Amlodipine+ramipril
About
Amlodipine+ramipril belongs to the class of 'anti-hypertensive drugs', primarily used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure). Hypertension is a medical condition, in which the blood exerts high pressure (force exerted by circulating blood) against blood vessel's walls. This condition makes the heart to work harder in pumping the blood to the whole body. Hypertension can cause severe health complications, including stroke, heart failure, heart attack and kidney failure.
Amlodipine+ramipril is a combination of Amlodipine (calcium channel blocker) and Ramipril (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor). Amlodipine is used to treat high blood pressure, Prinzmetal's or variant angina (chest pain) and other conditions caused by coronary artery disease. It relaxes blood vessels, so that blood passes through them easily, thereby lowering the blood pressure. It also improves blood supply to the heart muscle to receive more oxygen and thus preventing chest pain. Ramipril relaxes and widens the blood vessels making it easier for the heart to pump blood throughout the body, thereby lowering blood pressure. It also decreases the body’s production of certain substances that raise blood pressure.
Your doctor will advise you how often you take Amlodipine+ramipril based on your medical condition. In some cases, you may experience blurred vision, sweating, confusion, tiredness, stomach upset, flushing (sense of warmth in the face, ears, neck and trunk), dizziness, headache and swelling of the ankles or feet. Most of these side effects of Amlodipine+ramipril do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects are persistent, please reach out to your doctor.
Do not stop taking Amlodipine+ramipril without consulting your doctor since it may worsen your condition and increase the risk of future heart problems. Regular monitoring of blood pressure, electrolyte levels and kidney functioning is advised while taking Amlodipine+ramipril. Inform your doctor if you are suffering from kidney, liver or heart diseases. Please tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines or have any allergic reactions to Amlodipine+ramipril. Reducing the amount of table salt (sodium chloride) in your food often relieves the body's swelling. Let your doctor know if you use any prescription and non-prescription medications you are taking, including vitamins, before starting Amlodipine+ramipril. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, please tell your doctor so that the dosage of Amlodipine+ramipril can be prescribed accordingly.
Uses of Amlodipine+ramipril
Medicinal Benefits
Amlodipine+ramipril consists of Amlodipine (calcium channel blocker) and Ramipril (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor). Amlodipine relaxes blood vessels so that blood passes through them easily, thereby lowering blood pressure. It also treats chest pain by improving the blood supply to the heart muscle to receive more oxygen. Amlodipine also improves a person's tolerance to exercise and keeps the blood pressure at acceptable levels. Ramipril relaxes and widens the blood vessels making it easier for the heart to pump blood throughout the body, thereby lowering blood pressure.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Amlodipine+ramipril
- Blurred vision
- Sweating
- Confusion
- Tiredness
- Stomach upset
- Flushing (sense of warmth in the face, ears, neck and trunk)
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Swelling of the ankles or feet
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Do not use Amlodipine+ramipril if you are allergic to Amlodipine+ramipril or any of its components. Please inform your doctor if you are using any prescription and non-prescription medications you are taking, including vitamins, before starting Amlodipine+ramipril. Let your doctor know if you have any history of severe heart, kidney or liver diseases, high potassium levels (hyperkalaemia), bone marrow suppression, and aortic stenosis (heart valve problem). Please consult your doctor if you plan to conceive, are pregnant, or are a breastfeeding mother before using Amlodipine+ramipril. Amlodipine+ramipril can increase the chances of light-headedness so rise slowly if you are sitting/lying and avoid operating any machine or doing any work that needs mental alertness.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Amlodipine+ramipril may interact with drugs reducing cholesterol (simvastatin), corticosteroids (prednisolone), painkillers (ibuprofen, naproxen), anti-hypertensive drugs (ramipril, metoprolol, bendroflumethiazide), drugs treating impotence (sildenafil), gout medicine (allopurinol), diabetic drugs (Insulin glargine, metformin, sitagliptin), water pills (furosemide) and fits medicine (pregabalin).
Drug-Food Interaction: Amlodipine+ramipril may interact or may have decreased effect when used with alcohol and high potassium foods.
Drug-Disease Interaction: Before using Amlodipine+ramipril, let your doctor know if have heart, kidney or liver diseases, high potassium levels (hyperkalaemia), bone marrow suppression and aortic stenosis (heart valve problem).
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionAlcohol may lower your blood pressure. It would help if you avoided or limit consuming alcohol.
Pregnancy
cautionIt is advised to seek medical advice before using Amlodipine+ramipril if you plan to conceive or a pregnant before using Amlodipine+ramipril.
