Norvasc (amlodipine) belongs to a class of medications called calcium channel blockers. Amlodipine lowers blood pressure by relaxing the blood vessels so the heart does not have to pump as hard.

Norvasc is used to treat certain types of angina (chest pain) and other conditions caused by coronary artery disease (narrowing of the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart).

Norvasc controls chest pain by increasing the supply of blood to the heart. If taken regularly, amlodipine controls chest pain, but it does not stop chest pain once it starts. Your doctor may prescribe a different medication to take when you have chest pain.

Norvasc is also used alone or in combination with other medicines to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) in adults and children at least 6 years old. Lowering blood pressure may lower your risk of a stroke or heart attack.

Before taking Norvasc, tell your doctor if you have congestive heart failure or liver disease.

Drinking alcohol can further lower your blood pressure and may increase certain side effects of amlodipine.

If you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using Norvasc even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medication for the rest of your life.

Norvasc is only part of a complete program of treatment that may also include diet, exercise, weight control, and other medications. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely.

Tell your doctor about all other heart or blood pressure medications you are taking.

Your chest pain may become worse when you first start taking Norvasc or when your dose is increased. Call your doctor if your chest pain is severe or ongoing.

Take Norvasc exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose.

Norvasc is usually taken once per day.

Take the medicine at the same time each day, with or without food.

Your blood pressure will need to be checked often.

If you have high blood pressure, keep using Norvasc even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms.

Do not change your doses or stop taking any of your medications without your doctor's advice.

Your treatment may also include diet, exercise, weight control, and blood tests.

Store Norvasc at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

Usual Adult Dose of Norvasc for Hypertension:

Initial dose: 5 mg orally once a day
Maintenance dose: 5 to 10 mg orally once a day
Maximum dose: 10 mg/day.

Usual Adult Dose of Norvasc for Angina Pectoris:

Maintenance dose: 5 to 10 mg orally once a day
Maximum dose: 10 mg/day.

Usual Adult Dose of Norvasc for Coronary Artery Disease:

Maintenance dose: 5 to 10 mg orally once a day
Maximum dose: 10 mg/day.

Usual Geriatric Dose for Hypertension:

Initial dose: 2.5 mg orally once a day
Maintenance dose: 2.5 to 10 mg orally once a day
Maximum dose: 10 mg/day.</.p>

Usual Geriatric Dose for Angina Pectoris:

Initial dose: 5 mg orally once a day
Maintenance dose: 5 to 10 mg orally once a day
Maximum dose: 10 mg/day.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Hypertension:

6 to 17 years:
Maintenance dose: 2.5 to 5 mg orally once a day
Maximum dose: 5 mg/day.

You should not take Norvasc if you are allergic to amlodipine.

To make sure Norvasc is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• severe narrowing of a certain valve in your heart (aortic stenosis), or other heart problems;

• coronary artery disease (clogged arteries); or

• liver disease.

It is not known if amlodipine will harm an unborn baby. However, having high blood pressure during pregnancy may cause complications or medical problems in both mother and baby. The benefit of treating hypertension may outweigh any risks to the baby.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding.

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if you are more than 12 hours late for the dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include rapid heartbeats, redness or warmth in your arms or legs, or fainting.

Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Norvasc: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

In rare cases, when you first start taking Norvasc, your chest pain may get worse or you could have a heart attack. Seek emergency medical attention or call your doctor right away if you have symptoms such as: chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, nausea, sweating.

Norvasc may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

• worsening chest pain; or

• a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out.

Common Norvasc side effects may include:

• dizziness, drowsiness;

• swelling of your legs or ankles;

• irregular heartbeat;

• pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest;

• muscle stiffness;

• uncontrolled muscle movements;

• feeling tired;

• stomach pain, nausea; or

• flushing (sudden warmth, redness, or tingly feeling).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medicines at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you use, which may increase side effects or make the medicines less effective.

Other drugs may interact with amlodipine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use.

Norvasc starts working the day you take it, but it might take a couple of weeks for the full effects to kick in.

If you’re using this medicine for angina, it will probably take a couple of weeks before you to feel better.

You might not notice any difference in how you feel if you’re using Norvasc for high blood pressure. This doesn’t mean that the medicine isn’t working.

Keep taking Norvasc unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

Your dosage will depend on your medical condition, age, overall health, and other factors.

The maximum dose is typically 5 milligrams (mg) a day for kids and 10 mg a day for adults.

Your doctor may lower or adjust your dose if you have liver problems or take other blood pressure medicines.

Sometimes, doctors prescribe Norvasc “off-label” to treat other conditions, such as:

• Raynaud's disease
• Diabetic nephropathy
• Left ventricular hypertrophy
• Silent myocardial ischemia