Amlodipine

Source: UK SPC (eMC) for Amlodipine 1 mg/ml Oral solution, §4.2 (https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/102452/smpc). INDICATION CAVEAT for this vascular-context page: the fetched §4.2 gives posology only for HYPERTENSION and ANGINA — no vascular-specific regimen (e.g. for peripheral vascular disease or Raynaud's) is stated in this source; confirm the intended indication before applying the dose above. In hypertensive patients amlodipine has been used in combination with a thiazide diuretic, alpha blocker, beta blocker or an ACE inhibitor. For angina, amlodipine may be used as monotherapy or in combination with other antianginal medicinal products in patients with angina refractory to nitrates and/or to adequate doses of beta blockers. No dose adjustment of amlodipine is required upon concomitant administration of thiazide diuretics, beta blockers and ACE inhibitors. ELDERLY: amlodipine at similar doses is equally well tolerated in elderly and younger patients; normal dosage regimens are recommended in the elderly but increases of dosage should take place with care. HEPATIC IMPAIRMENT: dosage recommendations have not been established in mild to moderate impairment, so dose selection should be cautious and start at the lower end of the dosing range; pharmacokinetics have not been studied in severe hepatic impairment — initiate at the lowest dose and titrate slowly. PAEDIATRIC (not a per-kg dose, so not expressed as mg/kg): for children and adolescents with hypertension aged 6 to 17 years the recommended antihypertensive oral dose is 2.5 mg once daily as a starting dose, up-titrated to 5 mg once daily if the blood pressure goal is not achieved after 4 weeks; doses in excess of 5 mg daily have not been studied in paediatric patients; no data are available for children under 6 years old. Verify any under-18 use against a children's formulary. METHOD OF ADMINISTRATION: the source product is an oral solution for oral use only, supplied with a 5 ml oral syringe graduated in 0.5 ml increments (0.5 ml = 0.5 mg amlodipine) and an adaptor. §4.4: the safety and efficacy of amlodipine in hypertensive crisis has not been established; calcium channel blockers including amlodipine should be used with caution in congestive heart failure. The fetched §4.5 is truncated mid-sentence at the dantrolene paragraph — verify the complete interaction section.