartan can be taken on an empty stomach or with food. Swallow it as a whole with water.
Take Amlodipine+valsartan as advised by the doctor. To help you remember to take Amlodipine+valsartan, take it at around the same time daily.
Amlodipine+valsartan may cause kidney damage in some cases. Consult the doctor if you notice signs of kidney damage such as swelling in feet, legs or ankles, unusual tiredness or weakness, chest pain, difficulty breathing, nausea, seizures, confusion, and reduced need to pee. Let the doctor know if you have kidney problems, have had a kidney transplant, have narrowing of kidney arteries, or have diabetes-related kidney problems.
Amlodipine+valsartan should not be given to people who are allergic to any of its components. It is also recommended if you have severe liver problems, bile problems such as biliary cirrhosis or cholestasis, severe low blood pressure, aortic stenosis (narrowing of the aortic valve), or cardiogenic shock (a condition in which the heart is unable to supply enough blood to the body).
Amlodipine+valsartan is not known to cause weight gain. If you notice any changes in weight, consult the doctor.
Amlodipine+valsartan should be taken for as long as it has been prescribed by the doctor. The doctor will determine the duration of the treatment based on your condition.
Amlodipine+valsartan should not be taken during pregnancy as it may harm the unborn baby. It is not recommended during breastfeeding as the medicine may pass into breast milk. Avoid consuming grapefruit and grapefruit juice while on treatment with Amlodipine+valsartan.
Amlodipine+valsartan may cause side effects like nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, headaches, flushing, feeling tired, feeling dizzy, pain in your joints or muscles, and swollen ankles. Most of these side effects of Amlodipine+valsartan do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects are persistent, reach out to your doctor. It is advisable to drink plenty of fluids while taking Amlodipine+valsartan.
It is best to avoid or limit alcohol while taking Amlodipine+valsartan. Alcohol can cause your blood pressure to drop too low, which can make you feel dizzy, lightheaded, or faint. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about safe alcohol limits.
No, you should not take Amlodipine+valsartan during pregnancy. This medicine can cause serious harm or death to an unborn baby, especially if taken during the second and third trimesters. If you suspect you are pregnant, stop taking the medicine immediately and talk to your doctor.
You can take Amlodipine+valsartan either in the morning or at night, as long as you take it at the same time every day. Taking it at the same time helps keep your blood pressure stable. Talk to your doctor to determine the best schedule for you.
You should avoid salt substitutes that contain potassium while taking Amlodipine+valsartan. This medication can naturally raise potassium levels in your blood, and adding extra potassium through diet can lead to dangerous levels. Talk to your doctor for safe dietary advice.
Dizziness can happen, especially when you first start taking Amlodipine+valsartan or when your dose is increased. If you feel dizzy, sit or lie down until the feeling passes, and remember to stand up slowly. If the dizziness persists or causes fainting, talk to your doctor.
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