Name Amlodipine + Atorvastatin
Classes Cardiovascular Agent
Antihypertensive
Antihypertensive Combination
Diseases Angina
Cardiovascular Disease
High Cholesterol
Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
Myocardial Infarction

Amlodipine + Atorvastatin

Amlodipine + Atorvastatin is a combination medication of amlodipine- a calcium channel blocker and atorvastatin- a HMG Co-A reductase inhibitor.

Amlodipine + Atorvastatin is indicated for the following conditions-

  • Chronic stable angina
  • Hyperlipidemia
  • Hypertension
  • Prinzmetal's angina
  • Cardiovascular protection in high-risk patients

In patients whom treatment with both amlodipine and atorvastatin is considered appropriate as initial therapy or may be used to substitute individual titrated components; or to provide additional therapy for patients currently receiving 1 of its components. Dosages must be individualized based on effectiveness and tolerance for each individual component, and according to goals consistent with current treatment guidelines.

Dosage range: 5 mg/10 mg to 10 mg/80 mg (Max) once daily; may be adjusted accordingly or titrated after 1-2 weeks (amlodipine) and after 2-4 weeks (atorvastatin).
Elderly: May initiate amlodipine component at 2.5 mg once daily.

Special Patient Group:
  • Patients receiving clarithromycin, itraconazole, elbasvir/grazoprevir, or HIV protease inhibitors (e.g. saquinavir/ritonavir, darunavir/ritonavir, fosamprenavir or fosamprenavir/ritonavir): Use the lowest necessary atorvastatin doses. Max: 20 mg atorvastatin daily.
  • Patients receiving nelfinavir or boceprevir: Max: 40 mg atorvastatin daily.

In general, treatment with amlodipine and atorvastatin combination is well tolerated. Some common side effects include-

  • headache
  • dizziness
  • asthenia
  • stomach pain
  • nausea
  • diarrhea
  • edema
  • flushing
  • arrhythmia
  • palpitation
  • muscle and joint pain (myalgia)
  • tendon problems etc.
  • After initiating or increasing the dose of Amlodipine, patients with severe obstructive coronary artery disease may experience worsening angina and sudden myocardial infarction.
  • When providing Amlodipine to patients with significant hepatic impairment, titrate carefully since Amlodipine is extensively metabolized by the liver and has a plasma elimination half-life (t1/2) of 56 hours in patients with impaired hepatic function.
  • Rare cases of rhabdomyolysis with acute renal failure secondary to myoglobinuria have been reported with ATORVASTATIN and with other drugs in this class. A history of renal impairment may be a risk factor for the development of rhabdomyolysis. Such patients merit closer monitoring for skeletal muscle effects.
  • The risk of myopathy during treatment with drugs in this class is increased with concurrent administration of cyclosporine, fibric acid derivatives, erythromycin, clarithromycin, combination of ritonavir plus saquinavir or lopinavir plus ritonavir, niacin, or azole antifungals.
  • Physicians considering combined therapy with ATORVASTATIN and fibric acid derivatives, erythromycin, clarithromycin, a combination of ritonavir plus saquinavir or lopinavir plus ritonavir, immunosuppressive drugs, azole antifungals, or lipid-modifying doses of niacin should carefully weigh the potential benefits and risks and should carefully monitor patients for any signs or symptoms of muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, particularly during the initial months of therapy and during any periods of upward dosage titration of either drug. Lower starting and maintenance doses of atorvastatin should be considered when taken concomitantly with the aforementioned drugs

Contraindication

Amlodipine+atorvastatin is contraindicated in patients hypersensitive to the medicine itself or other statins & Ca channel blockers, such as-

Combination of amlodipine and atorvastatin contains atorvastatin and is therefore contraindicated in patients with

  • active liver disease
  • pregnancy