Breast Feeding
cautionThere are limited studies on how Amlodipine+ramipril affects breastfed infants. Please consult your doctor before using Amlodipine+ramipril if you are a lactating mother.
Driving
cautionAmlodipine+ramipril may cause side effects due to lowering of the blood pressure such as dizziness or tiredness. If you feel dizzy or tired when taking this medicine, do not drive or use any tools or machines.
Liver
cautionLet your doctor know if you have any history of liver diseases before using Amlodipine+ramipril. Amlodipine+ramipril is to be administered with caution in patients with severe hepatic impairment.
Kidney
cautionLet your doctor know if you have any history of kidney diseases before using Amlodipine+ramipril. Amlodipine+ramipril is primarily eliminated by the kidney and can be accumulated in patients with renal impairment.
Children
unsafeAmlodipine+ramipril is not recommended for use in children as the efficacy and safety has not been established.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Keep your weight under control with body mass index (BMI) between 19.5 and 24.9.
- Do regular physical activity or exercise for at least 150 minutes per week or about 30 minutes most days of the week. Doing this can help you to lower your raised blood pressure by about 5 mm of Hg.
- Limit sodium chloride intake (table salt) in your daily diet to 2300 mg per day or less than 1500 mg is ideal for most adults.
- If you are taking alcohol, use only one serving for women and two servings for men.
- Quit smoking to lower the risk of heart diseases.
- Avoid chronic stress as it can raise your blood pressure. Try to enjoy and spent time with your loved ones to cope with stress.
- Monitor your blood pressure daily, and if you notice any fluctuations frequently, please contact your doctor immediately.
- Try including heart-healthy omega 3 fatty acid-containing foods in your daily diet. You can also use low-fat cooking oils like olive oil, soybean oil, canola oil and coconut oil to lower your elevated blood pressure.
Special Advise
- Monitor your blood pressure regularly and seek medical advice if you notice any drastic fluctuations.
- Amlodipine+ramipril may affect patients with hepatic impairment, and hence it is used cautiously, and Liver function monitoring and Liver Function Tests are advised to monitor the liver enzyme changes.
- Your doctor may advise you to get a regular kidney function test, blood examinations for potassium levels and other electrolytes while using Amlodipine+ramipril to rule out any renal impairment.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Hypertension: It is a chronic condition when blood pressure is too high. Blood pressure is defined as the amount of blood pumped by the heart and the amount of resistance exerted by the arteries against the blood flow. If the heart pumps more blood, then arteries become narrower and in turn, blood pressure becomes high. If blood pressure becomes uncontrolled, it may lead to serious heart diseases, including stroke and heart attack. Additionally, high blood pressure can also cause brain damage (stroke) and kidney failure. Blood pressure is expressed as systolic and diastolic pressures. Systolic blood pressure represents the contraction and relaxation of the heart. Diastolic pressure is exerted in the blood vessels when the heart beats and is in the resting state. Ideal blood pressure should be between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg. Hypertension is detected when systolic blood pressure is more than 140mmHg, and diastolic pressure is higher than 90mmHg. Some of the symptoms of hypertension include headache, nose bleed, vomiting and chest pain.
FAQs
Amlodipine+ramipril consists of Amlodipine and Ramipril. Amlodipine relaxes blood vessels, so that blood passes through them easily thereby lowering the blood pressure. Ramipril relaxes and widens the blood vessels making it easier for the heart to pump blood throughout the body thereby lowering the raised blood pressure.
Amlodipine+ramipril is recommended to use in dose and duration as advised by the doctor. Do not stop taking Amlodipine+ramipril on your own as it may lead to a sudden rise in blood pressure increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Amlodipine+ramipril can cause dizziness as one of its side effects. If you feel dizzy, try getting up slowly from a sitting or lying position. If your dizziness is severe or unmanageable, please seek medical advice.
Amlodipine in Amlodipine+ramipril can cause ankle swelling upon long term use. Please try to keep your feet at the elevated position when sitting for long hours. If the problem persists, please consult your doctor and do as advised.
Amlodipine+ramipril may increase blood potassium levels in people with diabetes, poor kidney function and patients using potassium-sparing diuretics or taking potassium supplements. Please consult your doctor before taking Amlodipine+ramipril if you have diabetes.
Even though your blood pressure becomes normal after using Amlodipine+ramipril, it may switch back to high ranges if you stop using it. Your doctor may change the dosing schedule based on your blood pressure range.
Take the missed dose as soon as possible. However, if it is time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.
