What is amlodipine besylate?

Answer 1

If we were to chemically describe amlodpine besylate, we'd say it was 3-Ethyl-5-methyl (±)-2-[(2-aminoethoxy)methyl]-4-(2-chlorophenyl)-1,4-dihydro-6-methyl-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylate, monobenzenesulphonate. If we were to write its empirical formula, we'd write C20H25CIN2O5•C6H6O3S. But that might not help. You may wish to know why it is prescribed and what it's supposed to do. It's generally prescribed to lower blood pressure, and it is effective as an anti-hypertensive agent because it is what is called a calcium channel blocker. Let's back up and get you up to speed on Norvasc, its trade name. Muscles come in three "flavors" or types. There are the skeletal muscles, which allow us to move, and the cardiac muscles with make up the heart. The last kind are called the smooth muscles, and they are the muscles in the digestive tract, the blood vessels and other places, and they work "automatically" to do what they do. Muscles work by releasing calcium, and that's how they contract. If muscles cannot release calcium, contraction is inhibited. Norvasc works to block the release of calcium and inhibit muscular contraction. How does this help control blood pressure? Good question. Let's look. Muscles maintain "tone" in the body. And in the circulatory system, they put a bit of "pressure" on the vessels. If we could relax those muscles a bit, the vessels would be enlarged slightly, and this would decrease the vascular resistance to blood flow. And if you figured out that the decreased vascular resistance to blood flow translates into lower blood pressure, you'd be right. These are the basics, and you're up to speed.
Amlodipine Besylate is used to treat high blood pressure. It should not be taken in combination with a blood thinner.