Alopin 5 mg Tablet

Calcium-channel blocker for:

• High blood pressure
• Stable angina and vasospastic (Prinzmetal) angina
• Coronary artery disease (to reduce angina and hospital admissions)

Adults: 5 mg once daily; may increase to 10 mg once daily after 1–2 weeks. Elderly, small or liver-impaired patients: start 2.5 mg.

Children 6–17 years (hypertension): 2.5–5 mg once daily.

• Take at the same time each day, with or without food.
• Keep taking even when you feel well; do not stop suddenly without advice.

• Allergy to amlodipine or other dihydropyridines
• Severe low blood pressure, cardiogenic shock
• Severe narrowing of the aortic valve (aortic stenosis)
• Unstable heart failure after a heart attack

Very common/common: ankle and foot swelling, headache, flushing, dizziness, tiredness, palpitations, stomach pain, nausea.

Less common: mood changes, sleep problems, tingling, visual disturbance, muscle cramps, frequent urination, gum swelling.

Rare: liver inflammation, low blood counts, severe allergy, worsening angina when starting.

• Ankle swelling is a known effect and not a sign of heart failure — but tell your doctor.
• Liver disease: lower doses.
• Good dental hygiene reduces gum overgrowth.
• Avoid large amounts of grapefruit juice.

Use in pregnancy only if no safer option (some experience in hypertension). Passes into breast milk in small amounts — generally considered acceptable; monitor the baby.

• Simvastatin (limit to 20 mg/day)
• Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (clarithromycin, itraconazole, ritonavir) increase levels
• Rifampicin, carbamazepine, phenytoin, St John's wort decrease levels
• Ciclosporin, tacrolimus (levels rise)
• Other blood-pressure medicines (additive)

Very low blood pressure, fast heartbeat, flushing; shock possible. Emergency care.

Store below 30°C, protected from light.