Amlodipinedosage

Usual starting dose is 2.5 mg/10 mg. May be used as add-on therapy for patients not adequately controlled with either a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker or an ACE inhibitor Patients who experience edema with amlodipine may be switched to amlodipine and benazepril hydrochloride capsules containing a lower dose of amlodipine.

2.1 General

Considerations The recommended initial dose is amlodipine 2.5 mg and benazepril 10 mg orally once-daily. Begin therapy with amlodipine and benazepril hydrochloride capsules only after a patient has either (a) failed to achieve the desired antihypertensive effect with amlodipine or benazepril monotherapy, or (b) demonstrated inability to achieve adequate antihypertensive effect with amlodipine therapy without developing edema. The antihypertensive effect of amlodipine and benazepril hydrochloride capsules is largely attained within 2 weeks. If blood pressure remains uncontrolled, the dose may be titrated up to amlodipine 10 mg and benazepril 40 mg once-daily. The dosing should be individualized and adjusted according to the patient’s clinical response. In clinical trials of amlodipine and benazepril combination therapy using amlodipine doses of 2.5 to 10 mg and benazepril doses of 10 to 40 mg, the antihypertensive effects increased with increasing dose of amlodipine in all patient groups, and the effects increased with increasing dose of benazepril in nonblack groups.

2.2 Replacement

Therapy Amlodipine and benazepril hydrochloride capsules may be substituted for the titrated components.