Amlodipinedosage

General Considerations: Majority of effect attained within 2 weeks May be administered with other antihypertensive agents Hypertension: May be used as add-on therapy for patients not controlled on monotherapy Patients who experience dose-limiting adverse reactions on monotherapy may be switched to amlodipine and valsartan containing a lower dose of that component May be substituted for titrated components When used as initial therapy: Initiate with 5/160 mg, then titrate upwards as necessary to a maximum of 10/320 mg once daily

2.1 General

Considerations Dose once daily. The dosage can be increased after 1 to 2 weeks of therapy to a maximum of one 10/320 mg tablet once daily as needed to control blood pressure. The majority of the antihypertensive effect is attained within 2 weeks after initiation of therapy or a change in dose. Amlodipine and valsartan may be administered with other antihypertensive agents. 2.2 Add-on Therapy A patient whose blood pressure is not adequately controlled with amlodipine (or another dihydropyridine calcium-channel blocker) alone or with valsartan (or another ARB) alone may be switched to combination therapy with amlodipine and valsartan. A patient who experiences dose-limiting adverse reactions on either component alone may be switched to amlodipine and valsartan containing a lower dose of that component in combination with the other to achieve similar blood pressure reductions. The clinical response to amlodipine and valsartan should be subsequently evaluated and if blood pressure remains uncontrolled after 3 to 4 weeks of therapy, the dose may be titrated up to a maximum of 10/320 mg.

2.3 Replacement

Therapy For convenience, patients receiving amlodipine and valsartan from separate tablets may instead wish to receive tablets of amlodipine and valsartan containing the same component doses.

2.4 Initial

Therapy A patient may be initiated on amlodipine and valsartan if it is unlikely that control of blood pressure would be achieved with a single agent. The usual starting dose is amlodipine and valsartan 5/160 mg once daily in patients who are not volume-depleted.