Amlodipine 10mg Tablets
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PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER AMLODIPINE 5 mg and 10 mg TABLETS
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine.
• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.
• If any of the side effects get serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
IN THIS LEAFLET:
1. What Amlodipine is and what it is used for
2. Before you take Amlodipine
3. How to take Amlodipine
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Amlodipine
6. Further information
1. WHAT AMLODIPINE IS AND WHAT IT IS USED FOR
Amlodipine belongs to a group of medicines called calcium antagonists.
Amlodipine is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) or a certain type of chest pain called angina, a rare form of which is Prinzmetal’s or variant angina.
In patients with high blood pressure your medicine works by relaxing blood vessels, so that blood passes through them more easily. In patients with angina Amlodipine works by improving blood supply to the heart muscle which then receives more oxygen and as a result chest pain is prevented.
Your medicine does not provide immediate relief of chest pain from angina.
2. BEFORE YOU TAKE AMLODIPINE
Do not take Amlodipine:
- If you are allergic (hypersensitive) to Amlodipine or any of the other ingredients of your medicine listed in the section 6, or to any other calcium antagonists. This may be itching, reddening of the skin or difficulty in breathing.
- If you have severe low blood pressure (hypotension)
- If you have narrowing of the aortic heart valve (aortic stenosis) or cardiogenic shock (a condition where your heart is unable to supply enough blood to the body)
- If you suffer from heart failure after a heart attack
Take special care with Amlodipine
You should inform your doctor if you have or have had any of the following conditions:
- recent heart attack
- heart failure
- severe increase in blood pressure (hypertensive crisis)
- liver disease
- you are elderly and your dose needs to be increased Use in children and adolescents:
Amlodipine has not been studied in children under the age of 6 years. Amlodipine should only used for hypertension in children and adolescents from 6 years to 17 years of age (see section 3).For more information, talk to your doctor..
Taking other medicines
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
Amlodipine may affect or be affected by other medicines, such as:
- ^etoconazole, itraconazole (antifungal medicines)
- ritonavir, indinavir, nelfinavir (so called protease inhibitors used to treat HIV)
- rifampicin, erythromycin, clarithromycin (antibiotics)
- hypericum perforatum (St. John’s wort)
- verapamil, diltiazem (heart medicines)
- dantrolene (infusion for severe body temperature abnormalities)
Amlodipinemay lower your blood pressure even more if you are already taking other medicines to treat your high blood pressure.
Taking Amlodipine with food and drink
Grapefruit juice and grapefruit should not be consumed by people who are taking Amlodipine. This is because grapefruit and grapefruit juice can lead to an increase in the blood levels of the acive ingredient amlodipine, which can cause an unpredictable increase in the blood pressure lowering effect of Amlodipine.
Pregnancy
The safety of amlodipine in human pregnancy has not been established. If you think you might be pregnant, or are planning to get pregnant, you must tell your doctor before you take Amlodipine.
Breast-feeding
It is not known whether Amlodipine is passed into breast milk. If you are breast-feeding or about to start breast-feeding you must tell your doctor before taking Amlodipine.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.
Driving and using machines
Amlodipine may affect your ability to drive or use machines. If the tablets make you feel sick, dizzy or tired, or give you a headache, do not drive or use machines and contact your doctor immediately.
3. HOW TO TAKE AMLODIPINE
Always take your medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
The usual initial dose is Amlodipine 5 mg once daily. The dose can be increased to Amlodipine 10 mg once daily.
Your medicine can be used before or after food and drinks. You should take your medicine at the same time each day with a drink of water. Do not take Amlodipine with grapefruit juice.
Use in children and adolescents
For children and adolescents (6 -17 years old), the recommended usual starting dose is 2.5 mg a day. The maximum recommended dose is 5 mg a day. Amlodipine 2.5 mg is not currently available. The 2.5 mg dose can be obtained with Amlodipine 5 mg tablets as these tablets are manufactured to break into equal halves.
It is important to keep taking the tablets. Do not wait until your tablets are finished before seeing your doctor.
If you take more Amlodipine than you should
Taking too many tablets may cause your blood pressure to become low or even dangerously low. You may feel dizzy, lightheaded, faint or weak. If blood pressure drop is severe enough shock can occur. Your skin could feel cool and clammy and you could lose consciousness. Seek immediate medical attention if you take too many Amlodipine tablets.
