Amlodipine + Hydrochlorothiazide

Indications

Amlodipine + Hydrochlorothiazide is used for: Essential Hypertension

Adult Dose

Oral Adult 1 tab once daily.

Child Dose

Renal Dose

CrCl >30 mL/min: No dosage adjustment required CrCl 30 mL/min or less: Avoid use; loop diuretics are preferred to thiazides with severe renal impairment; thiazides may precipitate azotemia

Administration

May be taken with or without food: Take at the same time of the day & preferably in the morning. Swallow whole w/ water.

Contra Indications

Hypersensitivity to sulfonamides. Severe hepatic & renal impairment (CrCl <30 mL/min), anuria, refractory hypokalaemia, hyponatraemia, hypercalcaemia & symptomatic hyperuricaemia. Pregnancy.

Precautions

Angioedema, severe CHF, surgery/anesthesia, volume depletion (consider lower dose) Discontinue STAT if pregnant: potential risk of congenital malformations Risk of hypotension, especially in patients with volume/salt depletion; correct volume-depletion prior to administration Increased angina or myocardial infarction with calcium channel blockers may occur upon dosage initiation or increase Avoid with severe renal impairment (<30 mL/min) Withhold/discontinue if progressive renal impairment occurs Thiazides: use with caution with mild/moderate liver impairment or progressive liver disease; avoid in patients with severe liver impairment Monitor for fluid/electrolyte imbalance Use caution in heart failure, severe aortic stenosis (amlodipine), hepatic impairment, renal artery stenosis, or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy Thiazide diuretics may exacerbate or activate SLE Acute transient myopia and acute angle-closure glaucoma has been reported, particularly with history of sulfonamide or penicillin allergy (hydrochlorothiazide is a sulfonamide) Caution in aortic mitral stenosis, hepatic impairment, hypercholesterolemia, hypercalcemia, parathyroid disease, pre-existing renal insufficiency, systemic lupus erythematosus, bilateral renal artery stenosis or anuria

Pregnancy-Lactation

Interactions

Adverse Effects

Side effects of Amlodipine + Hydrochlorothiazide : 1-10% Dizziness (5.8-8.9%) Peripheral edema (7.7%) Fatigue (4%) Headache (6.4%) Nausea (3%) Muscle spasms (3.1%) Nausea (3%) Diarrhea (2.6%) Joint swelling (2.1%) Syncope (1%) Urinary tract infection (2%) Nasopharyngitis (4%) Upper respiratory tract infection (3%)

Mechanism of Action

Amlodipine: Dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker; inhibits extracellular Ca ions across the membranes of myocardial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells, without changing serum calcium concentrations; this results in inhibition of cardiac and vascular smooth muscle contraction, thereby dilating the main coronary and systemic arteries Hydrochlorothiazide: Thiazide diuretic; Inhibits Na reabsorption in distal renal tubules resulting in increased Na and water excretion; lowers blood pressure and decreases edema