Norvasc
Norvasc is a medicine used to treat high blood pressure and chest pain (angina). It helps relax blood vessels and improve blood flow to the heart.
Form
tabletti
Strength
10 mg
Active Ingredient
Amlodipine besylate
Manufacturer
Upjohn EESV
How to Use
Dosage
The usual starting dose is 5 mg once a day. Your doctor may increase it if needed.
Method
Take the tablet with a glass of water at the same time each day, with or without food. Do not drink grapefruit juice while taking this medicine.
Important
The maximum dose for adults is 10 mg once a day.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Swelling, especially in the ankles.
- •Headache, dizziness, drowsiness (especially at the beginning of treatment).
- •Heart palpitations (feeling your heartbeat), flushing.
- •Abdominal pain, feeling sick (nausea).
- •Changes in bowel habits like diarrhea or constipation, indigestion.
- •Feeling tired or weak.
- •Changes in vision, seeing double.
- •Muscle cramps.
RARE
- •Mood changes, anxiety, depression, trouble sleeping.
- •Shaking (tremor), changes in taste, fainting.
- •Numbness or tingling in arms and legs, inability to feel pain.
- •Ringing or buzzing in the ears.
- •Low blood pressure.
- •Sneezing or runny nose caused by inflamed lining of the nose.
- •Cough.
- •Dry mouth, vomiting.
- •Hair loss, more sweating, itchy skin, red patches on skin, changes in skin color.
- •Problems with urination, needing to urinate more at night, more frequent urination.
- •Inability to get or keep an erection, breast pain or enlargement in men.
- •Pain, generally feeling unwell.
- •Joint or muscle pain, back pain.
- •Weight gain or loss.
- •Confusion.
- •Decrease in white blood cells or platelets, which can cause easy bruising or bleeding.
- •High blood sugar.
- •Nerve disorder causing muscle weakness, tingling, or numbness.
- •Swollen or bleeding gums.
- •Stomach swelling (gastritis).
- •Liver problems like inflammation (hepatitis), yellow skin (jaundice), or high liver enzymes that can affect test results.
- •Increased muscle stiffness.
- •Inflammation of blood vessels, often with a skin rash.
- •Sensitivity to light.
- •Conditions with stiffness, shaking, and/or problems with movement, like Parkinson's symptoms (tremor, stiff posture, mask-like face, slow movements, shuffling, unbalanced gait).
Important Warnings
- Do not use if you are allergic to amlodipine or other calcium channel blockers. Symptoms may include itching, red skin, or breathing difficulties.
- Do not use if you have very low blood pressure.
- Do not use if you have severe narrowing of the aorta, a type of shock where your heart cannot pump enough blood, or heart failure after a heart attack.
- Tell your doctor if you have had a recent heart attack.
- Tell your doctor if you have heart failure.
Show 6 more warnings
- Tell your doctor if you have very high blood pressure (hypertensive crisis).
- Tell your doctor if you have liver disease.
- Tell your doctor if you are elderly and your dose needs to be increased.
- Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice as it can increase the medicine's effect.
- This medicine may make you feel sick, dizzy, tired, or give you a headache. If this happens, do not drive or use machines and contact your doctor.
- Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
Use in Elderly Patients
Category A
Suitable for older adults. Significant adverse effects include ankle oedema and orthostatic hypotension. Consider potential interactions. Avoid grapefruit. (updated 17.2.2025)