If you forget to take Amlodipine
Do not worry. If you forget to take a tablet, leave out that dose completely. Take your next dose at the right time.. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.
If you stop taking Amlodipine
Your doctor will advise you how long to take your medicine. Your condition may return if you stop using your medicine before you are advised.
If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Like all medicines, Amlodipine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Visit your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following very rare, severe side effects after taking this medicine:
- Sudden wheeziness, chest pain, shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing
- Swelling of eyelids, face or lips
- Swelling of the tongue and throat which causes great difficulty breathing
- Severe skin reactions including intense skin rash, hives, reddening of the skin over your whole body, severe itching, blistering, peeling and swelling of the skin, inflammation of mucous membranes (Stevens Johnson Syndrome) or other allergic reactions
- Heart attack, abnormal heart beat
- Inflamed pancreas which may cause severe abdominal and back pain accompanied with
feeling very unwell.
The following common side effects have been reported. If any of these cause you problems or if they last for more than one week, you should contact your doctor.
Common: affects 1 to 10 users in 100
- Headache, dizziness, sleepiness, (especially at the beginning of treatment)
- Palpitations (awareness of your heart beat), flushing
- Abdominal pain, feeling sick (nausea)
- Ankle swelling (oedema), tiredness.
Other side-effects that have been reported include the following list. If any of these get serious, or if you notice any side-effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
Uncommon: affects 1 to 10 users in 1,000
- Mood changes, anxiety, depression, sleeplessness
- Trembling, taste abnormalities, fainting, weakness
- Numbness or tingling sensation in your limbs; loss of pain sensation
- Visual disturbances, double vision, ringing in the ears
- Low blood pressure
- Sneezing/running nose caused by inflammation of the lining of the nose (rhinitis)
- Altered bowel habits, diarrhoea, constipation, indigestion, dry mouth, vomiting (being sick)
- Hair loss, increased sweating, itchy skin, red patches on skin, skin discolouration
- Disorder in passing urine, increased need to urinate at night, increased number of times of passing urine
- Inability to obtain an erection; discomfort or enlargement of the breasts in men
- Weakness, pain, feeling unwell
- Joint or muscle pain, muscle cramps, back pain
- Weight increase or decrease
Rare: affects 1 to 10 users in 10,000
- Confusion.
Very rare: affects less than 1 user in 10,000
- Decreased numbers of white blood cells, decrease in blood platelets which may result in unusual bruising or easy bleeding (red blood cell damage)
- Excess sugar in blood (hyperglycaemia)
- A disorder of the nerves which can cause weakness, tingling or numbness
- Cough, swelling of the gums
- Abdominal bloating (gastritis)
- Abnormal liver function, inflammation of the liver (hepatitis), yellowing of the skin (jaundice), liver enzyme increase which may have an effect on some medical tests
- Increased muscle tension
- Inflammation of blood vessels, often with skin rash
- Sensitivity to light
- Disorders combining rigidity, tremor, and/or movement disorders
If any of the side effects get serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
5. HOW TO STORE AMLODIPINE
Keep out of the reach and sight of children.
Do not store above 25°C. Store in the original package in order to protect from light and moisture. Do not use Amlodipine after the expiry date that is stated on the outer packaging. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
6. FURTHER INFORMATION
What Amlodipine Tablets contain:
• The active ingredient is amlodipine (as maleate).
• The other ingredients are microcrystalline cellulose, anhydrous calcium hydrogen phosphate, sodium starch glycolate and magnesium stearate.
What Amlodipine Tablets look like and contents of the pack:
• The 5 mg are white, oval shaped tablets with “AM 5” on one side, plain on the other side. They are available in pack sizes of 20, 28, 30, 50, 100, 200 and 300 tablets.
• The 10 mg are white, oval shaped tablets with “AM 10” and a breakline on one side, plain on the other side. The tablets can be divided into equal halves. They are available in pack sizes of 14, 20, 28, 30, 50, 100, 200 and 300 tablets.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
Marketing Authorisation holder and company responsible for manufacture: TEVA UK Limited, Eastbourne, BN22 9AG
This leaflet was last revised: May 2012
PL00289/0691-2
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