How long does it take for amlodipine to work?

Meds that can control the movement of calcium care called calcium channel blocking drugs. You need to know that calcium channel blockers (in short, CCBs) are available as multiple forms viz., benzothiazepine, dihydropyridine, non-selective calcium blockers – to name a few. Of these, a drug known as amlodipine (Norvasc) is one of the dihydropyridine-based CCBs. It is taken for reducing arterial tension and also for decreasing the build-up of resistance inside blood vessels. But, how long does it take for amlodipine to work? It becomes essential to have needful information.

Calcium is one of the minerals essential for bone health; every time your heart muscle completes a cycle, your cardiac cells get a supply of calcium. Presence of an optimal level of calcium helps in rendering an energetic squeeze to your heart muscles.

The force at which of blood flows tends to rise whenever blood pressure is at a high. As Calcium Channel Blockers (CCBs) help control stiffness of blood vessels (arteries), they are widely prescribed for treatment of high blood pressure. Main ingredients of CCBs inhibit calcium from entering into the heart and blood vessels. As a direct outcome, your blood pressure comes back to a normal level as arteries are widened.

What is amlodipine?

Amlodipine is commonly administered CCB; its main function is to reduce spells of hypertension. If you leave hypertension unattended, risks such as heart arrests, kidney dysfunction, strokes, etc. are likely to emerge. Amlodipine aids in relaxing blood vessels which makes it easy for blood to flow through arteries. Such an unhindered blood flow helps keep blood pressure levels under greater control.

Amlodipine is also administered for prevention of chest pain (also known as angina). Intake of this med enables users to do workouts / regular exercises. The net result is: likely onset of angina is prevented and/or intensity of pains is sizably decreased. It is however unsafe to take this CCB while you do not experience chest pain or angina.

How long does it take for amlodipine to work?

You need to know amlodipine takes 8 hours or more to start functioning. Such a longer duration is mainly because of the fairly longer timespan needed for it to get absorbed into your system. So, this drug is seldom / never given to those who need to reduce pressure immediately. In such cases, fast-acting meds such as clonidine are prescribed.

It is also of importance to know that regular doses of amlodipine for more than 3 weeks are needed to witness its fullest potential. This is due to the fairly long half-life period of amlodipine; it fares at 40 – 45 hours. Hence, it will need 7 to 9 days for its ingredients to attain a steady level in your blood. In other words, it is only after ~ 10 days, the levels stop fluctuating and ensure a steady availability of this drug in your system.

A few safety measures to be taken while taking amlodipine

A few users – in their anxiety to get a quicker remedy – take an excessive dose of amlodipine. Taking an overdose can lead to counterproductive outcomes. Excessive dosing can trigger abdominal problems like indigestion, discharge of watery stool, palpitations, being dizzy as well as vomiting. If you sense one or more of these signs – soon after taking amlodipine, it is a safe thing to ask for clinical help on an urgent basis.

Those who somehow missed taking a dosage of amlodipine must administer it once you remember. But if it is already 11 hours or more since missing a dosage, it is unsafe to take the missed dose after such a long delay. In such cases, it is a good practice to skip the missed dosage. You may instead wait for your next dose and take it without fail. On a related note, those who took two dosages of amlodipine within a shorter time span are more likely to witness adverse effects of overdosing.

Disclaimer

Information provided here are only of supplementary nature. Information shared here does not substitute a qualified doctor’s advice. This website is not suggesting intake of this drug as safe or appropriate. Hence it is advised to talk to your doctor before consuming this med or any other drug.