{"id":57645,"date":"2023-03-25T14:56:24","date_gmt":"2023-03-25T18:56:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=57645"},"modified":"2024-11-15T09:47:35","modified_gmt":"2024-11-15T14:47:35","slug":"amlodipine-besylate-alternatives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/amlodipine-besylate-alternatives\/","title":{"rendered":"Amlodipine besylate alternatives: What can I take instead of amlodipine besylate?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0<\/span>Amlodipine<\/span> besylate, known by the <\/span>brand-name<\/span> Norvasc<\/span>, is a prescription medication used primarily to treat <\/span>hypertension<\/span>, otherwise known as <\/span>high blood pressure<\/span>. <\/span>Hypertension<\/span><\/a> affects almost half of all adults in the United States, a staggering statistic. If left untreated, <\/span>hypertension<\/span> can cause long-term <\/span>cardiovascular<\/span> damage throughout your body and to many organs. <\/span>Heart attacks<\/span>, <\/span>heart failure<\/span>, and kidney disease are just some of the long-term complications of <\/span>hypertension<\/span>. It typically takes a multi-step approach of healthy eating, exercise, and medication therapy to control <\/span>hypertension<\/span> for most patients. <\/span>Amlodipine<\/span> besylate is one such medication to treat <\/span>hypertension<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Amlodipine<\/span> besylate is a prescription medication belonging to a class of medications known as <\/span>calcium channel blockers<\/span>. This class of drugs works by inhibiting calcium channels at the cellular level, blocking calcium from entering the cells. Ultimately, this limits the contraction of the heart and vascular smooth muscle, meaning your <\/span>heart rate<\/span> is lowered, and there is less resistance in your <\/span>blood vessels<\/span> for your heart to pump against. Your heart is able to slow down, and better <\/span>blood flow<\/span> of oxygenated blood reaches your organs, leading to better health outcomes and a lower risk of <\/span>heart disease<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are two general types of <\/span>calcium channel blockers<\/span>: dihydropyridines (DHPs) and non-dihydropyridines (non-DHPs). DHPs have an affinity for the calcium channels in the smooth muscles of the vasculature and are more appropriate for treating <\/span>hypertension<\/span>. Non-DHPs have an affinity for the calcium channels of the heart muscle and are, therefore, more appropriate for correcting heart rhythms, otherwise known as arrhythmias. <\/span>Amlodipine<\/span> besylate is a DHP <\/span>calcium channel blocker<\/span> most appropriately indicated for <\/span>hypertension<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Because DHPs have an affinity for the vascular system in your periphery or extremities (a fancy way of saying your arms and legs), some <\/span>side effects<\/span> can be bothersome. Peripheral <\/span>edema<\/span>, or the pooling of fluid (typically in the lower legs), can occur. Postural <\/span>hypotension<\/span>, which is better known as dizziness upon standing or <\/span>lightheadedness<\/span>, as well as headaches, can occur. These can be cumbersome enough that a person may not want to continue therapy with <\/span>amlodipine<\/span> besylate and may wish to seek alternative therapies. While you should never stop taking your prescribed medication without first reaching out to your prescriber, there are other <\/span>calcium channel blockers<\/span> and other antihypertensive medication classes of drugs you can discuss with your provider to see if one is a viable alternative for you.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>Amlodipine<\/b> side effects<\/b> and how to avoid them<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

What can I take in place of <\/span>amlodipine<\/span> besylate?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The first option you may want to explore with your provider is an alternative <\/span>calcium channel blocker<\/span>. Plendil (felodipine) and Dynacirc CR (isradipine) are other DHP <\/span>calcium channel blockers<\/span>. However, if you have a history of arrhythmia, a non-DHP <\/span>calcium channel blocker<\/span> should be discussed, such as Cardizem LA (diltiazem).<\/span><\/p>\n

Below are some examples of <\/span>amlodipine<\/span> besylate alternatives. While this is not intended to be a comprehensive list, it can be a good starting point to give you some alternatives to discuss with a medical professional. Not all therapies are safe when pregnant or <\/span>breastfeeding<\/span>, so if you are planning to be pregnant or already are, be sure to discuss this with your doctor, as <\/span>heart health<\/span> is more important than ever when you are pregnant. This is not intended to be medical advice. Your <\/span>cardiology<\/span> specialist can help determine what is right for you.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Compare amlodipine besylate alternatives<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

