By 
Hovasc 5mg is the brand name of a drug called amlodipine. Amlodipine is a drug often used in the first-line treatment of hypertensive disorders such as essential hypertension, hypertension retinopathy, and hypertension renal disease because of its effectiveness in bringing down blood pressure. Besides hypertension, this drug can also be used in cases of angina pectoris and coronary artery diseases. Amlodipine can be used as a monotherapy drug or in combination with other antihypertensives for better control of blood pressure.
How does Hovasc work?
Amlodipine is classified as dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers. Calcium channel blockers work by inhibiting the influx of calcium ions into cardiac and vascular smooth muscles. Amlodipine acts peripherally on the arteries by causing vasodilation, which in turn reduces the peripheral vascular resistance or afterload of the heart. However, its effect is more prominent towards relaxation of vascular smooth muscles compared to cardiac smooth muscles. The mechanism of action of Amlodipine in vasospastic angina is not clearly understood but it is said that the dilatation of coronary arteries increases the delivery of oxygen to the myocardial cells.
What is the dosage of Hovasc?
Hovasc is available in either a 5mg tablet or a 10mg tablet. Hovasc can be given to adults and children above the age of 6 years. The dosage of this medicine depends on the condition that is being treated. Generally speaking, adults with hypertension are usually started with 5mg and can be given a maximum dose of 10mg a day, but the dosage recommended for the pediatric age group is 2.5mg, with a maximum dose of 5mg if the target blood pressure could not be reached. If you’re taking this medication, always follow the advice given by your doctor. This medication can be taken with or without food, preferably at the same time each day. You should continue taking this medication for as long as your doctor tells you to. If you forget to take a dose, you should immediately take one if it is more than 12 hours before your next dose. Otherwise, skip the dose and take the next dose as you would normally take. You should not take a double dose of this medication as it can lead to some unwanted side effects. Overdosage with amlodipine is possible and it may cause symptoms like dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, and irregular heartbeat. If you are taking any other medications, you should inform your doctor as some drugs may interact with Amlodipine and reduce its efficacy.
Contraindication of Hovasc 5mg.
Amlodipine is generally a safe drug, but it may not be suitable for everyone. The use of this drug is contraindicated in these conditions :
- History of hypersensitivity reactions to this drug or any of its excipients
- Shock
- Left ventricle outflow tract obstruction such as high grade aortic stenosis
- Severe hypotension
- Unstable angina
- Hemodynamically unstable heart failure after myocardial infarction
This drug should be administered with caution in patients with pre-existing liver disease as amlodipine is metabolized in the liver. Therefore, this drug should be administered at the lowest possible dose. However, patients with impaired renal function can be given the normal dosage as there are no correlations of this drug with renal impairment.
There is limited data available on the effect of amlodipine in pregnancy and breastfeeding, so the use of this drug in these patients should be restricted and only be used when the benefits outweigh the risks.
What are the side effects of Hovasc?
As with any other medication, Hovasc can cause some side effects. These side effects can range from minor side effects that don’t require treatment to serious life-threatening side effects.
Some side effects include :
- Indigestion
- Tiredness
- Muscle cramps
- Sexual problems
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Flushing
- Palpitations
- Stomach pain
- Nausea
If you develop any of the following symptoms, you should seek medical help immediately.
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Changes in heartbeat
- Dizziness when standing up from a sitting down or lying position
- Allergic symptoms: itchiness, swelling, difficulty in breathing
- Symptoms of liver disease: yellowing of skin, itching, and dark colored urine
Comments