Brand Name: Amocal-AT ®5/50

Generic Name: Amlodipine 5mg/Atenolol 50mg

How Does Amocal-AT ®5/50 work?

Atenolol is a cardioselective beta blocker. Amlodipine is a dihydropyridine calcium-channel blocker that blocks the transmembrane influx of calcium ions into vascular smooth muscle and cardiac muscle the combination of the two drugs results in additive antihypertensive action.

Indications of Amocal-AT ®5/50

Antihypertensive activity; Chronic stable angina, Hypertension.

Oral Dosaging:

Adult: Per tablet contains atenolol 25 or 50 mg and amlodipine (as besylate) 5 mg: 1 tab once daily, may increase to 2 tablets daily if needed.

Elderly: Per tablet contains atenolol 25 mg and amlodipine (besylate) 5 mg: Initiate with 1 tablet daily.

Adverse Reactions / Side Effects of Amocal-AT ®5/50.

Headache, hypotension, dizziness, breathlessness, fatigue, muscle cramps, bradycardia, palpitations, flushing, oedema, dyspnoea, dyspepsia, cold extremities. Drowsiness, chestpain & impotence rarely. Hypersensitivity reactions.

Precautions

Overdosage may cause hypotension and less commonly, congestive cardiac failure. Unabsorbed drug may be removed by gastric lavage or use of activated charcoal. Symptomatic treatment may be administered.

Special Precautions

Excessive fall of BP may occur in elderly patients. Caution in patients with COPD, thyrotoxicosis, congestive failure, vasospastic angina, hepatic & renal impairment. Caution in diabetic patients as beta-blockers may mask tachycardia occurring with hypoglycaemia. Withdrawal should be gradual. Lactation. Safety and efficacy have not been established children. Not to be used in untreated phaeochromocytoma.

Other Drug Interactions

Additive effect when used with catecholamine depleting drugs; monitor for hypotension and/or marked bradycardia. If used with clonidine, clonidine withdrawal should occur a few days after withdrawal of the beta-blocker to prevent rebound hypertension; if replacing clonidine by beta-blocker, beta-blocker should be introduced only after clonidine administration has stopped for several days. Concurrent use with prostaglandin synthase inhibiting drugs (e.g. indomethacin) may reduce the hypotensive effects of beta-blockers.

Other Interactions.

Renal impairment: Per tablet contains atenolol 25 mg and amlodipine (besylate) 5 mg: Initiate with 1 tablet daily. Food(before/after)

Contraindicated in pregnancy

Caution when used during lactation

Contraindications

Hypotension, sinus bradycardia, 2nd & 3rd degrees of heart block, cardiogenic shock, overt congestive failure, poor LV function, hypersensitivity to either component,