Norvasc Information: on Side Effects
It is not uncommon for people to experience medicinal side effects. Each person may be hypersensitive or not to some drugs, depending on his or her genetic make-up. For people who are about to take in Norvasc, here are some important information that you should not miss to ensure your safety while undergoing medication.
Norvasc Side Effects
The first and foremost side effect that you should watch out for is hypersensitivity or allergic reaction to amlodipine. Amlodipine is the main ingredient in Norvasc, hence hypersensitivity to it should cause you to experience any of the following upon its intake:
• hives
• difficulty breathing
• swelling of face, lips, tongue and, in some cases, throat
When any of the signs of allergic reaction occur, first aid measures need to be administered. These include home remedies such as feeding the person 1 teaspoon of white sugar. If the reaction persists, medical help from the nearest facility should be sought. It is also important to notify your physician about the incidence of reactions so that he or she can prescribe another drug that may not cause allergies.
Aside from hypersensitivity, other serious side effects include:
• dizziness or feeling like you just might faint
• swollen hands, ankles and or feet
• irregular heart rhythms that may either be a strong pounding or light fluttering
• chest pain
• pain that spreads to the arm or shoulder
• nausea, sweating and a general ill feeling
If you experience any of the mentioned symptoms, it is best to stop taking the medication and consult your physician immediately. Do not dismiss these as normal side effects because most likely these are signs of serious impending dangers.
However, not all Norvasc side effects are life-threatening. A majority of users have only experienced less serious ones, which may be considered expected side effects due to the drug’s action. These may be but are not limited to:
• headache
• drowsiness or dizziness
• lethargy
• stomach pain
• warm or tingly sensation, which may include reddening of the skin
If any other less serious side effects than those mentioned are experienced, inform your doctor and ask for further information.
Norvasc Interaction with Other Medicines
To prevent any adverse drug interactions, it is important for you to notify your physician about all of the drugs that you currently take or may take during the course of Norvasc treatment.
Amlodipine usually interacts with drugs that belong to classification of antihypertensives, nitrates and Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs).
Individually, Norvasc is known to interact with the following drugs or drug components:
• Anzemet (dolasetron) and other dolasetron containing drugs
• ezetimibe
• simvastatin
• itraconazole and other drugs containing itraconazole
• Juvisync
• niacin and other niacin containing drugs
• tizanidine
Norvasc interactions with the stated drug components may either result to increase in hypotension (low blood pressure) or decrease in antihypertensive effect, sudden lightheadedness, irregular heartbeats, kidney damage or liver damage. There may be other drugs not listed above that could interact with Norvasc. To be safe from any unwanted interactions, seek advice from your doctor before taking any type of drug (including vitamins, supplements, herbal and over-the-counter).
Norvasc Reviews: Helping You Judge Your Meds
With any product sold in the market, the consumers’ best friend would be the reviews written by people who have already tried them.
In the case of medicines, reviews help skeptical customers clear up their apprehensions regarding side effects and medicine efficacy. People may also use them as a guide for asking questions to their physician on their next check-up. Additionally, these reviews may also give consumers information regarding other medical uses of the drug that they are researching.
Personal Reviews about Norvasc
A lot of Norvasc users have shared their insights and personal experiences online. A majority of them are satisfied with regard to its efficacy in stabilizing their blood pressure. Some of them have endured blood pressures ranging from 195/100 to 240/125, and these have been maintained within 140/90 to 165/95 respectively. These happy consumers have reported little to no side effects and are able to enjoy their everyday lives without much discomfort or worry. One reviewer said that he has been taking Norvasc for four years, has not experienced any side effects and would definitely recommend it to others who suffer from hypertension. Another happy user has reported using the drug for a year and, so far, has not experienced side effects other than a slight feeling of lightheadedness.
Aside from using Norvasc as an antihypertensive, other reviewers were prescribed with it to treat migraine and Reynaud’s Disease.
One of the reviewers who suffered from migraine due to constant weather pressure changes said that her doctor prescribed Norvasc to cure it. She took the prescribed 5mg tablet and experienced a migraine the whole day, but the following days of continued medication proved effective because she hasn’t suffered from severe headaches ever since. She also added that she was extremely relieved that her doctor prescribed her the medication.
For the treatment of Reynaud’s Disease, one user review said that Norvasc has been essentially helpful. The person who wrote the review stated that she has experienced little to no pain and the discomforts experienced during cold weather have become tolerable.
However positively the majority may have rated Norvasc, there are other reviewers who have experienced side effects and are not very satisfied with the overall results. These users have either experienced swelling of hands and ankles after extended use, increased heart rate and drowsiness; although their blood pressure has remained within normal levels. Others view their side effects as an effect of an interaction with other drugs that they have taken. This is why it is very important to consult your doctor about drugs that may be or may not be taken while under Norvasc medication.
Summing up the reviews and ratings given by helpful users, it may be said that Norvasc has indeed passed standards with regard to efficacy. Although there were circumstances wherein the drug may have been described as ineffective, these can be attributed to factors that may have possibly affected its action (such as interaction with other drugs, food and beverage). Thus, people taking the medication should always remember to follow the physician’s orders and reminders regarding the drug. And before taking in anything, proper research on food, drink and drugs that may affect Norvasc should be done in order to avoid negative effects.
Norvasc: General Information that You Should Know
What is Norvasc?
Belonging to the classification of calcium channel blockers, Norvasc is a medication used to treat hypertension, angina (hypertension) and other diseases caused by coronary artery disease. It works by relaxing or widening blood vessels, therefore improving blood flow in the body.
The generic name for Norvasc is amlodipine. [...] Continue Reading…