Amlodipine + Olmesartan Medoxomil: Brands, Price & Uses in Bangladesh

Amlodipine + Olmesartan Medoxomil is a fixed-dose combination of a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker (amlodipine) and an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB, olmesartan medoxomil), indicated for:

• Established/FDA-approved use: Treatment of hypertension, to lower blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events, primarily stroke and myocardial infarction.
• Amlodipine + Olmesartan Medoxomil is generally used in patients whose blood pressure is not adequately controlled on either amlodipine or olmesartan monotherapy alone, or as initial therapy in patients likely to need multiple drugs to reach their blood pressure goal.

Amlodipine + Olmesartan Medoxomil is not indicated for initial therapy in patients who require blood pressure reduction of more than 20/10 mmHg without prior assessment, as recommended by treating physicians on a case-by-case basis, and is not intended as a first-line drug for hypertensive emergencies.

General Dosing Principles

Amlodipine + Olmesartan Medoxomil is taken once daily, with or without food, and should be swallowed whole with water.

Adult Dosing for Hypertension

Elderly Patients (≥75 years)

Because of a greater sensitivity to amlodipine in patients ≥75 years, initiation of Amlodipine + Olmesartan Medoxomil as a starting combination product is generally not recommended in this age group; treatment should instead be titrated using the individual components under physician guidance.

Renal Impairment

No initial dosage adjustment of Amlodipine + Olmesartan Medoxomil is required in patients with moderate to marked renal impairment, but renal function and serum potassium should be monitored periodically.

Hepatic Impairment

Amlodipine + Olmesartan Medoxomil is generally not recommended as initial therapy in patients with hepatic impairment; if used, doses should be adjusted cautiously and the patient monitored closely, since amlodipine clearance is reduced in hepatic impairment.

Pediatric Dosing

Safety and efficacy of Amlodipine + Olmesartan Medoxomil in pediatric patients have not been established; it is not recommended for use in children.

The most common adverse effect reported with Amlodipine + Olmesartan Medoxomil is:

• Edema (peripheral swelling, dose-related, more common in women) — the most frequently reported adverse reaction.
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Flushing
• Fatigue
• Upper respiratory tract infection symptoms

Less common but clinically important adverse effects include:

• Hyperkalemia and changes in renal function — see Precautions and Warnings.
• Sprue-like enteropathy: rare cases of severe, chronic diarrhea with substantial weight loss, sometimes occurring months to years after starting olmesartan-containing products; usually resolves after discontinuation of Amlodipine + Olmesartan Medoxomil.
• Angioedema (swelling of face, lips, tongue, throat) — rare but potentially serious; discontinue Amlodipine + Olmesartan Medoxomil immediately if this occurs.
• Elevated liver enzymes and, rarely, rhabdomyolysis, have been reported post-marketing.