Amlodipine Hexpharm - Benefits, dosage and side effects

Amlodipine Hexpharm is useful for lowering blood pressure in hypertension. It is also used in the treatment of heart disease, including stable angina-type chest pain. Amlodipine Hexapharm can be used alone or in combination with other antihypertensive drugs.

Amlodipine Hexpharm contains the active ingredient amlodipine besilate. This drug belongs to the class of drugs calcium channel blockers (CCBs) or calcium antagonists that work by blocking calcium from entering heart cells and relaxing blood vessels. That way, blood vessels will widen, blood flow smoothly, and the workload of the heart is reduced.

Types and Ingredients of Amlodipine Hexpharm

There are two variants of the Amlodipine Hexpharm product available in Indonesia, namely:

Amlodipine Hexpharm 5 mg
Each 1 tablet contains 5 mg of amlodipine besilate. In 1 box contains 10 strips, 1 strip contains 10 tablets.
Amlodipine Hexpharm 10 Mg
Each 1 tablet contains 10 mg of amlodipine besilate. In 1 box contains 10 strips, 1 strip contains 10 tablets.

What is Amlodipine Hexpharm

group	Prescription drugs
Category	Calcium antagonist antihypertensive drugs
Benefit	Lowering blood pressure in hypertension
Used by	Adults and children 6 years old
Amlodipine Hexpharm for pregnant and lactating women	Category C: Animal studies have shown adverse effects on the fetus, but there are no controlled studies in pregnant women. The drug should only be used if the expected benefit outweighs the risk to the fetus. Amlodipine can be absorbed into breast milk. If you are breastfeeding, do not use this medicine without telling your doctor.
Drug form	Tablet

Precautions Before Using Amlodipine Hexpharm

Below are some things you need to pay attention to before taking Amlodipine Hexpharm:

Do not use Amlodipine Hexpharm if you are allergic to amlodipine or other calcium antagonist drugs, such as nifedipine.
Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had narrowing of the heart valves (aortic stenosis), cardiogenic shock, severe hypotension, or heart failure after a myocardial infarction. This drug should not be given to patients with these conditions.
Tell your doctor if you have diabetes, coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure, or liver disease.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning a pregnancy.
Tell your doctor that you are on treatment with Amlodipine Hexpharm before having any surgery, including dental surgery.
Tell your doctor if you are taking certain medications, supplements, or herbal products.
Do not drive a vehicle, operate heavy machinery, do things that require alertness, or consume alcoholic beverages while taking Amlodipine Hexpharm, as this medication can cause dizziness.
See your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction, overdose, or serious side effect.

Dosage and Instructions for Use Amlodipine Hexpharm

The dose of Amlodipine Hexpharm prescribed by the doctor may vary from patient to patient. Below are the general dosages of Amlodipine Hexpharm by age:

Mature: The initial dose is 5 mg once daily. The dose may be increased to 10 mg per day after 1–2 weeks of treatment.
Elderly and people with severe liver disease: Initial dose 2.5 mg. The dose can be increased by the doctor according to the patient's response to the drug.

How to Take Amlodipine Hexpharm Correctly

Follow the doctor's advice and read the instructions on the package when you are going to take Amlodipine Hexpharm. Do not increase or decrease the dose of the drug without consulting your doctor.

Amlodipine Hexpharm tablets can be taken before or after meals. Use a glass of water to swallow the medicine.

Take Amlodipine Hexpharm regularly at the same time every day so that the drug can work optimally. Continue to use the drug according to the doctor's recommendations even if the condition feels better.

If you forget to take medicine, do it immediately if the break with the next schedule is not too close. If it is near, ignore the missed dose and do not double the next dose.

While undergoing treatment with Amlodipine Hexapharm, the doctor will ask you to have regular check-ups to monitor the condition and effectiveness of therapy.

Store Amlodipine Hexpharm in a closed box in a dry, cool place out of direct sunlight. Do not store Amlodipine Hexpharm inside freezer and keep medicine out of reach of children.

Interactions of Amlodipine Hexpharm with Other Drugs

Drug interactions may occur if Amlodipine Hexpharm is used with other medicines. Drug interactions that can occur include:

Increased risk of high blood pressure if taken with aspirin, ibuprofen, or other NSAIDs
Decreased levels and effectiveness of Amlodipine Hexapharm when used with rifampicin, enzatulamide, St. Wort, or anti-seizure medications, such as carbamazepine, phenytoin, and phenobarbital
Increased risk of heart rhythm disturbances when used with ceritinib or dolasetron
Increased blood levels of Amlodipine Hexapharm and ciclosporin when these two drugs are used together
Increased levels of simvastatin in the blood are at risk of causing liver damage and rhabdomyolysis
Increased risk of side effects of amlodipine when used with diltiazem, erythromycin, azole antifungals, or protease inhibitors, such as indinavir and lopinavir-ritonavir

In addition, taking Amlodipine Hexapharm together grapefruit can increase the level of this drug in the blood.

Side Effects and Dangers of Amlodipine Hexpharm

Amlodipine can cause some side effects, such as:

Headache
Dizzy
The face, neck, upper chest, and arms are reddish (flush)
Swelling in the soles of the feet or ankles

Call your doctor if the above side effects do not improve or get worse. You also need to see a doctor immediately if you experience an allergic drug reaction or serious side effects that are rare, such as: