Azor (Amlodipine & Olmesartan) Oral: Uses, Dosage & Side Effects

Brand: Azor

Generic: Amlodipine And Olmesartan

Amlodipine and olmesartan are used together to make a combined antihypertensive preparation. Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker.

It relaxes peripheral and coronary vascular smooth muscle. It produces coronary vasodilation by inhibiting the entry of calcium ions into the slow channels or select voltage-sensitive channels of the vascular smooth muscle and myocardium during depolarization.

It also increases myocardial oxygen delivery in patients with vasospastic angina. This drug is widely used by the healthcare professional to treat a variety of health disorders like mild to moderate hypertension, chronic stable and vasospastic angina, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and Raynaud’s disease etc.

This medicine is used alone or in combination with other medicines to relieve chest pain and to treat hypertension. On the contrary, olmesartan is a selective and competitive angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB).

It works by blocking the vasoconstrictor and aldosterone-secreting effects of angiotensin II. As a result, olmesartan relaxes blood vessels, hence lowering the blood pressure and increases the blood supply and oxygen to the heart. This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

If you are about to start a drug therapy, the risk and benefit ratio of taking the drug should be considered. This is a decision that your doctor will make with your active participation.

There are some important factors such as drug interaction, metabolic impairment, hypersensitivity reaction, pregnancy, lactation etc. which may alter the drug action.

Sometimes presence of other health disorders affects the beneficial effects of this medicine and even may cause serious complications. Make sure you mention your doctor if you have any other medical problems.

The use of amlodipine is contraindicated if there is history of hypersensitivity reactions to amlodipine or other calcium channel blocker. This combined antihypertensive formulation should not be used in pregnancy (second and third trimesters) and biliary obstruction.

Certain drugs should not be used concurrently with such medications. Plasma concentrations may be elevated with azole antifungals and ritonavir. Concomitant therapy with simvastatin may increase risk of myopathy including rhabdomyolysis.

Thus, it is always recommended to consult with your doctor if you are in need of some drugs for another health problem in order to avoid unwanted serious complications.

Medicines should be used following the directions given by a doctor. The dose of this medicine will vary according to patient’s condition or requirements. You should follow the doctor's directions and advices.

The amount of medicine that you take should not exceed the maximum therapeutic dose. Also, the frequency of your daily drug administration and the duration of drug therapy depend on the particular medical problem for which you are taking the medicine.

In order to treat hypertension, an adult should take 10-20 mg once daily. Antihypertensive effect is substantially present within 2 weeks of therapy initiation. The dose may be increased up to 40 mg once daily if needed.

A lower starting dose of 5-10 mg is usually considered in patients with possible depletion of intravascular volume, especially those with renal impairment.

Children of 6 to 16 years with body weight ranging from 20-35 kg should be treated with 10 mg once daily, that dose may increase to 20 mg once daily if necessary.

Always try to take your medicine in time. If you miss any dose of this medicine, you should take it as soon as possible. But if it is time for your next dose, then you should skip the missed dose and go back to your regular treatment schedule.

You should store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature away from heat, moisture, and direct light. All kinds of medicines should be kept out of the reach of children. Outdated medicine must be disposed by an appropriate way.

Regular visits are recommended to make sure this medicine is working properly or not while you are receiving a drug therapy. Some important measures should be taken if you feel any discomfort following this drug therapy.

Although amlodipine is excreted primarily via kidney, mild renal impairment does not appear to have an effect on the plasma concentrations. Severe renal impairment may however require a dosage reduction.

Amlodipine is not dialyzable and its half-life is prolonged in patients with impaired hepatic function. It should therefore be administered at lower (5mg) initial dose in these patients.

An increased number of pulmonary edema has been reported in those who received amlodipine in heart failure.

Drugs that act on renin-angiotensin system can cause fetal injury and death when used in 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy. Olmesartan should be discontinued as soon as possible once pregnancy is detected.

Symptomatic hypotension may occur in patients who are volume and/or salt depleted. Patients with bilateral or unilateral renal artery stenosis may have increased risk of severe hypotension and renal insufficiency.

Moreover, patients with primary aldosteronism may not respond to angiotensin receptor antagonist.

There are some unwanted side-effects associated with each drug that usually do not need medical attention. These side-effects usually go away during the treatment episode as your body adjusts to the medicine.

Your healthcare professional may advise you about the ways how to prevent or reduce those unwanted side-effects.

The common side effects of this combined antihypertensive medication are given below: dizziness,