Norvasc 5mg Tablet

Norvasc 5mg Tablet is the original Pfizer brand of amlodipine, a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker prescribed to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and certain types of chest pain (angina), including stable angina and vasospastic (Prinzmetal’s) angina. The 5mg strength is a common standard starting dose for adults beginning calcium channel blocker therapy for blood pressure control.

As a prescription-only medicine, Norvasc requires a doctor’s assessment before it can be dispensed. Through DoctorOnCall, customers requiring Norvasc complete an online consultation so a doctor can review their blood pressure readings, medical history, and other medications before a prescription is issued and the order is processed.

Amlodipine selectively blocks the entry of calcium into vascular smooth muscle cells through L-type calcium channels, causing the muscle in the walls of blood vessels to relax. This vasodilation reduces peripheral vascular resistance, which in turn lowers blood pressure, and it also improves blood flow to the heart muscle, which is why amlodipine is effective for both hypertension and angina.

Take Norvasc 5mg once daily, at approximately the same time each day, with or without food, and swallow the tablet whole with water. Do not stop taking this medicine or change your dose without consulting your doctor, even if your blood pressure appears well controlled, as ongoing daily use is needed to maintain its effect.

The usual starting dose for adults is 5mg once daily, which your doctor may increase to a maximum of 10mg once daily if blood pressure is not adequately controlled, depending on response and tolerability. Lower starting doses may be used in elderly patients or those with liver impairment, and dose adjustments should only be made by your prescribing doctor.

Norvasc tablets are typically stable for up to 36 months from the date of manufacture when stored unopened in original packaging; always check the expiry date printed on the blister or carton before use.

Store below 30°C in a dry place away from direct sunlight and moisture, and keep out of reach of children. Keep the tablets in their original packaging until ready for use.

• Known hypersensitivity to amlodipine or other dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers
• Severe hypotension (very low blood pressure)
• Severe aortic stenosis (narrowing of the aortic valve)
• Cardiogenic shock or haemodynamically unstable heart failure
• Unstable angina, other than vasospastic angina, where amlodipine may still be used under specialist guidance

• Grapefruit juice can increase amlodipine blood levels in some individuals and is best avoided or limited
• Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors, such as certain antifungals (ketoconazole) or antivirals, may increase amlodipine levels and the risk of side effects
• Simvastatin doses above a certain limit should be avoided when combined with amlodipine due to an increased risk of muscle-related side effects
• Other blood pressure medicines may have an additive blood-pressure-lowering effect, increasing the risk of hypotension
• NSAIDs taken regularly may reduce the blood-pressure-lowering effect of amlodipine

• Take Norvasc at the same time each day to maintain steady blood pressure control
• Continue taking this medicine even if you feel well, as hypertension often has no symptoms
• Report new or worsening ankle swelling, palpitations, or dizziness to your doctor
• Limit or avoid grapefruit juice while on treatment
• Attend follow-up appointments so your doctor can monitor your blood pressure response and adjust treatment if needed

Norvasc 5mg is often the starting point for calcium channel blocker therapy in adults with hypertension or angina, with the dose reviewed and titrated by the prescribing doctor based on response over time. As the original brand of amlodipine, it has a long-established safety and efficacy record, but like all antihypertensives it requires consistent daily use and periodic medical review rather than occasional or as-needed dosing.