Amlodipine has been evaluated for safety in more than 11,000 patients in U.S. and foreign clinical trials. Most adverse reactions reported during therapy with amlodipine were of mild or moderate severity. In controlled clinical trials directly comparing amlodipine (n = 1730) in doses up to 10 mg to placebo (n = 1250), discontinuation of amlodipine due to adverse reactions was required in only about 1.5% of amlodipine-treated patients and was not significantly different from that seen in placebo-treated patients (about 1%). The most common side effects were headache and edema. The incidence (%) of side effects which occurred in a dose-related manner are presented in Table 3.
Table 3: Incidence (%) of Dose-Related Adverse Effects with Amlodipine at Doses of 2.5 mg, 5.0 mg, and 10.0 mg or PlaceboAdverse Event | Amlodipine 2.5 mg n = 275 % | Amlodipine 5.0 mg n = 296 % | Amlodipine 10.0 mg n = 268 % | Placebo n = 520 % |
Edema | 1.8 | 3.0 | 10.8 | 0.6 |
Dizziness | 1.1 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 1.5 |
Flushing | 0.7 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 0.0 |
Palpitations | 0.7 | 1.4 | 4.5 | 0.6 |
Other adverse experiences which were not clearly dose related but which were reported with an incidence greater than 1% in placebo-controlled clinical trials are presented in Table 4.
Table 4: Incidence (%) of Adverse Effects Not Clearly Dose Related but Reported at an Incidence of > 1% in Placebo-Controlled Clinical TrialsAdverse Event | Amlodipine n = 1730 % | Placebo n = 1250 % |
Headache | 7.3 | 7.8 |
Fatigue | 4.5 | 2.8 |
Nausea | 2.9 | 1.9 |
Abdominal pain | 1.6 | 0.3 |
Somnolence | 1.4 | 0.6 |
The following events occurred in < 1% but > 0.1% of patients in controlled clinical trials or under conditions of open trials or marketing experience where a causal relationship is uncertain; they are listed to alert the physician to a possible relationship:
Cardiovascular: arrhythmia (including ventricular tachycardia and atrial fibrillation), bradycardia, chest pain, hypotension, peripheral ischemia, syncope, tachycardia, postural dizziness, postural hypotension, vasculitis;
Central and Peripheral Nervous System: hypoesthesia, neuropathy peripheral, paresthesia, tremor, vertigo;
Gastrointestinal: anorexia, constipation, dyspepsia**, dysphagia, diarrhea, flatulence, pancreatitis, vomiting, gingival hyperplasia, change of bowel habit;
General: allergic reaction, asthenia**, back pain, hot flushes, malaise, pain, rigors, weight gain, weight decrease;
Musculoskeletal System: arthralgia, arthrosis, muscle cramps**, myalgia;
Psychiatric: sexual dysfunction (male** and female), insomnia, nervousness, depression, abnormal dreams, anxiety, depersonalization, mood change;
Respiratory System: dyspnea**, epistaxis;
Skin and Appendages: angioedema, erythema multiforme, pruritus**, rash**, rash erythematous, rash maculopapular;
Special Senses: abnormal vision, conjunctivitis, diplopia, eye pain, tinnitus;
Urinary System: micturition frequency, micturition disorder, nocturia;
Autonomic Nervous System: dry mouth, sweating increased;
Metabolic and Nutritional: hyperglycemia, thirst;
Hemopoietic: leukopenia, purpura, thrombocytopenia.
**These events occurred in less than 1% in placebo-controlled trials, but the incidence of these side effects was between 1% and 2% in all multiple dose studies.
The following events occurred in < 0.1% of patients: cardiac failure, pulse irregularity, extrasystoles, skin discoloration, urticaria, skin dryness, alopecia, dermatitis, muscle weakness, twitching, ataxia, hypertonia, migraine, cold and clammy skin, apathy, agitation, amnesia, gastritis, increased appetite, loose stools, coughing, rhinitis, dysuria, polyuria, parosmia, taste perversion, abnormal visual accommodation, and xerophthalmia.
Other reactions occurred sporadically and cannot be distinguished from medications or concurrent disease states such as myocardial infarction and angina.
Amlodipine has not been associated with clinically significant changes in routine laboratory tests. No clinically relevant changes were noted in serum potassium, serum glucose, total triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, uric acid, blood urea nitrogen, or creatinine.
Amlodipine has been used safely in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, well-compensated congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and abnormal lipid profiles.
Adverse reactions reported for amlodipine for indications other than hypertension may be found in the prescribing information for Norvasc®.