Amlodipine Blood Pressure Medicine

Amlodipine besylate (Norvasc^®) is commonly used to manage symptoms associated with several conditions affecting the cardiovascular system, such as high blood pressure and heart disease (including angina and coronary artery disease in people who do not have heart failure).

As a blood pressure medicine, amlodipine belongs to a class of drugs called calcium channel blockers. It helps slow down the rate at which calcium moves into your heart and into the blood vessel walls. This action helps to relax the vessels, which allows better blood flow and causes lower blood pressure. It also makes it easier for the heart to pump blood.

When used to treat blood pressure, amlodipine has been shown to reduce systolic blood pressure by 12 points and diastolic blood pressure by 7 points (on average) in people with mild-to-moderate hypertension. By decreasing blood pressure, this medication also reduces the risks that can occur with long-term hypertension.

(Click Amlodipine to learn more about the effects of this blood pressure medicine, a list of potential side effects to be aware of, and precautions and warnings to review with your healthcare provider.)