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Amlodipine

Hypertension, Chronic stable angina, Vasospastic (Prinzmetal) angina

Indications

  • Hypertension
  • Chronic stable angina
  • Vasospastic (Prinzmetal) angina

Adult dosing

  • standard: dose: 5; unit: mg; route: PO daily; interval: May increase to 10mg daily; fixed: true; elderly: dose: 2.5; unit: mg; route: PO daily; interval: Start lower in elderly; fixed: true

Contraindications

  • Severe aortic stenosis

Clinical pearls

  • No heart rate effect (dihydropyridine CCB) — unlike diltiazem/verapamil
  • Peripheral edema is the main dose-limiting side effect (up to 10% at 10mg)
  • Preferred first-line in Black patients for hypertension (ALLHAT trial)
  • Long half-life — one missed dose has minimal BP impact

Source and review

  • ALLHAT Trial; 2017 ACC/AHA Hypertension Guidelines. Last reviewed: 2024-11-01