Drug name<\/b><\/td>\nUses<\/b><\/td>\nDosage<\/b><\/td>\nSavings options<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Norvasc<\/span> (<\/span>amlodipine<\/span> besylate)<\/span><\/td>\nHypertension<\/span>, <\/span>angina<\/span>, variant <\/span>angina<\/span><\/td>\n2.5 mg – 10 mg by mouth once daily<\/span><\/td>\nAmlodipine<\/b> besylate coupons<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cardizem LA (diltiazem)<\/span><\/td>\nHypertension<\/span>, <\/span>angina<\/span>, unstable <\/span>angina<\/span>, variant <\/span>angina<\/span>, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia<\/span><\/td>\n120 mg – 540 mg by mouth once daily<\/span><\/td>\nCardizem LA coupons<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Calan SR (verapamil sustained release)<\/span><\/td>\nHypertension<\/span>, <\/span>angina<\/span>, unstable <\/span>angina<\/span>, variant <\/span>angina<\/span>, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT), PSVT prophylaxis<\/span><\/td>\n80 mg – 320 mg by mouth twice daily<\/span><\/td>\nCalan SR coupons<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Procardia XL (nifedipine)<\/span><\/td>\nHypertension<\/span>, <\/span>angina<\/span>, variant <\/span>angina<\/span>, hypertensive urgency (<\/span>off-label<\/span><\/a>), hypertensive emergency (off-label)<\/span><\/td>\n30 mg – 60 mg by mouth once daily<\/span><\/td>\nProcardia XL coupons<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Plendil (felodipine)<\/span><\/td>\nHypertension<\/span>, <\/span>angina<\/span><\/td>\n2.5 mg – 20 mg by mouth once daily<\/span><\/td>\nPlendil coupons<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dynacirc CR (isradipine)<\/span><\/td>\nHypertension<\/span><\/td>\n2.5 mg – 10 mg by mouth twice daily<\/span><\/td>\nDynacirc CR coupons<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Zestril<\/span> (<\/span>lisinopril<\/span>)<\/span><\/td>\nHypertension<\/span>, <\/span>heart failure<\/span>, reduction of mortality after acute myocardial infarction<\/span><\/td>\n10 mg – 40 mg by mouth once daily<\/span><\/td>\nZestril<\/b> coupons<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lotensin (benazepril)<\/span><\/td>\nHypertension<\/span><\/td>\n10 mg – 40 mg by mouth once daily<\/span><\/td>\nLotensin coupons<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cozaar (<\/span>losartan<\/span>)<\/span><\/td>\nHypertension<\/span>, stroke prophylaxis in hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH)<\/span><\/td>\n25 mg – 100 mg by mouth once to twice daily<\/span><\/td>\nCozaar coupons<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Benicar (olmesartan)<\/span><\/td>\nHypertension<\/span><\/td>\n20 mg – 40 mg by mouth once daily<\/span><\/td>\nBenicar coupons<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Diovan (<\/span>valsartan<\/span>)<\/span><\/td>\nHypertension<\/span>, <\/span>heart failure<\/span><\/td>\n80 mg – 320 mg by mouth once to twice daily<\/span><\/td>\nDiovan coupons<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tenormin (<\/span>atenolol<\/span>)<\/span><\/td>\nAngina<\/span> pectoris, <\/span>hypertension<\/span><\/td>\n25 mg – 100 mg by mouth once daily<\/span><\/td>\nTenormin coupons<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lopressor (<\/span>metoprolol<\/span>)<\/span><\/td>\nAngina<\/span> pectoris, <\/span>hypertension<\/span>, <\/span>heart failure<\/span><\/td>\n50 mg – 100 mg by mouth once to twice daily<\/span><\/td>\nLopressor coupons<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Coreg (carvedilol)<\/span><\/td>\nHypertension<\/span>, <\/span>heart failure<\/span><\/td>\n12.5 mg – 50 mg by mouth twice daily<\/span><\/td>\nCoreg coupons<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cardura (doxazosin)<\/span><\/td>\nHypertension<\/span>, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)<\/span><\/td>\n1 mg – 16 mg by mouth once daily<\/span><\/td>\nCardura coupons<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Other alternatives to <\/span>amlodipine<\/span> besylate<\/span><\/h3>\n

If the <\/span>common side effects<\/span> of <\/span>calcium channel blockers<\/span> are not tolerable for you, or your blood pressure is not adequately controlled with <\/span>calcium channel blockers<\/span> alone, you may need to replace or add to the therapy. There are many other classes of <\/span>blood pressure medications<\/span><\/a>. The <\/span>Joint National Committee<\/span><\/a> (JNC) publishes guidelines for treating blood pressure, which your <\/span>healthcare<\/span> provider may use to guide their decision-making. Other antihypertensive medications that are used include ACE (<\/span>angiotensin-converting enzyme<\/span>) inhibitors, <\/span>angiotensin receptor blockers<\/span>, <\/span>beta blockers<\/span>, <\/span>diuretics<\/span>, and other categories and combinations of drugs. There are hundreds of strengths and combinations of drugs to choose from when treating <\/span>hypertension<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n