AMLODIPINE AND VALSARTAN

(am LOE de peen val SAR tan) Brand: Exforge

What is the most significant information I must know about amlodipine and valsartan?

• Do not use this medicine if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn child. Stop using this medicine and speak your doctor right away if you become pregnant.

• Till you take amlodipine and valsartan, speak your doctor if you have diabetes, heart malady, liver or kidney malady, or if you are vomiting or having diarrhea.

• Avoid getting up too quick from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.

• Do not use potassium supplements or salt substitutes while you are taking amlodipine and valsartan, unless your doctor has told you to.

• In rare cases, amlodipine and valsartan can reason a condition that results in the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue, leading to kidney failure. Call your doctor right away if you have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness especially if you also have fever, unusual tiredness, and dark colored urine.

What is amlodipine and valsartan?

• Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker. It works by relaxing the muscles of your heart and blood vessels.

• Valsartan is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist. Valsartan keeps blood vessels from narrowing, which lowers blood pressure and improves blood flow.

• Amlodipine and valsartan is a combination medication used to treat tall blood pressure (hypertension). This medicine is generally given after others have been tried without successful treatment of hypertension.

• Amlodipine and valsartan may also be used for purposes not listed in this medicine guide.

What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till taking amlodipine and valsartan?

• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to amlodipine (Norvasc) or valsartan (Diovan).

• If you have diabetes or kidney disease, you may not be able to take amlodipine and valsartan if you are also taking a blood pressure medicine that contains aliskiren (Amturnide, Tekturna, Tekamlo, or Valturna).

• To create certain amlodipine and valsartan is safety for you, speak your doctor if you have:

· kidney malady (or if you are on dialysis);

· liver disease;

· congestive heart failure;

· diabetes;

· angina (chest pain), severe coronary artery disease;

· if you are vomiting or having diarrhea; or

· if you have recently had a heart attack.

• If you are also taking a beta-blocker (such as Betapace, Coreg, Corgard, Dutoprol, Inderal, InnoPran, Lopressor, Normodyne, Tenormin, Tenoretic, Toprol, Trandate, and others), do not suddenly stop using the beta blocker without first talking to your doctor. You may need to use smaller and smaller till you stop the medicine completely. Stopping a beta blocker too quickly can reason serious heart problems that will not be prevented by amlodipine and valsartan.

• FDA pregnancy category D. Do not use amlodipine and valsartan if you are pregnant. Stop using this medicine and speak your doctor right away if you become pregnant. Valsartan can reason injury or death to the unborn child if you take the medication during your second or third trimester. Use effective birth control while taking this medication.

• It is not known whether amlodipine and valsartan passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing child. You must not breast-feed while taking amlodipine and valsartan.

How must I take amlodipine and valsartan?

• Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your doze to create certain you get the excellent results. Do not take this medication in larger or less amounts or for longer than recommended.

• Take this medication with a full glass of water (8 ounces).

• Amlodipine and valsartan may be taken with or without food.

• Conditions that may reason very low blood pressure include: vomiting, diarrhea, hard sweating, heart malady, dialysis, a low-salt diet, or taking diuretics (water pills). Speak your doctor if you have a prolonged diseases that causes diarrhea or vomiting.

• Your blood pressure will need to be checked often. Your kidney function may also need to be checked.

• If you need to undergo kidney dialysis or have any type of surgery, speak the doctor onward of time that you are using amlodipine and valsartan.

• Hold using this medication as directed, even if you feel well. Tall blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medicine for the rest of your life.

• Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed doze as soon as you remember. Skip the missed doze if it is nearly time for your following scheduled doze. Do not take extra medication to create up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

• Search abnormal medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What must I avoid while taking amlodipine and valsartan?

• Avoid getting up too quick from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.

• Do not use potassium supplements or salt substitutes while you are taking amlodipine and valsartan, unless your doctor has told you to.

What are the possible side effects of amlodipine and valsartan?

• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Call your doctor at once if you have:

· a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;

· swelling in your hands or foots, rapid weight gain;

· quick or pounding heartbeats;

· jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or

· chest pain or hard feeling, pain spreading to the hand or shoulder, nausea, sweating, common ill feeling.

• General side effects may include:

· dizziness, spinning sensation; or

· cool symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat.

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

What another drugs will affect amlodipine and valsartan?

• Speak your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with amlodipine and valsartan, especially:

· simvastatin;

· aspirin or another NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)--ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib, diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, others;

· heart medication;

· potassium supplements or salt substitutes;

· a diuretic or "water pill"; or

· another medications that lower blood pressure.

• This list is not complete. Another drugs may interact with amlodipine and valsartan, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal commodity. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medicine manual.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about amlodipine and valsartan.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

Disclaim: Each effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses external of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way must be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safety, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the help of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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